Tony Quiroga is a 20-year-veteran Car and Driver editor, writer, and car reviewer and the 19th editor-in-chief for the magazine since its founding in 1955. He has subscribed to Car and Driver since age six. 'Growing up, I read every issue of Car and Driver cover to cover, sometimes three or more times.
Girdles, Spanx, and even pinstripes can hide weight. In cars, or SUVs in the case of the BMW X5 M Competition , hiding weight is done through clever tuning and a healthy serving of horsepower. The mid-size X5 M weighs 5450 pounds but can hit 60 mph in 3.
4 seconds and the quarter in 11.8 seconds at 118 mph, and it corners at 0.97 g. It's not uncomfortable exploring that performance either. This baby elephant can dance.Like all modern BMWs, the steering seems disconnected from the front tires. Light and devoid of the feedback, it holds back the driving experience. On the plus side, the light effort and the X5 M's deftness and willingness to change directions make it feel willing to play. Perhaps it's better to think of the thick steering-wheel rim as more of a remote control and less like a part of the X5 M. Put aside that gripe though, and the X5 M is easy to enjoy. Under the hood, the twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V-8 seduces, and its 617 horsepower and speedboat soundtrack will improve your mood. Put the pedal down and reel in just about anyone after a quick downshift from the eight-speed automatic. Chunks of numbers skip by on the digital speedometer.Clever tuning hides the mass. Change directions. Corner hard. Put a stamp on the performance envelope and send it. Trust that the zombie steering will place the nose where you want it. It will, it just won't let on about what it's doing. Hustle and you'll find a flow. You start to forget about the large back seat and 34 cubic feet of cargo area behind you. Fold the rear seats, and there's 72 cubic feet of cargo space as the SUV becomes a two-seater. Let's play, says the X5 M as it transforms into a Z5 M.Point it straight down an interstate, and it shifts back to an SUV, a luxury SUV with a thick layer of refinement. Mute the childish M Sound feature that pumps in imitation engine noises and instead listen to the actual hum of the twin-turbo V-8. Despite the big tires, at 70 mph, just 68 decibels are observed in the cabin. Going extra-legal speeds barely disturbs the peace. Set the suspension to its softest setting, and the ride is controlled and supple. Relax and let the miles pass. BMW is smart enough to keep its carbon-fiber racing-style buckets that you find in M3s and M4s out of the M division's SUVs in favor of cushy and soft leather chairs. Even the carpet feels expensive and rich. Comfort rules inside.A recent mid-cycle refresh introduced the large, curved panel to the X5 M that other BMWs, such as the iX, have had for a while. It combines a 12.3-inch gauge cluster display with a 14.9-inch touchscreen at the center of the dashboard. Hate is a strong word, but we'll reserve it for the silly 12.3-inch video-game display directly ahead of the steering wheel that trades clarity for modernity. Several gauge styles are available, but none of them have the clean look of real gauges. BMW used to pride itself on big, readable, clear gauges—values that are largely forgotten in their digital cockpits.For 2026, the price of the X5 M Competition rises by $3800 to $132,450. Our 2025 test car—with extended leather, Driving Assistance Professional package, Executive package, and Bowers Wilkins audio system—came to $142,850. If you never feel what it's like to steer a Porsche Cayenne S or Audi RS Q8, you'll find a lot to love in the X5 M Competition.➡️ Skip the lot. Let Car and Driver help you find your next car.Shop New Cars Shop Used Cars
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