Skip advert
Advertisement

BMW X5 (2013-2018) review - bulky but very capable - BMW X5 MPG and running costs

Good to drive and practical, but the X5's ever-increasing size counts against it in a few areas

Evo rating
Price
from £44,575
  • Excellent build quality and capable chassis
  • It’s porky these days, other rivals have sharper drive

Although the sDrive25d has been included as a sop to environmental constraints, it’s hardly miles ahead of the six-pot/all-wheel drive X5s. Optional, larger wheels throughout the X5 range adversely affect economy on all models, but at its best, the sDrive25d will return 53.3mpg and 139g/km. Adding 45kg and drive to the rear wheels, the xDrive25d’s best numbers are 50.4mpg and 146g/km.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The six-cylinder units, apart from the M50d, are so close to the four-cylinder 25d that we can’t see the point of opting for the base X5 if you’re a private buyer. The xDrive30d can turn in 47.9mpg and 156g/km, while the xDrive40d isn’t far off that at 47.1mpg and 157g/km.

The two quickest X5s start to hit the wallet harder, with the M50d worsening to 42.8mpg and 173g/km, and the xDrive50i way off at 29.1mpg and 226g/km.

Most frugal in the entire X5 range is again the plug-in hybrid model, known as the xDrive40e. Don't expect to meet its official figures if you tend to stick to motorway driving, but the bare numbers are a combined 83.1mpg, with CO2 of 78g/km. That's not as parsimonious as the smaller plug-in hybrids in BMW's range, but it's not bad for an SUV as hefty as the X5.

As we said, choose your wheels wisely: smaller alloys on the sDrive25d allow it to sneak into VED Band F (£145 per annum instead of £180) and going large on the xDrive50i can push it from Band K (£640 year one, £290 thereafter) out to Band L (£870/£490).

The X5 is covered by BMW’s standard three-year/unlimited mileage warranty and Service Inclusive packs are offered to keep maintenance costs under control. The biggest BMW SUV is expected to have strong residual values, comparable to the Range Rover Sport.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

The new Toyota GR Yaris costs £44,250 – too much for a hot supermini?
Toyota GR Yaris Gen 2 – front
News

The new Toyota GR Yaris costs £44,250 – too much for a hot supermini?

Our early impressions of the Gen 2 GR Yaris suggest that it’s an improvement in every area that counts, but can it be worth £18k more than an i20 N?
27 Mar 2024
The new Mercedes-AMG G63 has arrived, and it still has a V8
Mercedes-AMG G63
News

The new Mercedes-AMG G63 has arrived, and it still has a V8

Some of Affalterbach’s range-toppers are swapping eight cylinders for four, but the AMG G-class retains its V8 for 2024
26 Mar 2024
Land Rover Defender OCTA: twin-turbo V8 and McLaren-style suspension tech for hot off-roader
Land Rover Defender OCTA – front
News

Land Rover Defender OCTA: twin-turbo V8 and McLaren-style suspension tech for hot off-roader

The OCTA promises to be the fastest, toughest and most capable Defender yet when it launches later this year
26 Mar 2024