When they say that everything old is new again, they must have been talking about the BMW lineup. The German automaker recently launched a brand-wide reset that saw BMW replace its current styling approach with a new, yet familiar design language, starting with the 2026 iX3 crossover.
Now it’s time for BMW’s bestselling SUV to join the fray. The 2027 BMW X5 will hit dealerships with a fresh new look that’s guided by the brand’s Neue Klasse design language. Despite the name, the Neue Klasse design language isn’t entirely new, but rather harkens back to the original Neue Klasse models of the 1960s.
In addition to its bold new design and expansive infotainment setup, the X5 will also gain its first all-electric variant with the introduction of the iX5. The gas-burning version includes a number of hybrid options, as well as a high-performance model said to pack a potent V8 engine, and a potential hydrogen-powered model. It’s an exciting time to check in on the popular SUV and learn how the BMW X5 is evolving for a new era with the debut of the new fifth-generation model.
Nothing Neue?
The original Neue Klasse cars were built with a simple premise: creating sleek, driver-centric sedans with timeless proportions, thin roof pillars, low beltlines, and simple geometric surfaces. This approach worked a treat and laid the groundwork for decades of success at BMW, but eventually fell out of favor as consumer tastes, safety regulations, and other factors led the automaker to adopt a more aerodynamic approach.
The early 2000s were defined by a “flame surfacing” approach, in which sharp creases and dramatically shaped body panels became the norm, while 2010 saw BMW embrace an aesthetic centered on athletic aggression. Strong shoulders and angular headlights gave recent models decidedly muscular proportions, but it was BMW’s increasingly large air intake and signature kidney grille that best represented the era’s defining feature.
Now the pendulum is swinging in the opposite direction. While changing trends certainly play a role, advances in automotive engineering have really informed the new Neue Klasse models like the X5. While an expanding lineup of powertrains certainly moves the needle, it’s the X5’s increasingly sophisticated design that really deserves a closer look.
BMW Kills The Oversized Grille
A new era of electrification has made cooling less of a concern, allowing BMW to revisit its controversially large kidney grille. While the upsized design proved popular with Chinese drivers, BMW acknowledges that it might have strayed a bit too far from the brand’s longstanding identity in an attempt to cater to the fast-growing Asian market. The grille has now been significantly overhauled, embracing smaller dimensions, a more vertical shape, and a backlit effect that automatically illuminates when you approach the vehicle.
Speaking of illumination, the new X5 also adds a double set of X-shaped LED lights. This is easily the boldest design decision for the 2027 model. It’s sure to turn heads as you cruise through town.
Luxury brands tend to play it pretty safe when it comes to exterior design, but these double-X lights represent a notable exception, almost making the SUV look like a cartoon character that’s been knocked out cold. The new lights not only serve as the X5’s daytime running lights (DRLs), but they also function as the SUV’s low-beam headlights, turn signal indicators, and side lights.
These distinctive lights represent a bold choice from a design standpoint, but could give BMW the edge in a luxury segment where safe, understated models have become the norm. While some drivers will appreciate the racing-inspired lights, BMW also provides buyers with an easy way to blend in with the crowd by deactivating the “X” in favor of a simple diagonal slash.
The X5 also gains a cleaner body with fewer creases, slim horizontal taillights, new wheel options, and novel door handles, which represent an interesting take on the age-old design. The “winglet” handles are integrated directly into the B and C pillars, essentially slotting in line with the side mirrors, and employ a touchpad approach that requires drivers to lightly tap the handle to open or close the door.
More Powertrain Options Than Ever Before
The X5’s bold new profile might garner much of the attention, but BMW has also spent plenty of time upgrading the goods you’ll find under the hood. Drivers will be spoiled for choice with the brand offering five different powertrain options for 2027, the most ever offered in a single BMW model, including gas, hybrid, EV, diesel, and even a hydrogen-powered model.
It all starts with the base engine, a 3.0L turbocharged I-6. A little electric power goes a long way with the entry-level engine, which opts for a mild-hybrid approach and churns out 394 hp. That’s a 19-hp improvement over the 2026 version, and it’s all thanks to a new turbocharger design.
North American drivers will miss out on the X5’s hybrid diesel, but it’s not a huge loss. While the alternative fuel engine is promising in terms of fuel economy, it’s also a bit underpowered at just 313 hp. Luckily, those interested in an alternative-fuel engine just need to bide their time, with BMW indicating that a hydrogen-powered X5 will eventually make its way to American soil.
Next up, we have the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) offering in the 50e xDrive. A 3.0L turbo I-6, electric motor, and large battery allow the PHEV to achieve 483 hp and a zero-to-60-mph time of 4.6 seconds while still offering 44 miles of all-electric range. Overseas drivers will also be treated to an M60e xDrive PHEV producing 612 hp, but the new EV should go a long way towards easing the disappointment.
The all-new, all-electric iX5 60 xDrive will feature the largest battery in BMW’s history, a 144-kWh pack, and two electric motors that will propel the 570-hp SUV from zero to 60 mph in just around 4.4 seconds. Equipped with AWD and built around 800-volt architecture, the iX5 will be able to travel 435 miles on a single charge and add up to 220 miles of range in just 10 minutes.
Infotainment Innovation
BMW has also treated customers to an entirely new interior with the debut of the 2027 X5, and it could make all the difference in terms of comfort and convenience. While a new two-spoke steering wheel, updated ambient lighting, and premium upholstery options certainly up the bar from a design standpoint, it’s the SUV’s innovative new infotainment display that really caught our attention this time around.
The X5 will be one of the first models to integrate the new BMW Panoramic iDrive infotainment system. While most vehicles are lucky to receive a digital instrument cluster to complement the standard infotainment display, the BMW Panoramic iDrive actually includes four different screens.
The first is a centrally located 17.9-inch display that handles the bulk of the infotainment duties. This screen can be easily customized to display a wide range of stats and settings, and gives drivers plenty of room to maneuver thanks to the upsized interface.
This is joined by a 14.6-inch passenger display that can be used to access a wide range of content, including gaming and streaming options. The only downside is that in a bid to reduce distractions, the screen can’t actually be used while the vehicle is in motion. A head-up display projects relevant driving data and GPS directions directly onto the windshield, allowing owners to track key metrics without taking their eyes off the road.
While these three displays might provide plenty of screen time for drivers and passengers alike, the clear highlight would have to be the X5’s BMW Panoramic Vision system. The automaker has embedded a narrow strip along the bottom of the entire windshield. The technology has been teased since 2023, but finally makes its way into a production model with the debut of the Neue Klasse lineup.
The BMW Panoramic Vision display essentially replaces the traditional gauge cluster but offers much more in terms of customization. In addition to displaying the current speed, battery status, and fuel status, the BMW Panoramic Vision display can also be customized with a wide range of available widgets.
From GPS directions and weather to media, altitude, traffic, and even the current Air Quality Index (AQI), the BMW Panoramic Vision makes it exceedingly easy to dial in the dashboard of your dreams. It also creates a less cluttered interior with traditional buttons and knobs making way for touchscreen-based controls. BMW has equipped the new X5 with more computing power, and even an AI-enhanced voice assistant that can adjust various settings while you keep your hands firmly on the wheel.
Ride Into the Future With the X5
The new BMW X5 represents a significant transformation for one of the brand’s most popular models. Rather than embracing half-measures and incremental changes, the German automaker has gone back to the drawing board to create a crossover that can meet the changing needs of today’s driving public.
The Neue Klasse aesthetic lends the SUV a distinctive identity and solidifies BMW’s reputation as a luxury brand that’s always looking to raise the bar in design. Between the bold new grille, double-X lights, and sleek interior, there’s no mistaking the X5 for a BMW of old.
Of course, aside from the new chassis, a model like the X5 will always be judged on its performance potential. BMW certainly has it covered in that department, with the crossover offering a full roster of powertrains that ensure there’s an engine for every driver. Throw in the new, fully customizable Panoramic iDrive system, and it’s difficult to find a weak point in the X5. If you want to get a feel for where the luxury segment is headed, but appreciate a model that’s informed by the past, the 2027 BMW X5 might deserve a closer look.
