BMW launched 4 new SUV’s today, and here’s what we like and dont like about them.
The Good. Both the BMW X5’s
While we have yet to test how the 48V system works in the X5, its a blast to use on several other cars we have tried before. This include everything from the Proton X90 to a 455bhp W222 Mercedes Benz S500. The 48V system enables the powertrain to shut down totally as you coast at speed. This effectively gives several kilometer’s of fuel free driving at constant speeds.
The X5 launched today sports a similar system in the XDrive40i. Priced from RM469,800, it provides the ‘Supra’ based B58 inline 6 3.0 turbo engine mated to an 8 speed gearbox sending power to all 4 wheels mechanically. This will sit in the range just below the XDrive50e which is a plugin hybrid featuring a 29.5kW battery pack providing about 90km worth of EV drive range.
We have had some behind-the-wheel time with the XDrive50e. Where the XC90 is an amazing all rounder and it’s awesome on our back roads as well as highways (which you can check out here), The X5 even in XDrive50e spec takes the ride and handling response to some next level. Even the new Touareg, and perhaps in extension the Cayenne could struggle with outright handling next to the X5.
With nearly 300kg lighter and the similar petrol powertrain, we can only guess how much more responsive it would be on our back roads. While typing this yours truly is distracted day dreaming about the many roads this car would literally blitz by.
The Bad and Ugly. Both the iX’s
We test drove the iX back in 2023. We dig the exterior styling and the interior themes and appointments. As a vehicle to commute with friends around the urban areas of KL in stop and go and slow moving traffic. Plus the MASSIVE EV battery pack provide plenty of range for this behemoth of a car.
As an EV car, its pretty cool, until you see the almost RM500k price tag. Unless you really want a BMW badge on an EV we failed to see the merit of the car. Unlike the i4 and the i5 which has proper BMW driving feel on it, the iX will not feel like a BMW if you were blind folded in one. When it was first launched there was a case for this car, but we live in the world where the Xpeng X9 and Volvo EX90. Especially the Xpeng which offers a far bigger ‘real estate’ on wheels for over RM100,000 lesser.
Now it becomes hard to justify the RM425,800 the xDrive45 commands, and the RM487,800 the xDrive60 commands. We find the xDrive45 to be the more sensible choice out of the two.
Conclusion
We are not fans of the iX series, however the i4 and especially the i5 were relatively amazing cars which does offer the BMW experience in an EV package. But for this amount of money, we will wholeheartedly spend it on the X5’s with the XDrive40i being our pick of the bunch. What are your thoughts on BMW’s latest?
