2027 BMW iX5 first drive: long range and self-opening doors
German carmaker BMW's upcoming electric SUV, the iX5, is expected to cover more than 450 miles per charge, according to the company. The reviewer praises its doors and driver assistance but calls the styling polarizing.
German carmaker BMW is preparing its new electric SUV, the iX5, which replaces the iX, sits above the recently released iX3 in the lineup and serves as a battery-powered alternative to the two-row X5. Tech site Engadget's reviewer tried it in the US and found the range to be its strongest point, while the looks may divide opinion. BMW has not finished US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) testing, but says to expect more than 450 miles on a charge.
Doors and cabin
Small winglets at the top of the front and rear doors contain strain sensors that detect a light pull. Pull one and the door opens itself, using embedded sensors to avoid hitting you or a neighboring car. Press the brake pedal once inside and it closes. The reviewer says similar systems on other cars usually annoy him, but here they work well.
The tested version was the iX5 60 xDrive, with 570 horsepower and 593 pound-feet of torque, fitted with massaging seats. The cabin has a 17.9-inch touchscreen topped by BMW's Panoramic Vision display, which runs from pillar to pillar in six customizable segments. An optional 14.6-inch passenger screen is also available. If the driver-monitoring camera sees the driver looking at it, the screen goes blank and the video pauses, and the passenger must resume it manually.
Driver assistance and range
The Symbiotic Drive assistance system steers on the highway and allows hands off the wheel. The driver can change lanes with the turn signal or by taking the wheel, and the system stays engaged even when the driver brakes or accelerates.
The iX5 has a 144 kWh battery and charges at up to 460 kW through a NACS port, going from 10 to 80 percent in 22 minutes. One BMW engineer reportedly drove more than 500 miles from San Francisco to Los Angeles without stopping and had 50 miles left.
Pricing
The reviewer compared the iX5 with the combustion X5 40 xDrive and preferred the electric model for its sharper throttle response and more engaging handling. The two look nearly identical. The plug-in hybrid X5 50e starts at $77,500 and the iX5 at $79,800.
