BMW X5 45e Hybrid Review

Practicality and Boot Space

The X5 is a big car – inside and out. However, unlike other X5s where there can be seats for seven passengers, the Plug-in hybrid version is a strict five-seater. That’s mainly down to the fact that the space in the floor where the third row of seats disappears into is taken up by battery cells. So if you have more than five in your tribe, you’ll need to sell a family member or choose a petrol or diesel version instead. On the upside, even with the reduced luggage space (150 litres less than a regular X5), the Plug-in hybrid version is still close to being a warehouse on wheels. Capacity with the seats up is a decent 500 litres (almost twice that of a BMW i3), while the seats down figure is a mighty 1,720 litres – giving you more space than most London flats. 

Technology

You won’t be short of gadgets and trickery in the X5. True to BMW form, the fourth-generation X5 is home to some of the fanciest kit in the sector. Connectivity has become an obsession for many car makers and BMW is no exception. The X5 features a new evolution of the brand’s infotainment system that includes gesture control, Alexa-style speech control via a “Hey BMW” command, plus real-time traffic information and music streaming. Android phone owners can also lock and unlock their cars by using a Digital Key, removing the need to take your bulky keys with you. And, as the car is permanently connected to the outside world via an eSIM, BMW can send software updates to the car over the air. As with all BMWs, buyers can hose even more cash at the options list which includes items such as a B&W sound system and rear seat touchscreens. 

Safety

When EuroNCAP tested the standard diesel and petrol X5 in 2018, it awarded the German SUV a full five star rating. And, true to BMW form, the X5 comes with a heap of standard safety kit. Dynamic stability control, cornering brake control, dynamic brake control, dynamic traction control are all included on the 45e, which makes it about as idiot-proof as you can get. Should you be a glass half-empty kind of driver, BMW also offers a host of optional safety kit to put your mind at ease. These include Laserlight headlights, Drive Recorder and Active Guard Plus – a system that combines Lane Departure Warning, Front Collision Warning and Speed Limit Assist. 

The only slight blot on the X5 copy book is the lack of a third ISOfix tether on the rear seats. So if you’ve recently produced triplets and have an X5 in your sights, you might want to think again.