Mike Hagerty
Mar 63 min
Adulting comes for us all. Sometimes it comes with kids. That sport coupe that got you Ms. Right's attention in the first place? It doesn't do car seats.
Fortunately, you can solve the family vehicle dilemma and continue to risk your future as a licensed driver---maybe even boost the horsepower quotient a bit over what you already have---with the 2024 BMW X5 M Competition.
Yes, it may accommodate a growing family and the attendant stuff (Pack N Play, stroller, the Costco-sized pack of diapers), but this is a family hauler dedicated to hauling....well, you know.
Under the hood, it's a 4.4-liter twin-turbo 32-valve V8. 617 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque. That is not a typo. Mated to an eight-speed M Sport automatic transmission with DriveLogic and launch control, sixty miles an hour happens from a standing start in 3.7 seconds. The time between fill-ups is greatly reduced, too with an EPA-estimated fuel economy average of 15 mpg city/highway.
In an M Competition, the performance bits aren't all related to going fast. There's significant hardware invested in keeping that power under control and bringing the vehicle to a stop. Dynamic Stability Control, Dynamic Traction Control, an M-tuned xDrive all-wheel-drive system, M Compound four-wheel ventilated anti-lock brakes with cross-drilled rotors and Dynamic Brake Control, Adaptive M Professional with Active Roll Stabilization, and an M Sport differential, as well as an M Sport exhaust system and 21"/22" M light alloy wheels.
If you need to pitch practicality to Mom, there's 33.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats...plenty for the aforementioned Pack N Play, stroller and daddy's bail money in small bills (maybe don't mention that).
All of this, of course, is about the price of two years' tuition at Stanford. The base price of the 2024 BMW X5 Competition is $123,295 including destination.
In addition to the performance bits discussed above, the standard equipment at that price includes BMW's Connected Package Pro (real-time traffic, on-street parking info in selected cities and BMW Remote Services), wireless device charging, power-folding heated side mirrors, a Harman Kardon surround sound audio system, a one-year SiriusXM 360L Platinum Plan subscription, a three-spoke leather-wrapped M Sport steering wheel, navigation, head-up display, voice recognition, power front multi-function seats with backlit M logo integrated into the headrests, front seat memory, a panoramic moonroof, keyless entry, rain-sensing wipers, heated front seats, armrest and steering wheel, remote engine start, active park distance control, roof rails, carbon fiber trim, four-zone climate control, and a comprehensive suite of active safety features.
If this is not your first BMW, you know what comes next---the extra-cost options. In our case, that's $5,000 for the Boston Green Metallic paint, $3,500 for the Adelaide Grey full Merino leather interior, $3,100 for the Executive Package (heated and cooled cupholders, front and rear heated seats, and front massaging seats), $650 for M Compound brakes with black calipers, $3,400 for an upgraded Bowers & Wilkins sound system, and $2,500 for the M Driver's Package (unlocking a bit more horsepower under the hood and giving you a voucher for a BMW-sanctioned race track experience).
All that adds up to $141,445 as tested.
The X5 is a stellar SUV...the X5 M Competition takes that basic goodness to a whole new level. It's not for everyone, but for those with the means and the skills, it's a deeply rewarding high-performance family vehicle.