BMW X5M Competition Driving Impressions
Launched at the 1999 edition of the Detroit Auto Show, the E53-generation BMW X5 blended a unibody chassis with independent all-around suspension to deliver an SUV that arguably drove better than all others around the time of Y2K, Mercedes’ first ML-Class included. Designed by Chris Bangle, the X5 always looked sporty and, as the designer would underline at the time, typical SUV buyers at the time “didn’t like that they drive like trucks” and this is where the X5 left the competition way behind.
While creating a whole new moniker – that nobody picked up for obvious reasons – for its new high-riding model can be considered a bit excessive, the X5 strived to remain pleasant and involving to drive throughout its lifetime and the dedication towards driving pleasure was further emphasized a decade ago when BMW introduced the first proper M-ified X5.
This here is the third generation of the X5 that is at the receiving end of the fabled M treatment. The F95 X5 M was introduced late in 2019 and was followed by the Competition variant which, most importantly, cranks out even more power and features even more BMW M logos as well as coming with a track-oriented driving mode for the odd Nurburgring joy ride.
There is always the question of understeer when you think about driving fast in an SUV as big as the X5 M Competition but, somehow, there’s almost no understeer to speak of here. The clever rear-biased X-Drive system allows you to slide out of corners without missing a beat and, while you do sense some body roll, the X5 M Competition is a neutral handling car in its sportiest setting.
To get the most out of this mammoth, you’ll have to toggle to the Sport Individual driving mode, then set all engine, transmission, steering, and suspension to the Sport Plus setting and you’re, basically, in ’Track’ mode. The M Servotronic variable steering will feel heavier in this mode and you’ll also feel the bumps in the road a lot easier. The electronically enhanced exhaust note (BMW’s Active Sound system) can fill the cabin with noise via the press of a button and, while we’re no big fans of such electronic trickery, the burble of the X5 M Competition upon downshifting is enjoyable. You can also alter the amount of feedback you receive through the brake pedal and you can even decide if you want quicker or slower shifts.
. In the more comfortable, city-oriented driving modes, the X5 M Competition’s steering feels somewhat remote and even mashing the loud pedal won’t give you any goosebumps as the weight of the thing takes over in city traffic. That’s not to say the X5 M Competition is slow, quite the opposite, it just isn’t particularly dramatic – much the same way it excels at highway pulls without any signs of fatigue.
In short, the F95 X5 M Competition is better than the old one. It communicates a bit more with you in the sportiest settings and is more powerful, and overall quicker, while the electronic ads (which should always stay on, in our opinion) really make you feel like you can tame the beast no matter how skilled you are behind the wheel.
Does it, however, feel like an M5 Competition? Well, frankly, it can’t for a number of reasons chief among which being its weight – try as it might, the X5 M Competition can’t beat Einstein’s laws just yet – and the fact that the AWD system is lacking when it comes to an RWD-only mode. There is a two-wheel-drive mode available but, annoyingly, that only dispatches oomph to the front axle. It’d be fun to have an X5 M with an RWD mode knowing just how potent that rear differential is!
BMW X5M Competition Exterior Design
By the time you’ll flick through this review you’ll have probably seen the new and camouflage-free BMW 4 Series and are probably wondering what’s wrong with BMW and its grilles. It seems like the already humongous nostrils of the X7 and the 7 Series sedan simply didn’t cut it when it came to how big they were and BMW thinks there’s room for even more. In this context, we consider that the X5 M Competition’s kidney grilles are, believe it or not, decently sized. Sure, they are probably big enough to fit four pairs of E30-era BMW kidney grilles but, in the very least, the current-generation X5 doesn’t look silly when viewed from the front.
Those kidney grilles feature an all-black mono-frame and twin vertical bars, in keeping with the blacked-out theme that sets apart a normal X5 M from the X5 M Competition. The inlets in the lower bumper are appropriately huge and, thankfully, they’re 100% real – there’s no covered mesh here. Add to the mix the black surrounds and you end up with a pretty aggressive look that is only further enhanced by the LED running lights and the black bumper add-ons below the side grilles.
The intricately shaped exterior rear-view mirrors are also black, as are the window frames, the roof rails, and the small inlet aft of the massive front wheel wells. The protruding arches of the X5 M just barely contain the M-star-spoke 22-inch rims hugged by ultra-grippy Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S rubber. In spite of the sheer size of the rims themselves, the X5 M rides over bumps adequately well in ’Comfort’ mode although there’s no denying that it is stiffer even in its most laid-back setting than a standard X5.
The sporty body kit of the BMW X5 M Competition is completed round back by a sizeable roof spoiler and quad exhaust tips surrounded by a black inlay. The hazard markers are placed within some sockets carved into the bumper that look like air vents when you view the X5M from the side. It goes without saying that the M version of the X5 is slightly lower to the ground than the standard model.
How Big Is The BMW X5M Competition?
Making an SUV feel like a sedan has always been a challenge especially when the SUV in question is as big as the X5 is. Looking over the numbers, the X5 M Competition measures 195 inches in length making it as long as the Mercedes-AMG GLE 63S and 2.3 inches shorter than Audi’S RS Q8. The wheelbase of the X5M measures 117 inches, almost a full inch down on both the Audi and the Merc.
However, the BMW is as wide as the GLE 63S at 79.3 inches (maximum width) or about half an inch wider than the Audi. While slightly narrower, the RS Q8 is also lower than its rivals from Stuttgart and Munich but not by much. The BMW is 68.9 inches tall compared to the 66.7 inches that the Audi measures in height and the 70.2 inches of the bulkier Mercedes. To put it all into perspective, a 2020 BMW M5 is half an inch longer than the X5 M at 195.5 inches while also being narrower at 74.9 inches in width.
BMW X5M Competition Interior Design
A welcomed addition is the M5 seats although we wouldn’t necessarily pick this color combo of black over light beige but everything is customizable as you’d expect so it’s all up to you in terms of how you want the interior to be trimmed.
As you jump inside, you are greeted by the view of the typical M steering wheel complete with a pair of red buttons labeled ’M1’ and ’M2’ that allow you to easily access two customized shortcut settings you’ve decided upon and saved in advance. The wheel also features buttons for the cruise control including lane-keep assist that takes over the control of the steering (although you should always pay attention to the road ahead while the system is engaged). Behind the wheel and its two paddle shifters that allow you to flick through the eight gears of the M Sport Automatic transmission with manual mode, there’s a 12.3-inch digital display for the gauges part of BMW’s Live Cockpit that also includes a HUD and another 12.3-inch touchscreen in the middle of the dash that can also be controlled via hand gestures.
The list of standard features is incredible. The X5M comes with a heated steering wheel, extended ambient lighting, 18-way power front seats including 4-way lumbar support (the front seats also feature three-stage heating), a panoramic moonroof with a fully automatic, two-piece glass panel, automatic four-zone climate control, and a 600-watt Harman Kardon surround-sound system with 16 speakers. As always, the sound system is amazing and you do get a pair of cup holders both in the front and in the back (which isn’t that much, a Dodge Challenger, for instance, comes with five cup holders) and there are quite a few storage compartments.
Those underneath the front and rear armrests come with power outlets and there are also power outlets in the trunk. The front storage compartment boasts two USB ports, an AUX port and Qi wireless phone charging. All the seats inside the X5 M are comfy although the front seats with their added lumbar and side support aren’t as welcoming for larger people.
There’s a variety of buttons surrounding the shifter including the DSC Off button which we’ve never pressed for obvious reasons. The Drive touchpad is placed to the right.
We’re well pleased to see that the X5 M still has many buttons on the inside including those on the center console below the two main air vents that control the climate system. Temperature can be changed via two round knobs that spin and have a nice, premium feel to them. Having said that, the buttons down below for the radio are taken from BMW’s parts bin and look a bit cheap – you’ll find ’em in every other BMW too which is a bit frustrating when you consider that the X5M Competition’s MSRP is over $114,000.
Is the BMW X5M Competition Spacious?
With room for up to five adults, the X5 M is quite big on the inside but not huge. Taking a quick look over the figures, we found out that it offers 40.8 inches of headroom in the front which is almost four inches over what the RS Q8 offers while the GLE 63 S is comparable (40.5 inches). In the back, headroom is, as mentioned, more than adequate at 38.7 inches versus just 36.9 inches in the back of the Merc and 38.1 inches in the back of the Audi.
When it comes to legroom, the Audi offers the most in the front (41.6 inches) while the BMW trails the Mercedes by about half an inch at 39.8 inches. Rear legroom stands at 37.4 inches in the BMW, 3.5 inches less than what the Merc offers (the GLE 63S actually offers more legroom for passengers in the back than those in the front). Audi’s 40.2 inches of rear legroom also easily surpass what BMW’s X5 M offers. Finally, shoulder room is 60 inches in the front in the Bimmer, slightly more than in both the Audi and the Mercedes. In the rear, however, the ranking is reversed with BMW coming in last although the margins are tiny as all three SUVs offer 58 inches and change of rear shoulder room.
BMW X5M Competition Technology
As you’d expect from a top-end BMW made in 2020, the X5M Competition is brimming with tech. At the heart of it all is the multi-input iDrive 7.0 system operated by either voice, touchscreen, or the familiar iDrive touchpad Controller. The iDrive infotainment system features Apple CarPlay compatibility (but no Android Auto) and sports 32 GB of internal storage (pretty mediocre when your average smartphone boasts up to 64 GB of storage) as well as the ability to download OTA updates for the incorporated navigation system.
The standard ’Connected Package Professional’ features real-time traffic and on-street parking availability info while the cloud-based voice control offers natural speech input for various functions, including navigation. We found this system to be among the best out there although it’s still not perfect and this means we’re still reaching for the easy-to-use iDrive controller. In any case, the iDrive infotainment system is impeccable and both the gauge cluster screen, as well as the one in the middle of the dash feature bright colors and it all, moves very quickly indeed when you browse through the various menus.
BMW X5M Competition Safety Equipment
Considering the X5 M is a massive SUV that can easily surpass 170 mph going flat out, it’s no wonder BMW stuck just about every safety feature in its repertoire in this model. You’ve got all of the basics such as BMW’s Active Driving Assistant which includes frontal collision warning with city collision mitigation and lane departure warning, and active blind-spot detection with rear cross-traffic alert. The adaptive cruise control with a semi-autonomous driving mode is also available besides all the active protection systems that deploy on impact like the airbags, the automatic pre-tension of the safety belts, and the automatic post-impact application of the brakes. The system includes an application that monitors your responses to track your fatigue and focus levels while driving.
The BMW X5 M Competition hasn’t been evaluated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), but they’ve both evaluated the standard X5. The former gave the X5 a four-out-of-five rating while the IIHS awarded it with a Top Safety Pick+ rating.
BMW X5M Competition Cargo Room
Even before you go ahead and fold the 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats the X5 M’s trunk area is big. In fact, it can take in up to 11 carry-on suitcases or about 33.9 cubic feet of space, 0.6 cubic feet more than in the back of a Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S. With the seats folded, space more than doubles going all the way up to
72.3 cubic feet of room. This latter figure is, actually, below what the GLE 63S can muster with the seats folded – namely 74.3 cubic feet. The Audi RS Q8 meanwhile lags behind both of its rivals with a total cargo capacity of just 60.7 cubic feet.
BMW X5M Competition Drivetrain and Chassis
To bring the X5 and the 5 Series closer together, BMW decided that both models should be underpinned by the same CLAR architecture which also hides in the G11 7 Series. With a five-link rear suspension and variable dampers for a stiffer or somewhat smoother ride depending on the driving mode that you pick, the X5 M is a planted SUV regardless of the weather conditions.
To cope with the immense grunt of the engine, BMW swapped out the standard X5 brakes for some bigger ones. You’ll find 15.5-inch discs with six-piston calipers in the front and 14.9-inch discs with single-piston calipers in the back. With such big brakes, the X5 M Competition will come to a halt from 70 mph in just under 155 feet despite its hefty +5,500-pound dry weight.
The engine is, essentially, the same S63 twin-turbocharged V-8 you’ll find in the M5 or the M8 Competition but it puts out a tad bit more power. If a standard X5 M’s 600 horsepower rating is already impressive, the Competition version ups the ante with 617 ponies although there is no addition to the standard 553 pound-feet of torque. It’s worth noting that the European-spec X5 M Competition is actually even more powerful than that with 625 horsepower at the crank, just two shy off of the McLaren F1’s output. This makes the EU-compliant X5 M one of the most powerful production BMWs of all time.
The gearbox, an automatic eight-speed unit with flappy paddles comes with Launch Control and a 3.15 final drive ratio. It’s worth noting that max power is available at 6,000 rpm and the V-8 with its 10.0:1 compression ratio delivers max torque from just 1,800 rpm all the way to 5,860 rpm.
How Fast Is The BMW X5 M Competition?
The whole vehicle weighed under 3,000 pounds thanks to the comprehensive usage of carbon fiber and kevlar in its chassis and body panels but, in a head-to-head drag race, it wouldn’t hold a candle to BMW’s X5 M. In Competition trim, the mid-size SUV will blitz from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.8 seconds en route to a top speed of 177 mph (155 mph with limiter).
These numbers, while impressive, aren’t class-leading. Both the GLE 63 S and Porsche’s Cayenne Turbo S-E Hybrid are quicker but the margins are small – just about 0.1-0.2 seconds. The BMW isn’t the fastest in its class either, with the RS Q8 cruising to a lofty 189 mph top speed while the Cayenne can reach 183 mph. The GLE 63 S, however, is a bit slower with a top speed of just 174 mph. At least, the BMW is one of the most powerful SUVs in its class with only the Cayenne Turbo S putting out sensibly more power (671 horsepower to be precise).
BMW X5M Competition Fuel Economy
When you decide to get yourself a BMW X5 M with the $9,000 Competition package, you aren’t, most likely, troubled by how economical it is. However, for the sake of discussion, EPA estimates the X5 M Competition can do 13 mpg city, 18 mpg highway, and 15 mpg combined (BMW’s official quoting as well). The Audi RS Q8 is just as fuel-efficient as the Bimmer although it supposedly can do 19 mpg on the highway.
BMW X5M Competition Towing Ability
The X5 M Competition’s towing capacity ranges between 6,603 and 7,200 pounds maximum. Additionally, BMW’s mid-sized SUV crossover boasts with a payload capacity of 849 to 871 pounds. The GLE can tow up to 7,700 pounds.
BMW X5M Competition pricing
With an MSRP of $114,100 before taxes or options, the BMW X5 M Competition is already $9,000 more expensive than a standard X5 M. To put it into context, the RS Q8 retails from $113,000 in the United States, which in itself is a notable premium over the regular Q8, priced from $68,200. The GLE 63 S is similarly expensive with a price tag of around $115,000. Having said that, all three are cheaper than the +$130,000 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S.
As we’re talking here about a range-topping model, not many options add to the already hefty price tag of the X5 M Competition although, for instance, if you want the piano black finish on the dash and interior doors panels it’ll set you back an extra $1,080. The active cruise control with semi-autonomous driving functions is $1,700 while the executive luggage package is a whopping $3,600 to boot. Other available packages include the $2,300 night vision system with pedestrian detection, the $3,400 Bowers Wilkins surround sound system for those that somehow aren’t satisfied by the superb Harman Kardon speakers, $2,200 rear-seat entertainment package that adds screens to the back of the headrests.
BMW X5M Competition Rivals
Audi RS Q8
The Audi RS Q8 is the first RS-badged Audi SUV to be sold Stateside making it a pretty big deal, both metaphorically and literally. Powered by a slightly detuned version of the twin-turbocharged V-8 found in the Lamborghini Urus, the RS Q8 still delivers 591 horsepower sent to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic. It may fall behind the BMW X5 M Competition in terms of sheer power but remember that the RS Q8 is the fastest SUV to ever lap the Nurburgring-Nordschleife (it did the deed in 7 minutes and 42 seconds).
With a base price of $114,000, the RS Q8 is almost $100,000 cheaper than the Urus it shares the platform with and, while nowhere near as flashy as its Italian brethren, it still looks mean and also leaner than both the boxier BMW and Mercedes-AMG offerings. The shape may be one of the reasons why it can go from naught to 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds en route to a blindingly fast 190 mph top speed. Inside, you’ll find Audi’s Virtual Cockpit with everything laid out as you’d expect if you’ve previously sat in a new-gen Audi crossover.
The ride of the RS Q8 is appropriately stiff and you can feel when cornering that this SUV was track tested again and again and again. We think it looks better than the BMW X5 M although Audi, the OGs when it comes to massive grilles, had to enlarge their own inlets to stay in the game and this means the Q8 isn’t as good-looking as previous Audi SUVs. Inside, on the other hand, it’s a matter of personal preference. Usually, Audi’s interiors are among the best in the premium class but BMW is never more than a step behind and in this case, we might as well toss a coin to say which one is our favorite.
Read our full review on the Audi RS Q8
Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S
Remember the days when you had your standard Mercedes models and then a pair of AMG ones? BMW’s performance ladder was even simpler with a bunch of standard models, an M-modified model that still stuck it with the standard ones and then the full M versions, while Audi had the S and RS models at the top of the pyramid. Nowadays, you have stuff like the M Line, the S Line, and then a variety of S or non-S versions of each AMG model in Merc’s yard to add to the confusion.
We try to avoid confusion whenever possible so, in short, if you want the fastest Mercedes-Benz GLE, this is it. With 603 horses and 627 pound-feet, it is substantially more powerful than the GLE 63 despite the fact that both models share the familiar 4.0-liter, twin-turbocharged V-8. The Mercedes is the slowest of the trio, topping out at 174 mph unrestricted but it’s quick off the line, reaching 60 mph from a standing start in 3.7 seconds.
Inside, you’ll find two huge digital screens running the latest iteration of Mercedes’ MBUX infotainment system, which can be controlled both via natural language commands and gesture control. The GLE 63 S Coupe features multiple drive modes ranging from “Comfort” to “Race”, the latter allowing you to see the sort of G’s you’re pulling mid-corner as well as coming with a shift marker telling you when to upshift.
Read our full review on the Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S
Final thoughts
BMW managed to improve the X5 M recipe with the 2020 X5 M Competition. Priced competitively (considering the going rates for a Cayenne Turbo S, for instance), the X5 M Competition is brutally fast for a car weighing 5,425 pounds and, at times, it can belie both its size and its weight thanks to some clever bits of suspension/differential trickery. In the sportiest of settings, the steering is quite weighty but, otherwise, it does feel a bit sedated when compared to the M5 which BMW’s M department always wanted the X5M to feel like.