- The next-generation BMW X5 is set to debut in the coming months.
- Like the second-gen iX3, this new X5 follows the Neue Klasse approach.
- Inside, it will feature the brand’s latest Panoramic iDrive system setup.
Not long after blurry images of the next-generation 2027 (or possibly, 2028MY) BMW X5 surfaced from a presentation in Germany, a far clearer set of detailed renderings followed. Those early leaks didn’t offer much to go on, but these new visuals make it much easier to pick apart the key design changes.
Read: BMW’s New X5 Doesn’t Care What Every Other SUV Is Doing
Like much of BMW’s upcoming lineup, the X5 is heading into the Neue Klasse era, bringing with it a fresh design direction and a new era of powertrain tech. The current model already stands as one of the more restrained-looking BMWs, which is saying something, but this overhaul pushes things further. It’s a more dramatic look, yes, though arguably a more appealing one depending on where you stand.
Neue Klasse Styling Direction
Illustrations Sugar Design
As seen in these renders by Sugar Design, the front end closely mirrors the second-generation iX3 revealed six months ago, featuring similarly upright kidney grilles and distinctive headlights, now paired with X-shaped daytime running lights. The lower section of the fascia is finished in gloss black, a panel that is also expected to integrate sensors and cameras for the SUV’s driver-assistance systems.
Look at the sides, and you’ll notice some of the convoluted lines of the outgoing X5 have been ditched in favor of smoother door panels and front and rear quarter panels with squared-off indentations.
More: BMW’s Most Traditional Sedan Becomes Its Most Futuristic Yet With New i3
The recently leaked version is believed to be a high-performance X5 M60e, likely powered by a powerful hybrid setup. It features a more aggressive rear design, including a sharply styled two-tone bumper, a diffuser, and quad tailpipes, all of which carry over into these renderings. Slim, horizontal taillights add a more modern signature at the back.
Cabin Display Setup
Details on the cabin are still thin, but a few key elements are already confirmed. The 2028 X5 will adopt BMW’s latest Panoramic iDrive setup, pairing a central touchscreen with a slim display that stretches across the base of the windscreen, much like the layouts seen in the new iX3 and i3 sedan.
That full-width screen is set to handle essential driving information, navigation, and media, all positioned directly in the driver’s line of sight. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto should be part of the package, though CarPlay Ultra is not expected to make the cut.
An X5 For Everyone
Illustrations Sugar Design
It’s not just the design that matters this time around. For the first time, BMW’s best-selling SUV is expected to span gas, diesel, plug-in hybrid, all-electric, and even hydrogen configurations, giving buyers an unusually wide range of choices.
Among the combustion variants likely to be offered are the 40, 40 xDrive, 40d xDrive, 50e xDrive, M60 xDrive, and the M60e xDrive seen in the leak. Engine options should include turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder and 3.0-liter inline-six units, alongside a new X5 M that is expected to retain BMW’s 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8. European and other select markets will also get a selection of diesel offerings.
On the electric side, at least six variants are anticipated, with the possibility of a range-extender EV still on the table. The all-electric variant will be called the iX5, mirroring the i5’s familiar tiered lineup. Expect the entry-level eDrive40 to deliver around 340 hp, which should be enough to cover 0-62mph in under six seconds. Further up the range, the iX5 M60 is tipped to push close to 600 hp, trimming that sprint to around four seconds.
When Will The New X5 Arrive?
The new X5 is expected to debut around mid-2026, with customer deliveries likely beginning in early 2027. Once it reaches the market, it will compete with established luxury SUVs like the Porsche Cayenne and Range Rover Sport, as well as newer electric rivals such as the Volvo EX90 and Polestar 3. Additional competition is expected from the next-generation Audi Q7 and an updated Mercedes-Benz GLE, both of which are due around the same time.
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BMW's new X5 adopts Neue Klasse design like the iX3, featuring panoramic displays and multiple powertrains.
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This marks BMW's shift toward unified design language across its entire SUV lineup for the electric era.
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The X5 will offer gas, diesel, hybrid, electric, and hydrogen options when it debuts in mid-2026.
