Standard smartphone software, a good warranty, and large touchscreen help soften the 2020 BMW X5’s sticker shock. Base cars cost $59,895, including destination, and all-wheel-drive models cost more than $62,000. V-8 models run up the score like only BMWs can.
It’s an 8 for features after we’ve factored in good base equipment, a good touchscreen for infotainment, and a good warranty.
Base versions want for little, so we don’t stray far for our value pick in the class. Every X5 gets 19-inch wheels, synthetic leather upholstery, active safety features (covered above), navigation, heated front seats, and a 12.3-inch touchscreen for infotainment with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. BMW’s standard bumper to bumper warranty is 4 years/50,000 miles with included maintenance for the first 3 years/36,000 miles, which is better than many of its competitors.
We’d dab in a few key upgrades like 20-inch wheels ($600), metallic paint ($550), real leather upholstery ($1,450), and a convenience package that adds equipment such as four-zone climate control, wireless smartphone charging, satellite radio, and wireless CarPlay for $1,050. Active driving assistance is great, too—for $1,700 more, it’s a useful feature but requires that convenience package. For just over $65,000 (almost $67,000 with driver-assistance features), the X5 lives its best suburban life.
Want to know how silly it gets? Hold your breath. The X5 M50i starts at more than $83,000 and doesn’t stay there long. It gets bigger brakes, a sport differential, an adaptive suspension, multi-contour seats, premium audio, and a wireless smartphone charger, and 20-inch wheels. All-in, the X5 M50i can cost about $99,000, which is temptingly close to the X5 M high-performance SUV that starts at $105,000. Why stop?
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