- BMW says off-roading was not a precedence for the brand new X5.
- The earlier technology provided greater than sufficient functionality.
- BMW could also be engaged on a extra off-road-focused automobile.
Although most individuals don’t consider it as a rock crawler, the outgoing BMW X5 did have an Off-Highway Bundle that bundled air suspension, a locking rear differential, underbody safety, and all-terrain tires. It was a extra succesful automobile than most house owners will ever use, which is why BMW did not give attention to making the brand new 2027 G65 X5 extra rugged, BMWBlog stories.
Chatting with journalists on the debut of the brand new X5, senior vp of BMW’s Luxurious Class, Alpina, and Rolls-Royce, Philip Koehn, mentioned that giving the X5 off-road chops wasn’t a precedence. He notes:
‘An additional enhancement of the off-road functionality was not essentially within the playing cards for the X5 as a result of it is probably not the at the start precedence. I believe we managed to stretch the envelope in all dimensions. It is in all probability essentially the most succesful X5 we ever had.’

Picture by: BMW
Few BMW drivers take their automobiles off-road, however the X5 can deal with the duty when known as upon. BMW’s Spartanburg Efficiency Driving Faculty even options an off-road course that reveals off the X5’s capabilities. We’ve private expertise piloting the X5 Silver Anniversary Edition, which included the $11,900 Off-Highway Bundle, on this course, and it didn’t disappoint.
There could also be one other essential motive why BMW didn’t really feel a have to make the brand new X5 extra succesful than its predecessor: a extra rugged automobile is coming. BMW is rumored to be working on a new off-road model that may rival automobiles just like the Land Rover Defender and Mercedes-Benz G-Class. The challenge code is internally often called G74, however we do not know what identify would seem on the manufacturing model.
In actual fact, we nonetheless don’t know if this mannequin has been accepted for manufacturing. If BMW does give it the inexperienced gentle, the off-road SUV may arrive someday in 2029 with a debut scheduled in late 2028.
Motor1’s Take: The BMW X5 is extra succesful than most house owners want, and even the earlier Off-Highway Bundle was doubtless a bit excessive for the common purchaser. BMW may get into the off-road market, however it might need to introduce a brand new mannequin just like the G74 with particular bodywork that’s designed to deal with tough terrain.