2024 BMW X5 M60i Review: Power and practicality, but the competition isn't fair
merit
- The V8 is smooth and addictive
- Well equipped and functional
- Much cheaper than the X5 M
shortcoming
- It's hard to find the right balance between performance and comfort
- It's expensive, especially if there are other options
- V8 is energy scarce
Theoretically, the BMW X5 M60i can have the best of both worlds. First up is BMW's much-admired family SUV, which is the mainstay and benchmark in its field, combining luxury, technology and brand prestige. It was then sent to the M division, where BMW's capable in-house tuners equipped it with a powerful V8 engine and plenty of trim, but not as much as the more expensive and less forgiving X5 M Competition Edition.
After all, what's not to love when you have speed, style and elongated merino leather? Still, the still powerful X5 xDrive40i starts at $68,000, while BMW's electric X5 xDrive50e is about the same speed as the X5 M60i, but starts at around $73,000 (and also promises to reduce running costs), and the M-branded car has a price tag of more than $90,000, which is not an easy thing to accept.
If BMW can deliver on its double promise, the X5 M60i may be able to justify its price. The question, then, is whether this powerful SUV will really be able to find a balance between performance and comfort without sacrificing either.
Sharper looks and V8 power
Angry, but not too loud. This is the best description of the X5 M60i's aesthetic, a more brutal makeover of the standard SUV that includes the Shadowline trim package as standard, as well as additional aerodynamic accessories, chrome exhaust pipes, and 20-inch M-spoke wheels as standard (notably, swapped out for an arched package 22-inch version on this review car).
Under the hood is BMW's truly adorable 4.4-liter M TwinPower Turbo V8 engine (the same as the X6 M Competition), tuned to 523 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque. It's a mild hybrid paired with an eight-speed sports automatic transmission capable of propagating the X5 M60i from 0 to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds.
The performance of this M version X5 is not the best. The performance crown belongs to the X5 M Competition, which puts out a whopping 4.4 horsepower (although no change in torque) from a twin-turbo V8 engine. In return, you'll need to pay $124,800 (plus destination fees) – before choosing, the difference is almost $35,000 – and you can shave your 0-60 mph acceleration time down to a slightly ridiculous 3.7 seconds.
Of course, around $90,000 is just the starting point for buying the X5 M60i. Standard equipment includes M Sport exhaust system and xDrive all-wheel drive; Harman Kardon sound system; wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto; wireless phone charging; head-up display; and front and rear parking sensors. The front seats are heated and ventilated, a panoramic sunroof, and a decent set of safety technologies, including frontal collision warning, active blind spot detection, and lane departure warning.
This particular example adds $5,000 of United Kingdom Racing Green Paint – a livery that attracts more people than I expected – and $1,900 of 22-inch M wheels. Also consider the $300 carbon fiber trim and the $650 M Sport Professional package.
Then there's the $2,100 Professional Driver Assistance Kit, which includes Professional Active Driver Assistance and Highway Assistant, which provides driverless assistance on pre-mapped, controlled-channel highway sections; A $900 parking assistant kit that includes a 360-degree camera, parking sensors, and parking assistance. The $1,650 kit includes a glass dashboard controller and rather fancy gesture controls that respond to the action of waving your hand on the infotainment screen.
Equipped with $1,950 extended merino leather, a $1,000 Climate Comfort Package (which upgrades climate control to four zones, adds heated seats in the front and rear, and heated front armrests), plus a $995 destination fee, this 2024 X5 M60i is priced at $105,745. Still much lower than the real M version, but certainly not cheap.
Two extremes on the road
On the road, the X5 M60i feels like the extremes of two SUVs. The adaptive M suspension tuning in the default comfort mode is very gentle and the ride is very smooth, with rear seat passengers not complaining about body shaking. The steering system is powered by a powerful boost that facilitates handling – especially when paired with standard rear-axle steering – but lacks feedback. It's really comfortable, but if you start relying on the roar of the V8, it loses its composure.
At the same time, switch to sport mode and the car will become quite stable. The bouncing and roll of the body is noticeably reduced, and the drivetrain unleashes more aggressiveness. Switching the crystal shifter back into "S" gear will encourage you to hold the gear until the rev range increases further (or you can press the paddle shifters yourself), but even without it, the X5 M60i is a fast and tight sporty SUV. It's definitely fun if you're walking a long way home alone, but when you're carrying passengers, the extra anxiety is reduced by pampering.
As a compromise, the programmable Sport Individual mode allows you to choose the engine, transmission, suspension, and other settings. I found the suspension set to sport, but the comfort drivetrain was a more balanced everyday combination. Sadly, there's no dedicated "Individual" shortcut (and no M1/M2 custom triggers on the steering wheel that All-M cars have recently enjoyed), so you'll have to cycle through modes every time to access it.
It's still spacious and functional
The drive mode settings – like every other – are operated via the X5's wide 14.9-inch central touchscreen, which runs BMW OS 8.5. It is connected to a piece of sleek glass, and a 12.3-inch display serves as a dashboard; Both support a variety of layouts and themes that vary depending on the driving mode. These colors extend to the instrument panel, thanks to recessed ambient lighting.
With the carbon fiber kit option, the X5's interior is glossy carbon fiber that is easy to leave fingerprints. Alternatively, there is a range of open-cell or high-gloss wood options. The small joystick (which feels a bit like plastic, a strange misstep among other high-quality contacts) controls partially hidden vents, while the front storage compartment with lid has a USB port and cup holder. Dedicated volume keys and track skip buttons are still included, but there is no line of shortcuts common to other BMW models.
The second-row seats are slightly raised, and despite the X5's higher shoulder line, the rear passengers still have a good view. The rear seats are also equipped with plenty of USB power ports. As for the trunk, it offers 33.9 cubic feet of space behind BMW's two-piece power tailgate; With the rear seats down, the trunk space can be expanded to 72.3 cubic feet. My own mixed driving fuel burn was 17 mpg, which was slightly lower than the EPA's estimate of 19 mpg combined.
2024 款宝马 X5 M60i 评测
I've found that I like the X5 M60i more than the passengers. The ultra-smooth driving experience of Comfort Mode allows you to drive lightly and gently, unless you want to hear unpleasant feedback from the back seat. The problem is, with a powerful V8 engine, showing such restraint made me feel like I was wasting BMW's talent.
Switching to a sporty setting will undoubtedly unleash more driving pleasure, although I'm not sure how grateful others in the X5 are for that. At one point, I found myself nostalgic for the various individually customizable drivetrain settings of Hyundai BMW M cars. In the past, this has felt overwhelming, but the X5 M60i desperately needs a finer tuning, or at least a "normal" mode between comfort and sportiness.
Overall, the X5 M60i feels like a sporty SUV that is willing to make concessions in everyday driving. For BMW fans with deep pockets who still want to have some V8 glamour in their lives, this may well be the balance they want. Still, it might be worth taking a test drive of the plug-in hybrid X5 to see if BMW's equally torque-rich PHEV can bring a similar thrill for less money and also offer some all-electric range.