The fourth-generation BMW X5 will arrive in Australia in November of this year – initially with a two-strong diesel lineup kicking off at $112,900. While more engines will join the 2019 X5 range in later tranches – including petrol and electric powertrains – initially, two six-cylinder oilers will lead the charge to Australia.
Both launch grades of the ‘G05’ X5 use an underlying three-litre inline six-cylinder diesel but the volume-selling, $112,900 xDrive30d makes use of two turbos while the $149,900 diesel halo grade, called M50d, doubles the number of turbochargers to four.
Despite specification and engine outputs increasing, pricing does not drastically change. In fact, the xDrive30d – “traditionally the most popular X5 variant in Australia,” BMW say – sees a $90 price drop while the M50d increases in price by $4,910.
The incoming 2019 xDrive30d is likely to continue as the most popular X5. Engine outputs from the three-litre diesel are up 5kW/60Nm over the outgoing ‘F15’ chassis xDrive30d, to 195kW/620Nm in the ‘G05’.
The substantial increase in the xDrive30d’s torque to 620Nm encroaches on terrain covered until now by a higher diesel grade called xDrive40d, which produced 230kW/630Nm.
Questioned about whether the xDrive40d is now superfluous, BMW Australia product communications manager Adam Davis told Chasing Cars that “with the step from 30d to M50d, I would suggest that the diesel range is covered off for this market.”
“Further variants will be added as production ramps up including a petrol option,” Mr Davis said, suggesting confirmation of the first petrol-powered ‘G05’ variant should be confirmed shortly after the November launch of the xDrive30d and M50d diesels.
A petrol-electric xDrive45e hybrid variant of the ‘G05’ chassis has already been revealed globally, pairing a 3.0-litre turbocharged inline six-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor to produce a combined 290kW/600Nm. The lithium-ion battery pack can offer 80km of zero-emission electric range before requiring the petrol engine.
For the new xDrive30d – the initial entry point – specification generally over the outgoing grade of the same name. New to the 30d price point is full keyless access to all doors, adaptive LED headlights, ambient lighting and a full suite of adaptive safety technology. The old car included city-speed AEB and lane departure warning; the new shape adds full AEB, front and rear cross-traffic alert, lane keep assist, and adaptive cruise control.
Continuing across from the old xDrive30d are BMW’s Professional navigation system, though it’s been upgraded to a new version of iDrive with a 12.3” screen featuing 1080p resolution – a 360-degree parking camera, 20-inch wheels, 40/20/40 split folding rear seats, DAB+ digital radio and a BMW-branded HiFi stereo system, though this gains an extra speaker for a total of ten. A panoramic sunroof, and electric front seats with driver’s memory carry over.
Leather seats swap from ‘Dakota’ trim to a new ‘Vernasca’ grain, with colours including black, beige, coffee, and cognac tan. A wide variety of trim materials are available, including aluminium, open-pore poplar, piano black, and three high-gloss woodgrains.
The X5 now includes four USB ports as standard across the range – and these are future-proofed with three of the four conforming to the new USB-C standard with three amps of power. The remaining port is the ‘old shape’, called USB-A, with a slower 1.5 amps.
Wireless Apple CarPlay is now included as standard – with a caveat. Until now, CarPlay has been a $479 option on most new BMWs, but the German brand is now moving to a subscription-based model for CarPlay integration.
Mr Davis told Chasing Cars that CarPlay would be “standard for the first 12 months – from then, it will be an annual subscription fee.” Mr Davis said the cost of renewal had not yet been confirmed.
It has been previously reported in the United States that the annual fee will be in the vicinity of 80 USD, currently around 110 AUD.
Meanwhile, at the pointy end of the X5 range, the M50d variant – a very warm M Performance vehicle rather than a ‘hot’ M car – sees its three-litre diesel outputs rise from 280kW/740Nm to 294kW/760Nm, up 14kW/20Nm. A fourth turbocharger will see the 0-100km/h sprint of the new car fall by 0.1sec to 5.2sec.
The M50d’s $149,900 price is $4,910 up on the outgoing car but specification is up. 22-inch wheels replace 20s, while the new M50d gains soft-closing doors, four-zone climate control, heated and cooled front cupholders, standard metallic paint and BMW’s Laserlight headlight system, which have the ability to selectively shut off beam elements to keep high-beam on without dazzling oncoming vehicles.
Like the outgoing car, the new M50d also features a leather instrument panel, lumbar support on both front seats and a 16-speaker, 464-watt Harmon Kardon premium stereo.
The X5 xDrive30d will come as standard with BMW’s relatively new ‘xLine’ styling package, which is directed modestly towards the rugged end of the spectrum with underbody protection and some black cladding on the lower body elements.
A familiar M Sport package is optional for the xDrive30d, replacing the black pieces with body colour and including a range of M-branded parts, including 20-inch M light alloy wheels, tailpipe finishers, an aerodynamics package and adaptive M suspension for a $4,000 tariff.
Additional options include a $9,500 Indulgence Package ($7,200 for the M50d) that swaps in plusher front seats with heating, cooling and massage up front, and heating in the second row. The cabin also receives extended Merino leather, with the xDrive30d gaining the M50d’s soft-close doors and heated and cooled cupholders. The Indulgence Pack’s comfort seats can be had in ivory white, coffee brown, black, or tartufo tan.
For $5,000, a Performance Package for the xDrive30d adds similar 22-inch wheels to those found on the M50d, plus a louder M Sport exhaust and metallic paint.
Though few X5 owners take their car off road, a $7,500 xOffroad package can be applied to the xDrive30d, which adds in selectable offroad driving modes – sand, rocks, gravel and snow – plus extended underbody protection, a mechanical differential lock, air suspension front and rear and BMW’s touchscreen display key.
A la carte options include front and rear air suspension ($3,900 on xDrive30d; no-cost on M50d), a touchscreen display key ($550), acoustic window glazing ($1,000), and a night vision camera ($3,700). Wireless smartphone charging was standard on the outgoing X5, but now commands a $900 on the options list.
As with the outgoing ‘F15’ X5, the new ‘G05’ can be purchased up-front with five years or 80,000km worth of servicing. Two packs are available – a $1,795 Basic setup that includes oil renewals and top ups, as well as renewal of the microfilter, air filter, fuel filter, and brake fluid. A more extensive $4,850 Plus package also includes new front and rear brake pads and discs, wiper blade rubbers, and a clutch disc and plate.
We’ll be driving the X5 launch models when they are released later in the year.
