Is the BMW X5 a Good SUV? Yes, the BMW X5 is a good SUV. Its robust engines and poised handling give it an athletic, fun-to-drive feel without sacrificing ride quality. Inside, this SUV is quiet and comfortable, and it offers plenty of tech features. A few competitors are more stylish, but this BMW delivers a combination of performance and luxury that few rivals can match. Should I Buy the BMW X5? The X5 makes a great choice for all the reasons listed above, but it carries a higher starting price than many competitors, so it may not represent the best value. That doesn't mean you should overlook the X5 - just that you should make sure it's the SUV you really want. If you're looking for other luxury midsize SUVs to compare against this BMW, check out the Mercedes-Benz GLE and Volvo XC90. Should I Buy a New or Used BMW X5?
BMW redesigned the X5 for the 2019 model year, making it the debut edition of the new X5 generation. Compared to the outgoing model, the 2019 X5's base engine provides more power and better fuel economy. You can likely save money by purchasing an older model, but you'll miss out on the redesign's updates. If you're interested in a used model, visit our overviews of the 2017 BMW X5 and 2018 BMW X5. You can check out our Used Car Deals page to learn about savings and discounts on used vehicles. We don’t base our car reviews on our personal opinions. Instead, we combine the findings of professional test drivers with data such as reliability ratings and safety scores to give you a complete overview of every vehicle we rank. U.S. News & World Report has been ranking the best cars, trucks, and SUVs since 2007, and our staff has more than 75 years’ worth of auto industry experience combined. To keep our reviews unbiased, we don’t accept expensive gifts or trips from car companies, and an outside company manages our advertising.
Of course, the X5 is no slouch, and it has more comfortable rear seats than the Mercedes and an available third row, which the Benz doesn't offer. The BMW is a bit better overall, but these are both good choices. Which Is Better: BMW X5 or Volvo XC90? The Volvo XC90 makes its bones by providing arguably the best interior in the class. It's incredibly posh and comes standard with seating for seven. The Volvo has more cargo space and more standard active safety features than its German rival. Performance-wise, however, this is no contest. The X5 handles much better, it's more powerful, and it's nearly as fuel-efficient as the XC90. The X5 also has a better predicted reliability rating than the XC90. The right choice here comes down to whether you prefer a more fun-to-drive SUV or a nicer interior. How Many People Does the X5 Seat? In its base configuration, the X5 seats five, but an optional third row increases seating capacity to seven. The front-row seats are spacious and supportive, and they provide great forward visibility for the driver.
The second-row seats are adult-friendly as well, though the third row is too cramped for most grownups. The X5 comes with two full sets of LATCH connectors for installing car seats. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the system its second-lowest rating of Marginal for ease of use, noting that the lower anchors are set too deep in the seats and are difficult to manuever your hands around. From a design and build-quality standpoint, the X5 hits a home run. However, its drab, monotone color schemes keep it a half-step below the best interiors in the class. This BMW SUV has decent cargo capacity for the class, with just under 34 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second-row seats. That's enough space for a weekend's worth of luggage for the family or all your tailgating supplies. With the rear seats folded down, you have more than 72 cubic feet of space.
