The 2023 BMW X5 Is Worse With This Optional Feature
This midsize luxury SUV from BMW is a well-rounded vehicle with powerful engines and an upscale interior. Even though the 2023 BMW X5 price starts at just over $60,000, it comes stacked with safety systems and other features that increase owner satisfaction. However, BMW offered a feature on this midsize luxury SUV that actually made it less useful.
What is the 2023 BMW X5 price?
The 2023 BMW X5 price is $61,600 for the base sDrive40i trim. A fully loaded X5 M50i is $85,400. For the luxury SUV segment, that price is pretty average. If you want to spend less, the sDrive40i comes pretty well-equipped from the factory. It seats five passengers, and all five of those seats are spacious. BMW equips this version with front-wheel drive, but all-wheel drive can be added for an additional $2,300.
| 2023 BMW X5 Trims | MSRP | Horsepower |
| sDrive40i | $61,600 | 335 hp |
| xDrive40i | $63,900 | 335 hp |
| xDrive45e | $65,700 | 389 hp |
| M50i | $85,400 | 523 hp |
| M | $108,900 | 600 hp |
BMW offers four engines along with the four trim levels, all of which are suitable for a comfortable daily driver. The sDrive40i and xDrive40i come with a turbocharged inline-six engine with 335 horsepower. BMW’s xDrive45e gets a turbo inline-six and an electric motor for a slight power bump to 389 horsepower.
The M50i gets a twin-turbo V8 engine with 523 horsepower, an upgraded rear differential, better brakes, and adaptive suspension. Finally, the BMW X5 M has a 600 horsepower V8 engine. This trim level has a heated steering wheel, head-up display, and quad-zone automatic climate control.
Given its high starting price, what feature holds the 2023 BMW X5 back?
The 2023 BMW X5 is a luxury midsize SUV with five seats, but a third row is optional for an extra price. Adding the third row of space to the small SUV makes it less functional in a few ways. First of all, the second and third rows of seats are compromised by adding two extra seats. The second row can’t move back as far, and the third row only suits small children.
Another issue is the cargo capacity, which decreases quite a bit with the addition of the third row. With just two rows, the X5 has 33.7 cubic feet of space. That increases to 72.3 cubic feet when the seats are folded. Those are some pretty good numbers for the segment, but the third row takes away a significant amount of space.
It appears BMW agreed with the third-row sentiment and removed the option from the 2024 BMW X5. While the third row was an excellent option, in theory, it did nothing to help elevate the X5. The X5 is a well-rounded SUV without jamming two extra seats in the back. Those who need some extra room will probably be happier with the X7. While it isn’t the fastest SUV on the market, the X5 is consistent and reliable, even with only five seats.
Is this BMW SUV safe?
The 2023 BMW X5 has many standard safety features across all trim levels. These include forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring. It also gets systems like lane-departure warning, automatic high-beam headlights, and parking sensors.
The IIHS gave the BMW X5 its Top Safety Pick award, but only when equipped with the LED projector headlights on the Executive package. These headlights earned the highest score of “good” on the headlight portion of the safety testing, while all trim levels without the Executive package earned a score of “poor.”
In conclusion, the 2023 BMW X5 is still a top pick in the luxury SUV segment. If you are considering it but want more room, it might be better to jump up to the larger X7 or find another three-row SUV. Adding the third row to the X5 seems like a good idea at face value, but it doesn’t actually make it a better vehicle.
