2023 BMW X5 Owner’s Manual

The BMW X5 competes in a ruthless mid-size luxury SUV class that contains choice rivals like the Mercedes-Benz GLE-class, Genesis GV80, and Porsche Cayenne—not an easy group within which to make out a name itself, but the X5 manages just that.

The 2023 X5 retains the same formula that always works for BMW: a mix of extreme refinement and class-leading performance that is hard to match by most other crossover SUVs in this category.

At the top of this market segment, whatever you pick will bring high-end luxury with well-tailored, premium furnishings. The performance department is where the X5 edges out most of the competition. BMW offers three main powertrain options with the 2023 X5 that are varied enough to satisfy every type of midsize luxury SUV buyer.

The base engine is an ample 335-horsepower turbocharged inline-six-cylinder engine with the xDrive40i and sDrive40i models. Similar to what you get with other BMW models, the sDrive is a rear-wheel drive trim, while the xDrive features all-wheel drive.

Selecting the higher-powered engine provides a ridiculous performance jump on the already aggressive base option. The engine that ships with the range-topping M50i is a brawny 523-horsepower twin-turbocharged V-8 that is sure to be overkill for every situation you can throw at it.

With this release, BMW also offers an eco-friendly powertrain option, adding a plug-in hybrid engine that ships with the xDrive45e model. This setup features an inline-six-cylinder turbocharged engine that pairs with electric motors to make a combined 389 HP. This plug-in hybrid setup allows electric-only driving with a range of up to 30 miles on battery power.

All three powertrains come mated with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The BMW X5’s superior interior and exterior aesthetics remain the same for 2023, with the only changes to the cabin being the features that are available standard on the various luxury packages.