BMW X5, X6 facelifts revealed
After the recent introduction of the refreshed Mercedes-Benz GLE and GLE coupe, BMW has revised the X5 and X6 SUVs to compete.
- X5, X6 facelifts get twin curved digital panels on the dash
- New powertrain options added; plug-in hybrid more powerful
- India launch still some time away
BMW X5, X6 facelift: what’s new?
Both the fourth-generation X5 and the third-generation X6 have undergone minor aesthetic revisions, interior upgrades including a new digital display, and drivetrain revisions across a variety of renamed variants.
The X5 and X6 are getting a mid-life facelift that includes a redesigned front bumper with a new optional LED grille. The X6 comes equipped with the M Sport package, while the X5 comes standard with xLine styling cues for the 2023 model year. The updated X5 and X6 share their cabin updates with the updated X7, both of which are manufactured at BMW’s Spartanburg plant in the United States.
A new curved digital panel takes centre stage inside, sitting above a subtly revised dashboard. It comes equipped with a 14.9-inch touchscreen infotainment display and a 12.3-inch instrument display, both of which run BMW’s newest iDrive 8.0 operating system. Additionally, BMW’s cloud-based BMW Maps navigation system (BMW Live Cockpit Plus) is included. Touch functionality is also added to the AC panel.
Glass applications for various controllers and a Bowers & Wilkins audio system are all available as extras, as is an augmented reality head-up display device.
BMW X5, X6 facelift: updated powertrain
The X5 and X6 for the 2023 model year will be powered by a new lineup of gasoline, diesel, and gasoline-electric plug-in hybrid powertrains paired with BMW’s xDrive four-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission.
The X5 xDrive50i and X6 xDrive40i’s turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder petrol units produce 380hp and 520Nm thanks to modifications to the combustion process, valve control, and ignition system (up 47hp and 70Nm). The X5 xDrive30d and X6 xDrive30d diesel models produce up to 298 horsepower and 670 Newton-meters of torque, respectively.
A 48V battery is added to the basic six-cylinder gasoline and diesel engines, as well as the V8 petrol engine, increasing power and torque by 12 horsepower and 200 Newton-meters (Nm).
The X5 M50 xDrive and the X6 M50 xDrive have been renamed the M60, signalling a shift in the upper echelons of the lineup. Despite this, they continue to use the same 4.4-liter turbocharged V8 gasoline engine, which produces 530 hp and 750 Nm. Because of this, the two M Performance variants can supposedly reach 100 km/h in 4.3 seconds.
Likewise, the X5 xDrive50e’s improved powertrain is an improvement over the X5 xDrive45e’s gasoline-electric plug-in hybrid system. Newer version 3.0 litre turbocharged six-cylinder petrol engines provide 313 horsepower, an increase of 27 over the previous model. The system’s total power is now 490hp, thanks to an upgraded electric motor placed in the gearbox that generates an additional 84hp. Both the torque and the battery capacity have risen, with the latter rising from 3.4 kWh to 25.7 kWh and the former reaching 700 Nm. This contributes to its stated 0-gasoline range of 94-110km on the WLTP test cycle.
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