The BMW X5 is one of the most impressive luxury SUVs for those who want a great driving experience, but at the top end of the 2025 BMW X5 range is the M Competition. The vehicle is built for performance, accelerating from zero to 60 miles per hour in a cool 3.7 seconds. It also boasts some impressively cool styling.
But that version of what’s otherwise a much more affordable luxury SUV more or less doubles the price compared to the base model. Is the 2025 BMW X5 M Competition worth the cash, or should you stick to a lower-end model — or try something else entirely? I’ve been driving the X5 M Competition to find out.
Pros
- Spacious interior.
- Aggressive styling.
- Highly comfortable.
- Great performance.
Cons
- Expensive.
- A little jumpy at lower speeds.
Exterior Design
The 2025 BMW X5 M Competition strikes an impressive balance between aggressive sportiness and a refined look. While it’s unmistakably still an X5, it has additional touches and styling that help it stand out.
As a whole, the X5 has an aggressive angled front end with a nice curved roofline and hatchback rear. On the front, you’ll get a classic BMW kidney grille (not an oversized one like on the iX), coupled with side intakes for a more aggressive look.
The most immediately noticeable differences between this variant and the standard X5 models are the larger air intakes, which give the front end a more purposeful, track-ready appearance. The particular model I’m driving comes in Marina Bay Blue Metallic, which looks great. My model also has larger 21/22-inch wheels that help complete the sporty feel.
If you’ve seen a BMW X5 before, you won’t be shocked by the look of the M5 X Competition. Everything looks and feels a little more aggressive, which I like. It’s thankfully not over-the-top either.
Interior Design
Step inside the 2025 BMW X5 M Competition and you’re greeted with an interior that’s even more premium than the outside. The vehicle is luxurious and spacious, and no matter where you sit, you’ll have a comfortable ride.
The materials are quite premium. Stunning stitched leather adorns much of the interior. Combined with other high-quality materials throughout the cabin, everything feels solid and well-constructed.
Space is generous both up front and in the rear seats. Taller passengers will find plenty of head and legroom in the second row, which is always appreciated in a family-oriented performance SUV. The panoramic sunroof helps make the cabin feel even more open and airy.
The front seats are the most comfortable to ride in — they’re heated and ventilated, which is perfect for year-round comfort, and the massage function is a nice touch for longer drives. The rear seats get heated as well, so nobody feels left out — though they don’t have the ventilation and massaging. Thankfully, the effective dual-zone climate control is intuitive to adjust.
My loaner car has a Bowers & Wilkins sound system, and it sounds pretty good. I wouldn’t say it’s mind-blowing, but those who want a better sound experience will appreciate what it has to offer.
For cargo space, you’ll get 33.9 cubic feet with the second row up, which is plenty for most daily needs. Fold those seats down and you’ll have 72.3 cubic feet.
The bottom line is that no matter where you sit in this X5 M, you’re going to be comfortable and surrounded by quality materials. It strikes a good balance between luxury and sportiness.
Software and Tech
The 2025 BMW X5 M Competition is a relatively tech-forward vehicle, and BMW has equipped it with a solid array of digital features.
Up front is a dual-screen setup, including a large, curved 12.3-inch screen for instrument monitoring paired with an even larger 14.9-inch touchscreen for infotainment. It’s a clean, modern look that avoids the oversized tablet appearance that some manufacturers have fallen into. The screens are crisp and responsive, which always helps.
Running the show is BMW’s iDrive operating system, which is fine but can be a little confusing at first. It takes some time to learn where everything is buried, though once you get the hang of it, navigation becomes more intuitive. Fortunately, you don’t have to rely on it if you don’t want to: The vehicle supports both CarPlay and Android Auto through a wireless connection, so you can stick with your phone’s interface for most infotainment needs. There’s also a wireless charging pad that works well, though like many wireless chargers, it can be a bit finicky about phone placement.
Like other modern BMWs, the X5 has digital climate controls. While there are persistent always-there controls for temperature adjustment, I really wish there were dedicated controls for fan speed and fan selection too. Having to tap that extra button is a little annoying, and feels unnecessarily complicated. Carmakers: If you’re not using physical climate controls, you need to make all the same controls always available in digital form, without the need to dive through settings.
The 3D parking view on my review model is genuinely helpful and makes tight parking situations much less stressful. The heads-up display works well too, projecting driving speed and some turn-by-turn directions right onto the windshield without being distracting.
The driver assistance, including lane-keeping assistant and adaptive cruise control, works fine too. In highway driving especially, the system can feel almost self-driving in some scenarios, though you’ll still need to keep your hands on the wheel and stay alert.
Driving Experience
Of course, the best thing about the M Competition variant of the BMW X5 is the driving experience. That, after all, is why you’re paying that extra cash.
Under the hood sits a 4.4-liter V8 engine paired with a 48V mild-hybrid system that doubles as a starter-generator. The result is an impressive 617 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque sent to all four wheels through an 8-speed automatic transmission. Those numbers translate to a zero to 60 time of just 3.7 seconds, which can take your breath away.
Put your foot down and the X5 M Competition launches forward with the kind of urgency you’d expect from a proper sports car, not a family SUV. It’s very quick and quite responsive to throttle inputs, making highway merging and passing effortless.
That said, all this power can be a bit much in slower traffic. The vehicle can feel a little jumpy when you’re trying to creep along in stop-and-go conditions, which reduces some of the smoothness you might expect from a luxury SUV. It’s not a huge issue, and you get used to the feel, but it’s something to be aware of if most of your driving is in congested urban areas.
Of course, all this performance comes at a cost. Fuel economy isn’t great, sitting in at 13 mpg in the city and 18 mpg on the highway. That’s the price you pay for having a high-performance V8, but it’s worth noting if you’re planning to use this as a daily driver.
Generally, the BMW X5 M Competition is a lot of fun. It’s fast and responsive, and while you’ll have to fill the tank more than you might like, you might find that to be worth it.
In My Expert Opinion
The 2025 BMW X5 M Competition is a little ridiculous. While the base model of the vehicle (BMW X5 sDrive40i) comes at $67,600, the M Competition trim starts at a much less manageable $129,700 — and the loaner model that I’ve been testing costs $140,175. For that, you’re getting a whole lot of power, and if you really care about that, then maybe it’s worth the money for you. Most looking for a do-it-all luxury SUV will still be perfectly happy with on of the base models, but if you are willing to spend this kind of cash on a family-size performance SUV then you certainly won’t be disappointed.
