2027 BMW X5 First Look: AI, Neue Klasse, Rolls-Royce and 7 Series Elevate the Brand’s Most Popular SUV
With hints of Rolls-Royce, 7 Series and the Neue Klasse concept, this is the smartest, most advanced BMW yet.
There’s a lot that will wow you in the reinvention of the 2027 BMW X5. I’ll call it a reinvention because this is so far beyond a redesign that it brings the next era of car design to life.
As with the ethos of luxury design, the changes are both subtle and spectacular. Over the last few years, BMW has given us peeks at some of the specific details in the 2027 BMW X5; we saw much of the new design language in the BMW iX3 reveal last year and in the Neue Klasse concept that the company has been showcasing for several years now.
The 2027 BMW X5, priced from just under $70K and delivering from 394 to 570 HP depending on powertrain, implements clever tech, modern design and luxury touches drawn from Rolls-Royce and the BMW 7 Series to bring it all together in spectacular fashion. I sat with BMW’s designers and engineers and toured the X5 for myself to experience their newest creation. This is what makes it innovative—and so luxurious.
This story is 100% human-researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks. Additionally, I was a guest of BMW for this first look, but all opinions are my own.
A Design Slight-of-Hand Crafts a New BMW X5 Silhouette
On first glance, I thought, “Is that a coupe?” I’m a fan of sculpting a fastback design from a traditionally square-backed SUV, and BMW’s talent here is pretty spectacular, though a bit controversial; not everyone loves it as much as I do.
But clearly, BMW’s designers are with me, giving the 2027 BMW X5 a more toned and sculpted look with flared rear wheel wells paired with narrowed side panels and a slightly sloping roof line to create a much sleeker look. The result is a full-size SUV without headroom or cargo space compromises, yet a more athletic and toned look.
The overall look is also more streamlined, with power, touch-activated “winglet” door handles and dark window surrounds to better integrate the glass into the overall design.
Read: BMW X5 45e: Electric Car Fun Without Compromising the Sporty Luxury of BMW
A Truly “X” Inspired Lighting Signature
One of the starkest, most notable design details is in front and rear lighting: front headlights are framed by “X” design daytime lights and a vertical play on the kidney grille design, all together creating a new lighting signature for this already iconic SUV. On the rear, the taillights span the liftgate with an almost ‘heartbeat’ feel of red lights that play across the light bar.
BMW is offering buyers a choice of tires to add to the sporty look and feel: 21” wheels are standard, but 22” and 23” upgrades are offered. And, despite the still sporty appearance, the 2027 X5 is 2.5” longer, adding more rear seat space and legroom, something families with kids in car seats will appreciate. I measured 32” between the front seat set for me and the rear seat, meaning there’s plenty of space for even a rear-facing child car seat.
Read: Meet the 2027 Mercedes-Benz GLS: The First-Class 3-Row SUV for All Passengers
A Completely New Future-Inspired Interior
Drawing from the Neue Klasse, or new class, design concept that BMW introduced a few years ago, the interior of the 2027 BMW X5 brings the concept to life. Hopping into the front seat is like walking into a luxury boutique; it feels refined with fresh new design, such as an ambient light panel that surrounds the front cabin and novel materials like slate veneer for a tactile, cool feel. Together, it feels like a relaxed and intuitive cabin and instantly changes your outlook.
There are some elements that you’ll see right away, like the steering wheel that is flat on top and bottom, the large 18” center screen and the minimalist center console that eliminates all the buttons and dials in lieu the panel of dials and toggles—the luxury package adds crystal controls—that we’ve seen in recent top-trim BMW models.
But look closer; BMW’s designers built on the idea of ambient light with additional ambient backlighting and a dash that’s been narrowed and hide the air vents. And most notably, the tech has been rethought into a truly innovative panoramic screen.
Read: The Rolls Royce Spectre Electric Car Redefines Quiet Luxury
Form Allows Function With BMW’s Neue Klasse Digital Experience
Once you look away from the main screen and dash you’ll notice the panoramic screen that spans the entire dashboard just below the windshield. This is a fixed projection screen that places all the key information at a comfortable distance from the driver and passenger, making it all easy to see. The panoramic screen can be customized on the main screen and a BMW assistant icon at the center of the screen bubbles up when its name is uttered, “Hey BMW” to execute your commands.
The AI-informed system is also self-learning, so it can offer proactive suggestions and develop a memory for your preferences. The system will not only integrate with the multimedia system and navigation, but also with the BMW app and digital key for a fully comprehensive experience. Eventually, as owners use the system, the assistant will become more conversational to function truly as an assistant.
Of course, buyers will still be able to use wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which are included.
Standard Features Set an Elevated Baseline for Luxury
This might be one of our favorite things about BMW: Every model can be exactly what you want it to be. Pick your powertrain—gas-only, a PHEV, or EV—and pick your level of luxury through packages and options. Though you might not need to. The array of standard features is pretty comprehensive, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless phone charging, ambient lighting, leatherette upholstery, a panoramic sunroof, the front and rear light signature, soft close doors and matte black exterior details.
Of course there are options that elevate the feel even further, including the luxury package that adds a front passenger screen, rear head rest pillows and an arm rest pillow and heated rear seats, among other details.
My Favorite Luxury Details? Box Quilted Seats and Rolls-Royce Touches
Luxury car designers have been quite competitive when it comes to quilted leather seating, with designs, embroidery, color layering and more becoming more commonplace. Here, BMW counters the complicated and at times overwhelming layers of seat design—ever tried cleaning the crevices of the piping on the seats?— with the minimalist, mid-century modern look of box quilting.
The style is standard across all trims and features large squares of leather or leatherette to create a cushy loft on the seat and seat back. Rear seats in upper trims (or luxury packages) add soft pillows to the head rest and center arm rest.
The overall look is sublimely elegant and modern—and relaxed.
Then, taking a cue from Rolls-Royce, the electric power doors can be closed with a push of the brake pedal; just push it and the door closes. To close—or open—any door, tap a control button on the center screen. To open the door manually, just push the release button on the door panel and the door opens automatically, though it’ll stop before it taps a person or another car.
Pick Your Power and Powertrain: How the Lineup Shakes Out
BMW believes you should pick the car you love, then choose how you’d like it powered, with either gas, fully-electric, or a bit of both (PHEV). For 2027, BMW is offering these three versions; here’s how they line up and what each delivers in terms of power and performance:
- The gas-powered X5 40 with an in-line 6-cylinder turbocharged engine delivers 394 HP; the rear wheel drive version starts at $69,800; the AWD model starts at $72,100
- The plug-in hybrid X5 50e comes with AWD standard and delivers 483 HP from the 6-cylinder turbo engine assisted by a plug-in battery system. Plugging it in offers 44 miles of all-electric driving. This model starts at $77,500
- The all electric iX5 60 is the most powerful of the bunch, generating 570 HP and 435 miles of range thanks to the 800 V charging architecture and a new battery design; it can charge at the most powerful DC fast chargers using a NACS charge port. It starts at $79,800
The 2027 BMW X5 will go on sale in October 2026, and in the coming months, BMW will offer a hydrogen-powered option, too, adding even more wow to this redesigned model. As if a chic modern minimalist AI-driven boutique on wheels weren’t enough.
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