The 2020 BMW X5's #3 ranking is based on its score within the Luxury Midsize SUVs category. Currently the BMW X5 has a score of 8.4 out of 10, which is based on our evaluation of 25 pieces of research and data elements using various sources.
Pros Powerful engines Refined ride and handling User-friendly infotainment system Large cargo area
Cons Optional third-row seats are cramped
The 2020 BMW X5 comes with rear wheel drive, and all wheel drive. Available transmissions include: 8-speed shiftable automatic.New turbo V8-powered M50i model joins the lineup.Keyless entry now standard on 40i base trim.Debut of plug-in hybrid xDrive45e expected in early or mid-2020.
Pros Strong performance from both models Luxurious, comfortable cabin lives up to its price tag Spacious cabin and cargo area
Cons Small mirrors and wide roof pillars create blind spots Limited interior storage Wide doorsills inhibit entry and exit
This year, the big change to the X5 lineup can be summed up in three words: even more performance. BMW has added a fourth member to the stable, the M50i, which pummels the asphalt with 523 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque from its turbocharged 4.4-liter V-8—up 67 horsepower and 74 lb-ft from the xDrive50i's similar 4.4-liter V-8. The M50i package includes a standard eight-speed automatic transmission, an electronic limited-slip rear differential, an M Sport exhaust, bigger brakes, and sportier suspension tuning with adaptive dampers.
Pros Inspiring engines, top-notch build quality, easy-to-use infotainment system.
Cons Steering feel is in short supply, third row is for small fry only, no Android Auto capability.
Not only is the MX-30 an all-new model for Mazda, it marks the first time the Japanese automaker has experimented with an all-electric powertrain. It's similarly sized to the current CX-3 and the upcoming CX-30 crossovers, but borrows the MX nomenclature of the MX-5 Miata, giving us hope that it will be a performance-oriented option in the electric-SUV marketplace.
Another day, another electric vehicle. This time around it's from Mazda, and it blends all the hallmarks of a sporty city SUV with a fully-electric heart. The MX-30 debuts Mazda's pure-electric e-SkyActiv platform, along with a number of new interior technologies likely to filter through the rest of the Japanese brand's line-up in due course. The all-electric MX-30 is part of Mazda's plan to offer an e-SkyActiv (hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or fully-electric) vehicle in each of its model lines by 2030. That includes everything from the Mazda 2 through to the dual-cab BT-50 replacement.
Mazda could have played it safe with this one but it didn't. Instead, it went bold. Rugged, in fact. All the more impressive is the fact that the all-new 2021 Mazda MX-30 is the Japanese automaker's first-ever all-electric vehicle. Going bold is something GM, for example, never would have done. Just look at the Chevrolet Bolt. The new MX-30, by contrast, has unique styling inside and out that may not be to everyone's liking. Mazda has been repositioning itself over the past few years as a more premium brand overall, and the MX-30's slightly more rugged look is not what everyone expected. But it also serves as the ideal gateway model for the brand as it takes its first step towards all-out electrification. The question is whether the MX-30 can successfully challenge the likes of the popular Hyundai Kona Electric, Kia Niro EV, and even the upcoming BMW iX3.
