New BMW X5 and X6 revealed: mid-life update for premium SUVs
February 08, 2023 by Jamie Edkins
Car changing is a big deal
This is the new BMW X5 and X6, and these big SUVs get some pretty big upgrades over the previous versions. Read on for all you need to know.
- New BMW X5 and X6 revealed
- Heavily revised styling
- New infotainment tech
- Improved plug-in hybrid system in the X5
- New 4.4-litre V8 for the M60i models
- X5 starts from £66,230
- X6 costs from £77,430
BMW has heavily revised the X5 and X6 SUVs, with both getting updated styling and overhauled engines.
These alternatives to cars like the Mercedes GLC and Audi Q5 Sportback also both have new interior tech as well.
New BMW X5 and X6 design
Considering this is essentially a mid-life facelift, the new BMW X5 and X6 are sporting some pretty big styling changes, especially up front.
Both cars get a new set of slim LED headlights with updated daytime running light signatures, as well as redesigned lower bumpers with more aggressive-looking air intakes.
The BMW X6 is clearly the more sporty of the two. It has a slightly narrower front grille than the X5, as well as a more steeply raked windscreen on account of its coupe body. Both cars do get the option of a new light-up grille though.
Down the sides, both these cars retain their basic shape. The X5 is still a boxy SUV, while the X6 is a more sleek-looking coupe. Alloy wheel sizes go up to 22-inches, while M60i models get M-Sport wing mirrors with added fins.
At the rear, changes to the X5 and X6 are less dramatic. There are some neat new LED lights, as well as a tweaked bumper.
New BMW X5 and X6 interior and infotainment
The cabins of the new BMW X5 and X6 are nearly identical, just like with the old cars, however they’ve both been given a pretty thorough going over.
The main attraction here is the new iDrive 8 infotainment system. It’s the same setup found in cars like the new BMW X7 and 3 Series, and it comprises a 12.3-inch digital driver’s display and a 19.9-inch infotainment screen behind one curved piece of glass.
This does mean that the physical climate controls you got in the old cars have gone, however you can use voice commands to do things like change the temperature.
Find out what Mat makes of the current BMW X6 in the video below…
As for the rest of the cabin, there’s some new ambient lighting on the dash in place of those aforementioned climate controls, so you can take some comfort in that, and you now get body-hugging sports seats as standard throughout the range.
New BMW X5 and X6 engines and driving
Both the new BMW X5 and X6 are offered with a selection of 3.0-litre petrol and diesel engines, all with mild hybrid assistance for added power and efficiency. However the X5 is also available with a plug-in hybrid setup.
This has been overhauled from the old X5 plug-in hybrid. It now uses a 3.0-litre straight-six petrol engine, paired with an electric motor to make a combined 490hp and 700 Nm of torque. That’s 96hp and 100Nm more than you got before.
It also has a slightly larger 25.7kWh battery pack on board, which BMW claims will give you 68 miles of pure-electric range
If this all seems a bit too sensible for you, then you might want to consider the performance versions…
New BMW X5 and X6 M60i
Both the new BMW X5 and X6 will be offered as hot M60i models, just like the BMW X7. They both get the same 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine, similar to the one which will eventually make its way into the next BMW M5, producing 530hp and 750Nm of torque.
That’s enough oomph to launch the X5 and X6 M60i from 0-60mph in 4.3 seconds, around half a second slower than the BMW M3. not bad for a couple of hefty SUVs.
Find out just how quick the BMW X7 M60i is in this drag race…
M60i versions of the X5 and X6 come with rear-wheel-steering as standard, making them more agile on a twisty road and more stable at higher speeds. The all-wheel-drive system is also tweaked to send more power to the rear wheels for a more sporty feel in the corners.
New BMW X5 and X6: when will they go on sale?
Both the new BMW X5 and X6 are available to order now, with first deliveries expected in April 2023.
As for price, the new BMW X5 starts from £66,230. That’s around £800 more than the current model, however you’ll have to splash out £87,210 for the M60i model.
As for the BMW X6, that car starts from £72,430, around £5,000 more than the current car, rising to £89,910 for the X6 M60i.
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