Before we get to how the new X5 drives, a brief mention of what drives it. When the 2019 BMW X5 hits showrooms, it will arrive in two forms – the xDrive40i, powered by a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder, or the xDrive50i with a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8. As we reported in our preview of the 2019 BMW X5, both engines are connected to an 8-speed automatic transmission, and both models come standard with all-wheel drive, which BMW calls “xDrive.” The 6-cylinder puts out 335 horsepower – 35 more than the previous inline-6 – and is rated to move the X5 from 0-60 mph in a swift 5.3 seconds. The V8 is now rated at 456 horsepower – an 11-horse bump – and drops the new X5’s 0-60 mph time to a scant 4.6 seconds. This is where you might be wondering about other variants. The 2018 X5, for example, offered two such gasoline engines, plus a diesel 6-cylinder, a higher-power V8 in the X5 M, and a plug-in hybrid that tied a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder to an electric motor. The first X5 was also among the first luxury SUVs to prove that such a vehicle could have sports-sedan performance and the practicality of a utility vehicle. That trait has only blossomed, as have competitors ranging from Porsche and Audi to Range Rover and Mercedes-Benz. The only model provided to U.S. journalists for the X5’s global media launch in Atlanta was the 6-cylinder xDrive40i, and while we would have loved to prod the V8, even this 6-cylinder proved to be more than enough. And in reality, this is the engine that will power most models, as BMW reps say this will be the volume model for the brand. Like all X5s, including those for export, it is built just one state away in South Carolina at BMW’s massive Spartanburg plant. We’ve already noted that with a 5.3-second 0-60 mph time, the new X5 is quick. Considering this X5’s weight of over 4,800 pounds, this is no mean feat. Yet for its sizable mass, the X5 feels lithe and athletic. Various drive modes, ranging from Eco Pro and Comfort to Sport and Sport Plus, tailor the characteristics of BMW’s midsize SUV to the preference at hand. Changing the settings truly changes the nature of the vehicle. For example, on the highways outside of downtown Atlanta, the 2019 X5 felt its best in Comfort mode, where it provided a plush yet taut ride. In territory such as hills and narrow 2-lane winding rows beyond the suburbs, the Sport and Sport Plus modes were best exploited. In its most aggressive mode, the steering felt sharp and precise, and body roll was kept to a minimum. The X5, thus, remains a utility vehicle that is indeed sporty and fun to drive. In this regard it stands out above almost every other rival except a Porsche Cayenne or an AMG-enhanced Mercedes GLE. And this was only with the base engine. Hands down, the X5’s turbocharged inline-6 is a honey of an engine. If you didn’t know any better, you’d think it’s a V8. The power is that good, and the response is that assured. Just about whatever you want, this engine is willing to give. The X5 eagerly goes where you point it, whether that’s blasting down the freeway at extra-legal speeds or crawling up a dirt hill rutted with roots and debris. And that latter case brings us to our next point.
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