2027 BMW iX5 Driven: Part of the Family

BMW’s long run of experimental, out-there electric vehicles has been slowly coming to a close. It started with the radical i3 and i8 in the 2010s, then continued with the daringly styled iX, a mid-size luxury SUV that exited the U.S. market after the 2026 model year. The latter is being replaced by the 2027 BMW iX5, which is similarly sized and positioned, but now shares its styling with the newly redesigned X5. This alignment between EV and conventional, gas-powered models is the same strategy employed for BMW’s electric sedans, such as the i3, i5, and i7.

The iX5 certainly doesn’t look as strange as the iX did, but it’s similar in purpose and features plenty of new powertrain technology that benefits its range, charging times, and performance. Will this more conservative EV strategy pay off in the competitive electric SUV realm, or will we come to miss vehicles like the controversial but comfortable iX?

Even though the iX5 doesn’t look as weird as the iX did, it’s still no wallflower. That’s because 2027 X5 lineup features novel elements such as X-shaped LED accent lighting up front, smooth side surfacing with winglet-shaped electronic door handles at the base of the windows, and wide LED taillights. You can’t tell the difference between the X5 and the iX5 but for the charge port on the right rear fender and the badging on the liftgate.

More on the iX5

Initially, all U.S.-bound 2027 BMW iX5s will wear the same badges: 60 xDrive, which refers to the standard dual-motor, all-wheel-drive setup with 570 horsepower. That fits between the outgoing iX’s 536-hp 60 and 650-hp M70 variants, and BMW is quoting a 60-mph time of 4.4 seconds. That’s only a few ticks ahead of the estimate for the gasoline X5 with a 394-hp inline-six. At least for now, there’s no mega-horsepower variant to do battle with the 1000-plus-hp versions of the Porsche Cayenne EV, Rivian R1S, and Lucid Gravity.

The iX5 drives like a large vehicle because it is: Not only does the new X5 have a longer wheelbase than the old one, but the iX5’s huge 144-kWh battery pack means it is significantly heavier than the inline-six-powered X5. You feel that weight in the iX5’s bouncy ride, as it feels like BMW has tuned the air springs and adaptive dampers to be stiffer here compared with the gas model. We wished for more compliance in the comfort-oriented settings, but the lower center of gravity does make for flat cornering in the sportier modes.

We don’t yet have EPA numbers for the iX5, but BMW is targeting a range estimate of 450 miles. If that comes to pass, the iX5 will be one of the longest-range electric SUVs you can buy, and its claimed peak charging rate of 460 kilowatts is impressive too. It’s said to replenish up to 170 miles of range in 10 minutes—if you can find a charger capable of that rate of output, of course.

The new X5/iX5’s screen-heavy interior somehow is more fitting in the electric iX5, as the new interface with the dash-spanning panoramic display is more in tune with the techy interiors found in this Bimmer’s EV competitors. Available power-operated doors give the iX5 some upscale cachet, and the materials inside are befitting of the $81,250 starting price.

BMW

Choosing the electric model requires a nearly $8000 premium over the gasoline X5 40 xDrive, although there are differences in equipment between the two. But now that the two models are so similar other than their powertrains, we think that extra outlay is a tougher sell. The old iX offered a unique design and driving experience, while the iX5 looks and feels just like an X5, and we enjoyed the gas-powered model’s ride and handling more. The new iX5 makes a strong argument for itself within the electric luxury SUV segment thanks to big range numbers and quick charging, but it’s outmatched by its own stablemate.

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Specifications

Specifications

2027 BMW iX5 60 xDrive
Vehicle Type: front- and rear-motor, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door wagon

PRICE
Base: $81,250

POWERTRAIN
Front Motor: induction AC, 245 hp, 225 lb-ft
Rear Motor: current-excited synchronous AC, 325 hp, 369 lb-ft
Combined Power: 570 hp
Combined Torque: 593 lb-ft
Battery Pack: liquid-cooled lithium-ion, 144 kWh
Peak Charge Rate, AC/DC: 15/460 kW
Transmissions, F/R: direct-drive

DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 119.5 in
Length: 197.2 in
Width: 78.7 in
Height: 68.8 in
Cargo Volume, Behind F/R: 68/27 ft3
Front Trunk Volume: 2 ft3
Curb Weight (C/D est): 6300 lb

PERFORMANCE (C/D EST)
60 mph: 4.3 sec
1/4-Mile: 12.9 sec
Top Speed: 130 mph

EPA FUEL ECONOMY (C/D EST)
Range: 435 mi

Despite being raised on a steady diet of base-model Hondas and Toyotas—or perhaps because of it—Joey Capparella cultivated an obsession for the automotive industry throughout his childhood in Nashville, Tennessee. He found a way to write about cars for the school newspaper during his college years at Rice University, which eventually led him to move to Ann Arbor, Michigan, for his first professional auto-writing gig at Automobile Magazine. He has been part of the Hearst Autos team since 2016 and now lives in New York City.  

Source: www.caranddriver.com — article syndicated from the publisher’s feed; all rights remain with the original publisher.