BMW's 2027 X5 Goes Electric: What the Prototype Tells Us About the Future of the SUV

The 2027 BMW X5 is still months from showrooms, but engineers in Spartanburg, South Carolina, are already putting camouflaged prototypes through their final paces. We got behind the wheel of three versions—including a new all-electric flagship—and came away with a clear picture of what to expect.

Bernd Limmer, the chassis engineer behind legendary models like the E46 M3 and E39 M5, is leading development of this fifth-generation X5 (codenamed G65). His signature tuning is evident even in these pre-production cars. The X5 40 xDrive, with its 400-horsepower turbocharged inline-six and 48-volt hybrid assist, delivers the silky power delivery BMW is known for.

5 seconds seems realistic.

But the big news sits at the top of the lineup: the iX5 60 xDrive. This all-wheel-drive electric SUV packs 578 horsepower from two motors—an induction unit up front and a synchronous motor at the rear. 7 seconds. The 800-volt architecture promises fast charging, though specific rates are still under wraps.

The battery, estimated at 141 kWh, uses new cylindrical cells.

For those wanting a middle ground, the plug-in hybrid X5 50e carries over the outgoing model's powertrain: a 313-horsepower inline-six paired with a 197-hp electric motor and a 26-kWh battery. Expect over 30 miles of electric range.

What impressed us most was the chassis. Active anti-roll bars eliminate head toss. Air springs and rear-wheel steering are optional. Despite a weight difference of roughly 1,300 pounds between the base model and the EV, BMW split the rear spring and damper assembly and moved suspension pickup points outward.

The result? A ride that feels more like a sedan than a three-row SUV. The cabin is quiet, the steering has zero slop, and the new instrument cluster uses a windshield-projected display spanning from A-pillar to A-pillar.

Of course, advanced tech brings real-world headaches. Current BMW hybrid and EV owners have reported issues with battery cooling systems and software glitches that cause unexpected shutdowns. The new X5's 800-volt system and revised thermal management aim to address those complaints, but we'll need production cars to confirm.

A hands-free Level 2 driving system is available for highways. An automated parking feature can back out of tight driveways, though it still requires some learning. Pricing should start around $75,000 when the X5 goes on sale late this year. An M version and a hydrogen fuel-cell model are also in the pipeline.

For now, the takeaway is this: BMW is betting big on electrification without abandoning the ride-and-handling balance that built its reputation. Whether that bet pays off depends on execution—and on how well the new X5 holds up in the real world.