2026 BMW X5 Reviews, Pricing & Specs

The 2026 BMW X5 lineup in Canada includes four models with standard all-wheel drive (AWD): xDrive40i, xDrive50e, M60i, and X5 M Competition. Prices range from $92,420 to $156,420, including the $2,520 destination charge. Note that any price landing above six figures is subject to the federal luxury tax, which is not included here and applies to the portion of the price above $100,000.

Our test vehicle was the X5 M60i, equipped with extra-cost Manhattan Green paint, 22-inch wheels, Merino leather upholstery, carbon fibre interior trim, Bowers & Wilkins audio, and all five available option packages.

Study the 2026 X5 and it's possible to see design elements from the original. The wide kidney grilles, four-element headlight array, Hofmeister kinks anchoring the lower corners of the greenhouse on each side, and taillights that bleed horizontally into the rear liftgate all recall the first-generation X5 from the 2000 model year. Even the general proportions are similar with sculpted bodywork sitting atop oversized wheels and tires. As in 2000, we think the styling is appealing, if not conventionally attractive.

The same is true of the interior. BMW aims for simplicity with its panoramic curved display and minimized controls. Our test vehicle jazzed up the joint with shiny metallic accents, mesmerizing carbon fibre inlays, artful metal speaker grilles, and attractively patterned seat surfaces. Despite the black Merino leather, black floor mats, black carpeting, and black headliner, our X5 was anything but monotonous inside.

Quality is the rule, too. From the smattering of glass controls and sophisticated display graphics to the feel of the upholstery and the tight construction, the X5 seems worth its price. That’s especially true at night when the cabin’s ambient lighting, illuminated Bowers & Wilkins speaker grilles, and available panoramic Sky Lounge LED sunroof make this SUV look and feel undeniably special.

BMW offers a variety of six-cylinder and eight-cylinder powertrains in the X5. Our M60i test car was equipped with a twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 engine with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, accelerating to 100 km/h in 4.3 seconds according to BMW. That speed is courtesy of 532 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque. Thanks to the standard xDrive AWD and the test model’s 22-inch wheels and staggered-width Pirelli P Zero performance tires, it gets to the ground without any drama. Accelerate flat-out from a stop and the M60i obediently blazes to where it's pointed.

Naturally, the more it's driven like that, especially in Sport mode, the more fuel the X5 M60i consumes. The official Natural Resources Canada rating is 12.3 litres per 100 kilometres combined, and we saw between 11.2 and 14.3 L/100 km in different conditions. BMW does offer more fuel-efficient options, including the xDrive40i rated at 9.4 L/100 km combined and the xDrive50e plug-in hybrid with 64 km of electric range.

There’s no escaping the fact that the X5 M60i is a hefty 2,429-kilogram (5,355-pound) SUV with 22 centimetres of ground clearance constructed on a wheelbase that’s only 11.5 centimetres longer than a low-slung BMW 3 Series sedan. On anything but smooth pavement, it bounces, rolls, and wobbles while its dynamic M Adaptive suspension attempts to ameliorate the effects of the high centre of gravity. (Air suspension is also available, and non-adaptive steel-spring suspensions are the default on lower trim levels.) The M60i’s M Sport brakes and grippy performance tires helped to rebuild confidence.

Around town, the M60i is docile and quiet when it needs to be. The ride is communicative and downright firm when driving over speed bumps and speed humps, but that’s to be expected of a BMW M-tuned SUV. Road noise from the huge and wide tires is occasionally intrusive, but the M60i generally behaves like the luxury SUV it is unless drivers would prefer otherwise by switching to the more aggressive Sport mode.

The sporty M60i isn’t equipped for off-roading, but BMW offers all-terrain tire options and an off-road package for other trim levels. The X5 also boasts an impressive maximum towing capacity of 3,265 kilograms (7,200 pounds).

The X5 accommodates five passengers in two rows of seats. There’s probably room for a third row in the X5, but that’s what the larger X7 SUV is for.

In M60i spec, the X5’s front seats offer myriad adjustments including for thigh support, upper back support, and the side bolsters. A heated steering wheel and heated and ventilated front seats are standard on this model with massage an option. These front seats were very comfortable, and we made good use of the somewhat loud ventilation system during a hot and humid week of testing.

Our test car also had four-zone automatic climate control, which seemed to lose effectiveness when stopping at traffic lights. This is likely because of the engine start/stop system that shuts off the V8 to conserve fuel, limiting electrical power. On the plus side, the outboard rear passengers each get their own temperature controls, and there are two sets of air vents for them. Our test vehicle also had heated outboard rear seat cushions.

Rear seat comfort is acceptable. Tall adults might feel the seat cushion is too low, flat, and lacking in leg support, but they’ll love the headroom. A Travel & Comfort system lets them attach their device of choice to the front seatback and power it via a USB-C port.

Much of the X5’s storage is hidden away under covers and lids, and there’s plenty of room for stashing things out of sight. All cubbies have secure rubber liners to prevent unwanted noise from items rattling around, except for the tray under the rear centre armrest. The front lower door panels effortlessly accommodate a one-litre water bottle but are not deep enough for a compact umbrella.

Around back, the 2026 X5 offers a split-opening power liftgate. This prevents items stored inside from rolling out when it's open and provides a convenient spot to sit. Shorter people will have a hard time reaching items located near the base of the back seat, though, which might be why the redesigned 2027 BMW X5 will have a conventional single-piece liftgate.

The X5 provides 960 litres of cargo space behind the 40/20/40-split folding rear seat. However, the cargo cover prevented us from sliding a full-size suitcase all the way to the rear seatbacks. Fold the back seat down and the maximum cargo space measures 2,047 litres.

The X5’s BMW Curved Display contains a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 14.9-inch touchscreen under a single sweeping piece of glass. Aside from its gentle bend to aim the display at the driver, it lacks artistry. However, it’s far preferable to other brands’ layouts, which often resemble an iPad glued to the dashboard.

The iDrive 8.5 infotainment system is well stocked with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, a cloud-based navigation system, and a number of connected services including the Connected Package Professional, BMW Remote Services, and BMW TeleServices with a complimentary trial subscription.

A conversational digital assistant is ready to help, though we couldn’t get it to work with Apple CarPlay running, even after switching over to the BMW’s native iDrive 8.5 environment. Disconnecting our smartphone resolved the matter, and the tech worked beautifully except when we told the assistant we wanted to listen to reggae music. That one seems to trip up almost all voice recognition systems.

As expected, the expensive Bowers & Wilkins high-end audio system produced immersive, phenomenal sound. Audiophiles will want to upgrade, even though it costs a significant amount.

The number of menus on the infotainment screen is a little overwhelming, and it's best to explore them when stationary. However, when drivers can give the screen their full attention, it’s quite easy to quickly navigate them.

Typically, BMWs do not offer the more advanced driver assistance systems as standard equipment. Instead, they’re packaged in the optional Driving Assistant Professional Package.

The 2026 BMW X5 comes standard with high beam assist, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a speed limit assistant, a driver monitoring system, a collision preparation system, post-collision braking, and parking sensors in the front, to the side, and at the rear.

The X5’s adaptive cruise control was very cautious about distance management and too slow to respond when traffic ahead sped up. The tech otherwise performed as expected, although the performance of the lane keep and lane centring features tended to degrade when not on a divided highway, which is pretty typical of these systems.

As far as safety ratings are concerned, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the 2026 X5 an overall rating of four stars due to four-star ratings for the driver and front passenger in a frontal impact collision. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the X5 its highest Top Safety Pick+ rating for the 2026 calendar year.

The BMW X5 is expensive, and while it comes with three years of scheduled maintenance and trial subscriptions to various services, those perks don’t quite offset its near-$90,000 base price before adding a single option.

If value is important, shoppers should consider the BMW X5 xDrive50e plug-in hybrid. While it costs $6,000 more than the base xDrive40i, it includes 64 kilometres of electric range with a full charge. Do that consistently and it will eventually save enough in gas to pay for itself and then some. Perhaps not if it's leased, though.

Alternatives include the Lexus RX, Genesis GV80, Mercedes-Benz GLE, and Lincoln Nautilus. Those who want a third row may also consider the Acura MDX, Audi Q7, and Volvo XC90. At the X5 M60i’s price, a Porsche Cayenne is also within reach.

That’s an impressive list of rivals. Still, we think the 2026 BMW X5 remains one of the best blends of performance and luxury in the segment.