Top 10 New Features of the 2019 BMW X5
The BMW X5 has been redesigned for the 2019 model year, and not much has much has been carried over from the previous-generation model. The new X5 boasts revised powertrains, new technologies and several other features that weren’t previously offered. Here are but a few of them that will help the X5 pursue its battle against the Acura MDX, Audi Q7, Mercedes-Benz GLE and Volvo XC90.
BMW Laserlight
LED headlights are standard on the 2019 BMW X5, but the options list includes BMW Laserlight with adaptive LED Headlights. This technology uses a BMW Laserlight spotlight with Selective Beam, which can project a non-dazzling high beam at a distance of about 500 metres. The BMW Laserlight projectors can be identified by the blue X-shaped trim inside the headlight clusters.
Integral Active Steering
The 2019 BMW X5 can now be equipped with a four-wheel steering system. At speeds of up to 60 km/h, the rear wheels turn in the opposite direction as the front ones, which increase manoeuvrability in city traffic and parking lots. At higher speeds, the rear wheels rotate in the same direction as the front ones for quick lane-change manoeuvres.
22-inch Wheels
For the first time on the X5, 22-inch alloy wheels will be available directly from the factory. Two 22-inch designs will be offered on the 2019 BMW X5, one of which will be standard on the xDrive50i variant. They will be wrapped in 275/35R22 tires up front and 315/30R22 tires at the rear. The xDrive40i will include 20-inch wheels with 275/45R20 tires, while 21-inchers will be available as well with 275/40R21 and 315/35R21 tires front/rear.
Off-road Package
The 2019 BMW X5 can be fitted with a new Offroad Package, which adds a two-axle air suspension, an electronically controlled rear differential lock, underbody protection and four driving modes (sand, rock, gravel, snow). Thanks to the two-axle suspension setup, the X5 can raise its ride height by up to 40 mm for off-roading, or lower it by up to 40 mm for loading the cargo hold. A 360-degree camera system also helps the driver see what’s going on around the vehicle in tricky off-road situations.
Power-assisted Cargo Cover
The 2019 BMW X5 can be optionally equipped with a power-assisted cargo cover which, at the touch of a button, can lower itself into the load floor when not in use. When closing the X5’s two-piece tailgate, the cover automatically extends itself over the cargo area, and retracts when the tailgate is opened.
Revised Powertrains
In Canada, the 2019 BMW X5 xDrive40i gets a turbocharged, 3.0-litre inline-six that develops 335 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque, up from the old xDrive35i’s 300 hp and 300 lb.-ft. The xDrive50i is equipped with a twin-turbo, 4.4-litre V8 that belts out 456 hp and 479 lb.-ft., up from 445 hp in the old X5. These new-generation powertrains are said to be more efficient as well, although the official fuel economy numbers for our market haven’t yet been established.
Reversing Assistant
The optional Reversing Assistant can back up the 2019 BMW X5 for a distance of up to 50 metres, on a path that was previously negotiated forwards. For example, if we parked the X5 forwards in a tight space, or in the garage, the system will record the steering movements we made during our parking manoeuvre and back up the vehicle on the exact same path—even a day later. The driver simply has to operate the gas pedal and brake pedals, and Reversing Assistant will do the rest.
BMW Live Cockpit Professional
The 2019 BMW X5 now includes a fully digital driver instrument panel. This means each X5 boasts two 12.3-inch displays side by side. BMW Live Cockpit Professional also includes an adaptive navigation system, a 20-Gb hard drive and two USB ports as well as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi interfaces.
BMW Operating System 7.0
The latest version of the brand’s multimedia operating system boasts a revised menu layout, with up to ten pages of configurable tiles for accessing the system’s features. It can be controlled with the console-mounted iDrive controller, voice command or gesture control. It also incorporates user profiles which can be sent to a cloud and downloaded into another vehicle. Using Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, the owner of a 2019 BMW X5 can use his smartphone to lock/unlock and start the vehicle, eliminating the need to carry a conventional keyfob.
Massaging Seats
When the multifunction seats are specified in the 2019 BMW X5, which includes heating and ventilation in addition to numerous power adjustments, a massage feature is now available. The latter offers several settings and intensity levels for both the driver and the front passenger.