If a sports car and a luxury SUV had a baby, it would be the 2025 BMW X5 M Competition. This Bimmer is fast and fun, with dynamic handling, a posh cabin, and lots of tech. But it’s spendy and has a firmer ride than some rivals.
Base Price: $124,800
As Tested: $140,175
Horsepower: 617
Mileage: 13 mpg city/18 mpg highway/15 mpg combined
The M trim was introduced for the 2020 model year. In 2024, the line-up shrank to just one trim, M Competition, which got some exterior and interior tweaks and a mild-hybrid system. There are no major changes for 2025.
The X5 M Competition has bold looks with a modern interpretation of BMW’s kidney grille.
The 2025 BMW X5 M comes in only one trim: X5 M Competition. The starting price is $124,800 and that can quickly climb with packages and options. All-wheel drive is standard. There’s room for five passengers in two rows of seating.
It’s powered by a twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system that cranks out 617 (!) horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque. The transmission is an eight-speed automatic.
It’s easy to forget you’re behind the wheel of an SUV when driving the X5 M Competition. Press the accelerator and you’re zooming from zero to 60 mpg in just 3.7 seconds. The transmission shifts eagerly and smoothly. Take the X5 M Competition out on twisty backroads and you’ll confidently fly around the corners feeling perfectly balanced with little body roll. Steering and brakes are responsive. You’ll be grinning from ear to ear!
While this bimmer is a joy to drive at higher speeds, it can be twitchy in city traffic. The rocket-like acceleration and accurate steering that are great for winding roads and highway driving can feel too harsh at times, and the firm suspension can make for a jarring ride, especially on rough roads. But many will find this a fair trade off for the amazing performance of the X5 M Competition.
Fuel economy is poor, even for a luxury performance-oriented SUV. EPA ratings are 13 mpg city and 18 mpg highway with a combined rating of 15. I got 15 mpg during my week with a mix of city and highway driving. Premium fuel is required.
The sumptuous cabin has a contemporary feel and has many luxury touches including Merino leather seating, ambient lighting, and carbon fiber trim. Fit and finish are excellent. A ginormous curved infotainment screen and display panel stretch across the dash. Front seats are comfortable and supportive, even on long drives, with good leg-and headroom, and there’s good bolstering to help keep you secure in your seat when you’re carving corners. Second row seats are also comfortable. While three people can fit in the back, it’s best for two, especially if they’re adults.
Standard features include remote start, keyless entry, push-button start, surround-view camera system, head-up display, dashcam, auto-dimming driver’s side exterior mirror, quad-zone automatic climate control, Merino leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats with lumbar support, heated front seats, heated armrests, heated steering wheel, M seat belts, leather dashboard, carbon-fiber trim, anthracite Alcantara headliner, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, infotainment system with 14.9-inch touchscreen, navigation, gesture recognition, 16-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, HD Radio, satellite radio, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, USB ports, wireless device charging, Wi-Fi hot spot, ambient LED interior lighting, universal garage door opener, automatic high-beam headlights, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and a panoramic moonroof.
Available features include ventilated front seats, massaging front seats, heated rear seats, heated and cooled cup holders, 20-speaker Bowers and Wilkins Diamond surround sound audio system, and a panoramic sky lounge LED roof.
Standard driver assistance technologies include forward collision warning, forward automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, park assist, and driver-attention monitoring.
Available driver assistance technologies include Active Driving Assistant Pro (BMW’s semi-autonomous driver assistance system that controls steering, lane-keep assist, lane-change assist, emergency stop assist and evasion aid), traffic-jam assist (controls acceleration, braking and steering at low speeds), and pedestrian detection.
The infotainment system is BMW’s iDrive8 system. It takes some time to get used to but it’s easy to use once you become familiar with it. The large, curved screen looks impressive – it houses a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.9-inch touchscreen. Graphics on the infotainment system look sharp and are easy to see and reach. You can make inputs through the touchscreen, the iDrive touchpad controller located between the two front seats, and by voice. You can also use gesture control for some commands – this feature lets you use hand gestures for things like turning volume up or down, confirming or rejecting a call, or skipping tracks. To adjust volume, you circle your finger clockwise to turn it up, and counterclockwise to turn it down. It’s gimmicky but fun!
Cargo space is good for the class. The X5 M has 33.9 cubic feet with both rows of seating in place and 72.3 cubes with the second row folded. The loading floor is low and wide, making it easy to load large and/or bulky items. There are also several handy tie-downs. A power-folding split tailgate comes standard.
The good:
Handsome, bold looks
Accelerates like a rocket
Impressive handling
Posh and comfortable cabin
Plenty of space for passengers and cargo
Oodles of standard features and tech
Standard wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
The not-so-good:
Spendy
Ride can be jarring
Poor gas mileage
Cargo space is good for the class. The X5 M has 33.9 cubic feet with both rows of seating in place and 72.3 cubes with the second row folded. The loading area is low and wide, with a small gate that comes down, making it easy to load large and/or bulky items.
Pricing info:
My tester starts at $124,800. The Black full Merino leather seating with Midrand Beige trim is $3,500. The Driving Assistance Professional Package is $1,700 and includes active cruise control with stop-and-go, Active Driving Assistant Pro, lane keeping assist, and traffic jam assist. The Executive Package is $3,100 and includes front and rear heated seats, front massaging seats, front ventilated seats, heated and cooled cupholders, panoramic sky lounge LED roof, rear manual side window shades and soft-close automatic doors. The Bowers & Wilkins Diamond surround sound audio system is $3,400. The M Driver’s Package is $2,500. The destination charge is $1,175, bringing the grand total to $140,175.
Bottom line:
Athletic performance worthy of a sports car and the refinement of a luxury SUV – that’s the 2025 BMW X5 M Competition. It has impressive handling plus the practicality of being a family hauler. Yes, it’s not as nice to drive around town as some rivals, but its sheer sportiness will give you a thrill! Drawbacks are a hefty price tag and poor fuel economy. But if you want an SUV with real performance chops, this Bimmer is worth a look.
