For 2024, the BMW X5 does not enter a new generation. Instead it receives a mid-cycle update. Or as BMW calls it, life cycle impulse. But the update is more significant than just a new exterior design with new headlights, bumper, and taillights. The changes are a bit more significant than that.
Performance
Engine – Before I start talking about this xDrive40i, the entire X5 lineup receives updates for the 2024 model year. The X5M receives a 48-volt mild-hybrid system and is only available in Competition guise. The M50i is being renamed to the M60i and it too receives a 48-volt mild-hybrid setup. For both of these trim levels, the power outputs remain the same as before. The xDrive 45e also gets a name change to the xDrive50e along with more power. It now produces 483 hp & 516 lb-ft of torque (360 kW & 700 Nm) with a bump in the all-electric driving range of up to 64 km (~40 miles).
Now onto this xDrive40i which also receives a 48-volt mild-hybrid system and a bump in power. The turbocharged 3.0L inline-6 engine now produces 375 hp and 398 lb-ft of torque (280 kW & 540 Nm). With a curb weight of 2,267 kg (4,998 lbs), BMW claims a 0-100 km/h time of 5.4 seconds. From behind the steering wheel, it really does feel that fast. The engine picks up right away without a hint of turbo lag. The mild-hybrid system easily hides any turbo lag that there might be. That peak torque figure is reached at an insanely low 1,850 rpms and is sustained up to 5,000 rpms. That’s also what gives this engine such a quick pick up.
Fuel Economy – With the addition of the mild-hybrid setup, the 2024 BMW X5 40i has slightly improved fuel economy figures. It is rated for 10.1 L/100km (23.3 MPG) in a city and 8.7 L/100km (27 MPG) on a highway. During my time with the SUV, I averaged 9.8 L/100km (24 MPG).
This mild-hybrid system will shut off the engine a few moments before arriving at a complete stop. Additionally, if the drive mode is switched to the Eco Pro, the car will “coast” when you lift your foot off the accelerator pedal. This little bit of coasting will eventually add up and allow the car to travel further whilst using less gas.
Transmission – This inline-6 engine is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. This is a smooth and quick shifting transmission when the car is in the Sport drive mode. The steering wheel mounted paddle shifters are very quick to respond. You could almost mistake this for a dual-clutch.
Braking – Like many other BMW models, the X5 xDrive40i has strong brakes that can easily bring the big SUV to a stop with authority. The brake pedal does have a light feel on initial application but it quickly firms up as you apply more force to it. Don’t mistake this however, for the brake pedal feel of the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV or Nissan Ariya. This one feels much better than those.
Handling – BMW vehicles are known for their driving dynamics. Nearly every model from their base trim to the track focused M models have a certain degree of driving pleasure. For a large SUV, the X5 40i is no different. Obviously, it won’t provide the face bending performance of the X5M Competition but for a family focused SUV, you can enjoy the twists and turns of a back country road.
It has a responsive steering which does hide some of the heft of this big SUV. wherever you point the steering wheel, that’s where the front tires will go without any hesitation. In Canada, the X5 is only available with xDrive. In the United States, it’s also available as a RWD sDrive variant. But although the model that we get here in AWD, this is a rear-biased system. That means, most of the time power is sent to the back wheels, allowing the front ones to worry just about the steering. The rear-drive-bias nature of this system also aids in better rotating the SUV when exiting a corner. The combination of the quick steering and rear-drive nature is what makes BMW vehicles more enjoyable to drive than their competitors.
Comfort
Ride Comfort – Though the xDrive40i version of the BMW X5 does not have standard air suspension (it is available as an option), the ride is compliant over most road surfaces. Quick, deep potholes that are usually found on highways are more evident as the SUV drives over them. But on city streets, the suspension copes fairly well with manhole covers and cracked roads. For the smoothest ride among similarly sized luxury SUVs, the Mercedes-Benz GLE is hard to beat.
Interior Space – The X5 seating position is high and commanding. You can easily see over smaller crossovers. My small complaint is with the small-ish side mirrors. Front occupant space is excellent with loads of adjustments available for the front seats including bolster and thigh adjustments.
The back seats are also spacious though the Mercedes GLE does have about an inch more leg space than the X5. Having said that, behind my tall 6’4” driving position, I still have enough leg room in the 2nd row. Headroom is just enough for my tall height. One change for the 2024 model year is that the BMW X5 is no longer available with the 3rd row seat option. Those seats were pretty tight to begin with so I can understand why BMW decided to remove them entirely. So now if you want a 3-row BMW SUV, you have to move up to the X7 or the Alpina XB7.
Once you open the power split tailgate, which I am a big fan of, you’ll find 960 L (33.9 cu-ft) of cargo space behind the rear seats. With the rear seats folded, that number increases to 2,047 L (72.3 cu-ft). Under the trunk floor, you’ll find a decently sized storage area but you won’t find a spare wheel.
Noise, Vibration & Harshness – With the addition of the 48-volt mild-hybrid system, the auto start/stop system in the 2024 X5 40i is smooth. It’s very difficult to detect when the system turns the engine on or off unless you really, really pay attention for it. Unfortunately, there is no way to turn off this system if you don’t like it. The only way I could figure out how to turn it off was to switch the car into Sport mode. But this does use a bit more gas.
As for cabin noises, nothing squeaks and nothing rattles. The engine is quiet with more engine noises being pumped into the cabin in Sport mode. Wind noise is minimal on highways but tire noise is more evident at those higher speeds.
Odds and Ends
Pricing – The 2024 BMW X5 xDrive40i is not an inexpensive SUV but its starting price is a bit less than its closest competitor; the Mercedes GLE 450. The X5 40i starts at $86,000 CAD ($65,200, sDrive) with this demo vehicle being equipped to a price of $96,500 CAD ($75,500 USD).
Gadgets – Being a luxury vehicle, the BMW X5 can be equipped with a lot of luxury features. It can be equipped with heated, ventilated & massaging front seats, a heated steering wheel with multiple settings, a large panoramic sunroof, a wireless phone charging pad, a head-up display, 4-zone automatic climate control, and even heated & chilled cup holders for the front occupants among many other luxury features.
But the BMW X5 can be equipped with some more unique gadgets. One of my favourite is the Parking Assistant Professional. This system can detect parking spots, not only between other cars but also just by detecting the lines on the asphalt. It will then allow the driver to choose between perpendicular or parallel and whether to park the SUV in the spot going into it or reversing into it. Once the driver selects “Start” on the infotainment screen, the car does everything from the steering, braking, and accelerating. It does a great job of parking the big SUV with precision. This system can also pull the car out of the parking spot, both perpendicular and parallel, and it can also remember the last 200 meters or so of any forward movement and then perfectly follow it in reverse. So if you’re driving down a narrow lane with no way to make a 3-point turn, you can easily reverse out without hitting your door mirrors.
Another cool gadget is the augmented reality navigation system. The windshield mounted camera can display what it sees on the 12.3” driver instrument cluster along with superimposed directional arrows of where you need to turn when a navigation route is active.
And finally, this car can also drive itself on certain highways. With the Driving Assistant Professional, the X5 will maintain a set gap and speed behind another vehicle and it will follow the lanes of the road without needing to hold onto the steering wheel. Additionally, this system can also change lanes on its own. Just tap the indicator stalk left or right and the car will begin to perform the lane change maneuver on its own when it detects an empty gap. There are sensors that will make sure that you’re still paying attention to the road ahead so it’s no excuse to check your phone while driving.
Interior Design – A big change for this 2024 model year is with the interior design. The X5 now has a simplified dashboard with nearly all physical controls being removed and functions being integrated into the infotainment touchscreen. I personally like the physical controls of the pre-facelifted design. I think that by integrating the most commonly used functions into a touchscreen leads to more distractions on the roads. Furthermore, the headlight controls have also been simplified. In order to turn on the headlights & taillights, you have to press one physical button next to your left knee, then shift your focus away from the road and onto the touchscreen to press headlight controls, and then select low beam. It’s two extra steps that should not have been needed. Granted, by default the automatic headlights & taillights will turn on when the ambient light outside gets darker or when the wipers are activated. But in low visibility situations such as dense fog, the auto headlights will not turn on. End rant.
The new interior design closely mimics that of other updated BMW vehicles with a dual screen layout being the predominant feature. The 14.9” touchscreen displayed the latest BMW 8.5 operating system. This system is highly customizable and is enabled for over-the-air updates. Should any problems arise or if a system update is required, there’s no need to visit a dealership. Overall, it looks great and is decently easy to navigate around but again, I just wish the climate controls and headlight controls were not buried in this system.
The rest of the cabin is lined in top quality materials. The leather on the dashboard and door panels is soft to the touch. The wood trim feels real as does the aluminum. There is some gloss black on the center console touch sensitive controls and if you are a fan of piano black, you can have it line the dashboard and more of the center console.
Exterior Design – The 2024 life cycle impulse (mid-cycle update) gives the X5 new headlights with new daytime running lights, a new bumper design, new taillights, and new side vents. I’m also a fan of the Blue Ridge Mountain metallic paint that this demo car is painted in. It looks classy. But as I stated earlier the exterior mirrors are on the small side for such a big SUV. This being a modern day luxury vehicle, you can option it with extra garnish that, let’s be honest, you don’t really need. So you can have black roof rails, black window surrounds, and illuminated kidney grilles.
Safety – Apart from the advanced driving assistant package, the 2024 BMW X5 xDrive40i is equipped with every available safety feature. All of the features operate well without any false readings such as a false reading with the forward collision alert. The IIHS gave the 2023 X5 a Top Safety Pick award with good scores in every test but with a poor rating for the headlights. The 2024 X5 also received good scores for the crash tests but acceptable and marginal scores for the headlights, depending on the options.
Warranty – Like all other BMW vehicles, the 2024 BMW X5 40i is covered by a 4 year / 80,000 km new vehicle warranty in Canada. In the United States, it’s 4 years or 50,000 miles. For more information on Canadian BMW warranty, click here. For information on USA warranty information, click here.
Conclusion – Overall, the 2024 BMW X5 xDrive40i is a good luxury SUV. The updates for this model year further enhance the driving dynamics of this big SUV and keep it looking fresh. Of course, I do not like the finicky headlight controls nor the removal of the physical climate controls. But overall, this is an SUV that you can comfortably take the family on a road trip and enjoy the drive along the way.
Thank you to BMW Canada for providing the vehicle. www.BMW.ca
2024 BMW X5 xDrive40i Gallery
