BMW X5 M

Is it even shocking anymore when an SUV can accelerate to 60 mph in fewer than 4 seconds? Maybe a little. There are only a few SUVs capable of sports car numbers, and the 2021 BMW X5 M happens to be one of them. A high-performance variant of the midsize X5 SUV, the X5 M comes with a 600-horsepower V8 and rips from zero to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds. The X5 M also gets suspension, brake and other drivetrain enhancements over the regular X5 to elevate the driving experience to new heights.

Other mega-performance luxury SUVs include the Jaguar F-Pace SVR, Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S and Porsche Cayenne Turbo. Read our Expert Rating below to get our in-depth analysis of the X5 M's performance, comfort, utility and more.

Which X5 M does MatoCar recommend?

While it's tempting to jump ahead to the most extreme version, the standard X5 M is frighteningly capable in its own right. Unless you plan to regularly lap your SUV on a racetrack, the difference in performance between it and the BMW X5 M Competition is minimal. Considering adding the Driving Assistance Professional package for its enhanced adaptive cruise control or the Executive package with ventilated and massaging seats if you're feeling fancy.

The BMW X5 M is a high-performance luxury SUV available in two trims: X5 M and X5 M Competition. Both are powered by a turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is standard. Standout features include:

X5 M Comes well equipped with:

Turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 engine (600 horsepower, 553 lb-ft of torque)
Adaptive LED headlights
21-inch wheels
Adaptive sport suspension
Panoramic sunroof
Power liftgate
Four-zone automatic climate control
Heated front seats, armrests and steering wheel

Standard tech features include:

Head-up display
Digital instrument display
12.3-inch touchscreen
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone compatibility
16-speaker Harman Kardon sound system
Wireless charging pad
Surround-view camera (gives you a top-down view of the X5 M and its surroundings for tight parking situations)
Automated parking system (steers into a parking spot with little or no driver intervention)

The X5 M also has:

Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane)
Blind-spot monitoring (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot)

X5 M Competition The most raucous version of the X5 M, the BMW X5 M Competition adds the following:

Upgraded turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 engine (617 hp, 553 lb-ft)
Sport exhaust system
Gloss-black exterior trim enhancements

BMW offers a few options for the X5 M. Highlights include:

Executive package

Upgraded headlights
Soft-close doors (catch as they're being closed and gently pull shut)
Rear window sunshades
Front seats with ventilation and massage

Driving Assistance Professional package

Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front)
Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane)