2024 BMW X5 M60i: Test Drive

2024 BMW X5 M60i

Class: Premium Midsize Crossover

Color: Ruby red

Seating capacity: 5

CG Report Card

Room and Comfort	B+
Power and Performance	A
Fit and Finish	A
Fuel Economy	C
Value	B-

Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus other vehicles in the same class. Value grade is for specific trim level evaluated, and may not reflect Consumer Guide's impressions of the entire model lineup.

Big & Tall Comfort

Big Guy	A
Tall Guy	A

Big & Tall comfort ratings are for front seats only. "Big" rating based on male tester weighing approximately 350 pounds, "Tall" rating based on 6'6"-tall male tester.

Drivetrain
Engine Specs	523-horsepower, 4.4-liter
Engine Type	Turbocharged mild-hybrid V8
Transmission	8-speed automatic
Drive Wheels	AWD

Miles driven: 121

Observed fuel economy: 15.7 mpg

Driving mix: 60% city, 40% highway

EPA-estimated fuel economy: 17/22/19 (mpg city/highway/combined)

Fuel type: Premium gas

Snow Performance: N/A

Base price: $89,300 (not including $995 destination charge)

Options on test vehicle: Special paint ($5000), Ivory White interior ($1950), Driving Assistance Pro Package ($2100), M Sport Professional Package ($650), Parking Assistance Package ($900), Executive Package ($1650), Climate Comfort Package ($1000), 22-inch “M” wheels ($1900), carbon-fiber cabin trim ($300)

Price as tested: $105,745

Quick Hits

The great: Near-perfect ride and handling balance, refined power delivery

The good: Roomy and upscale cabin, long-trip comfort

The not so good: Pricey options, middling fuel economy

Tom Appel:

Market-savvy consumers likely know that the Toyota RAV4 is the best-selling compact crossover available in the U.S. Likewise, it’s pretty well known that the Ford F-150 is the nation’s best-selling pickup truck. But how many folks can name the best-selling midsize luxury crossovers?

The premium crossover segment is packed with alphanumeric model names that don’t easily roll off the tongue, and it may be for this reason that guessing the best-selling vehicles in the segment is something of a challenge. Here’s a hint, the top seller is not the Audi Q7, the Cadillac XT6, or Volvo XC90. Done guessing? For 2023 it was the Lexus RX, which racked up a stout 96,000 sales. More impressive, however, may be how well the BMW X5 sold. Despite prices that range far higher than those of the Lexus, BMW’s midsize crossover chalked up an impressive 82,000 sales.

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With an average transaction price likely in excess of $80,000, the X5 would have to be a pretty darn good vehicle to attract so many shoppers. And, indeed, BMW’s single best-selling model is a fine piece of automotive engineering.

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For 2024, the X5 is offered in three trim levels: X5 Sdrive40i/Xdrive40i (starting around $64,000), the sporty X5 M60i (around $90,000), and the plug-in hybrid X5 xDrive50e. All xDrive models are equipped with AWD, while the lone sDrive model features rear-wheel drive.

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The popular 40i models are powered by BMW’s “TwinPower” turbocharged 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder engine. Base engine in the X5, the sporty six produces an impressive 375 horsepower. The M60i features a turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 rated at 523 horsepower. The 3.0-liter six and the V8 feature 48-volt “mild-hybrid” augmentation which helps to launch the vehicle from a start, and to reduce fuel consumption.

The 50e mates the 40i’s 6-cylinder engine with a hybrid system and a 26-kWh battery. The combined system output is 483 horsepower, and will run the X5 up to an EPA estimated 38 miles on battery power alone.

Also offered for 2024 is the high-performance 617-horsepower X5 M. The $125,000 M boasts an upgraded version of the M60i engine with unique chassis and trim upgrades. All X5 models employ an 8-speed automatic transmission.

Consumer Guide recently spent some time with the 2024 X5 M60i in pricey Ruby Red ($5000) and host of other options. All told, our test vehicle came to $105,745, including destination charge.

As an “M” vehicle, the X5 M60i is treated to a certain amount of sporty upgrading. And, true to form, the M60i enjoys a firmer, handing oriented suspension, larger wheels and tires, subtle but unique exterior trim bits, and special interior design elements. All told, this M-series BMW might be a little difficult to pick out in traffic, but easy to love from behind the wheel.

Cabin quality is certainly in line with the X5’s price, though high-end tidiness takes priority over outright opulence. Materials quality is top notch, and general craftsmanship impressive. Large door openings make for easy entry and exiting, while ample volumes of passenger space—up front and in the 2^nd-row—make for comfortable long-trip excursions.

The BMW iDrive 8.5 infotainment system works well enough. A contagious screen looks tidy, and contains both the instrument panel and console touchscreen. We found the iDrive system generally intuitive, and the icons large and easy to locate, but were frustrated by having on several occasions to reconnect our phones which had been “lost” by the system. And, that said, the standard Harman Kardon is excellent.

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And, while we find paying $5000 for a color option troubling, the paint quality is excellent, and matches well with the Ivory White cabin trim.

On the road the X5 shines, and reinforces what it is that drives customers to the BMW brand. The last great hurdle between good luxury-car makers and great luxury-car makers is striking a balance between ride and handling. And, this balance is perfectly struck in the X5 M60i.

There is seemingly no penalty to be paid for the M60i’s handling prowess, and ride quality is class leading, as is isolation from road noise. This refinement is almost startling given how well the crossover handles and steers. The X5 M60i is rewarding to drive even in heavy traffic, but approximates the general demeanor of a sports car on on-ramps and twisty roads. The brakes, too, feel strong and progressive, and underscore the general athleticism of the vehicle.

Power delivery is potent yet silky. The 8-speed automatic—a version of which is found in most BMWs—is refined yet decisive. Shifts are executed quickly, and timed for optimal acceleration. The turbocharged V8 is seemingly always ready to deliver power without delay, and sounds classy and expensive doing so.

And, while we generally frown on overtly tuned exhaust noise, and find too many “sporty” vehicles compromised by amped-up animated exhaust sounds which do little but annoy neighbors in quiet neighborhoods. Thankfully BMW has taken a more mature tack to exhaust tuning, and the result is a glorious low roar which is mostly heard during aggressive acceleration, but is mostly muted in routine driving.

The X5 M60i feels bank-vault solid, handles like a sports coupe, pampers up to four passengers in genuine luxury, and is surprisingly fast. If you appreciate a vehicle that covers almost every element of the driving experience with old-school attention to detail, and you can pony up the six-figure asking price, the X5 M60i belongs on your shopping list. And, if you can do with a little less power, the much less expensive X5 40i models are also impressive.

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