Facelifted BMW X5 And X6 Break Cover With Updated Styling And Cleaner Powertrain Options

• BMW X5 and X6 get a mid-life update.

• Exterior changes are subtle, while changes inside are comparatively comprehensive.

• Both feature a single panel dual-screen setup – 12.3-inch infotainment and 14.9-inch driver’s display – running on i-Drive 8.

• A 48-V mild-hybrid system assists the entire range.

• X5 gets an updated plug-in hybrid variant with a pure electric range of 110km.

• India launch likely in second half of 2023.

BMW has been keeping busy with a host of new launches in India this year, ranging from sedans to SUVs. The new launches will soon get another addition in the form of the facelifted X5 and X6 that have just been revealed globally. Here’s everything you need to know about the two:

Design

The styling update isn’t comprehensive, but is enough to give a breath of freshness to the design of both the SUVs. Both sport a sleeker headlight setup with dual arrow-shaped DRLs that double up as turn indicators. Bumper styling for both has been reworked with the X5 getting vertical air curtains flanking the horizontal air intake that gets a chrome finished outline. 

At the rear of the X5, the elements inside the LED tailight now portray an X-shaped motif, while the rest of the design looks largely similar to the outgoing model. 19- and 20-inch alloy wheels are standard for the X5 and X6, respectively, while the range topping trims get a set of 21-inch wheels. Furthermore, bigger 22-inch sized alloy wheels can be specced as an option.

As for the X6, it now comes with the M Sport package as standard, so the styling looks a bit more aggressive compared to the X5. The blacked-out kidney grille along with the octagonal-shaped elements in the restyled bumper below flanked by L-shaped air intakes contribute to its aggressive styling. 

The sloping roofline concludes into a very familiar rear-end with the only noticeable difference being the trapezoidal-shaped exhaust pipes. 

Interior

As with all new Bimmers, the change inside the cabin is a lot more comprehensive than the changes outside. The screen setup is now integrated as one, with a dual curved glass display consisting of a 12.3-inch infotainment system and a 14.9-inch diagonal instrument cluster, running on i-Drive 8. 

The steering design in the X5 looks rather chunky in comparison to the overall look of the cabin which sports a slim panel with integrated light bar running the length of the dashboard, although it eventually is flanked by two boxy aircon vents. The light bar features a graphic of the relevant model - X5 or X6. The design looks clean otherwise and the central console also retains the iDrive 8 controller. 

Features like wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, digital driver display, a head-up display, panoramic sunroof, ambient lighting, and multi-zone climate control have been carried over. Its safety kit, alongside equipment like multiple airbags, ABS with EBD, a tyre pressure monitor, electronic stability control, and hill hold assist, also packs ADAS technology, which includes front-collision warning system, lane-keep assist, and emergency stop assist. 

Parking is made easier with the help of a reversing camera, while there’s a new optional Parking Assistant Professional feature that allows you to move the vehicle in and out of a tight space using a mobile phone from up to 200m outside the car. 

Powertrains

Both the new BMW X5 and X6 get the choice of a 538PS/750Nm, 4.4-litre turbo-petrol V8 engine, a 385PS/520Nm, six-cylinder, 3-litre petrol and a 302PS/670PS, six-cylinder, in-line 3-litre diesel engine. A 48-volt mild hybrid system assists the entire range and all the powertrains come with an eight-speed automatic transmission. 

Also Read: 3 Things To Expect From Upcoming Renault Duster In India

Apart from these, the new xDrive50e variant of the X5 now comes with a plug-in hybrid powertrain with a combined output of 490PS and 700Nm. Its 25.7kWh battery pack allows it to be driven in a pure electric mode for a WLTP-claimed range of 110km.

Global launches for both the SUVs will begin from April, so we can expect both to arrive in India sometime in the second half of 2023. The BMW X5 will rival the likes of the Mercedes-Benz GLE, Audi Q7 and Volvo XC90, while the X6 with its sportier looks will be a fitting rival to the Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe and Porsche Cayenne Coupe.