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    Welcome to Consumer Reports.

    We’re so glad to have you as a member. You now have access to benefits that can help you choose right, be safe and stay informed.
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    2015
    New 2019
    Used 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000

    BMW X5 Change Vehicle

    With this redesign, BMW dialed back the sharp handling and taut ride of previous models, trading some of their sporty feel for a cushier ride that makes it seem, well, less BMW-like. The cabin is now more luxurious, solid, and quiet. Fit and finish are impeccable and it's loaded with an array of up-to-date electronic features.
    Alerts
    There are 4 recalls on this vehicle. Learn More.
    2015
    New 2019
    Used 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000

    BMW X5

    Reliability
    See All
    Owner Satisfaction
    See All
    Crash and Rollover Tests
    IIHS Front Moderate Overlap Good
    IIHS Front Small Overlap, Driver NA
    IIHS Side Crash Good
    NHTSA Frontal-Crash, Driver
    NHTSA Frontal-Crash, Passenger
    See All

    Road Test Results

    Performance
    Acceleration Acceleration Acceleration tests are conducted on a smooth, flat pavement straightaway at the track. Time, speed, and distance measurements are taken with a precise GPS-based device that’s hooked to a data-logging computer.
    0 to 60 mph (sec.) 0 to 60 mph (sec.) The time in seconds that a vehicle takes to reach 60 mph from a standstill with the engine idling.
    Transmission Transmission Transmission performance is determined by shifting smoothness, response, shifter action, and clutch actuation for manual transmissions.
    Fuel Economy Fuel Economy We perform our own fuel-economy tests, independent of the government's often-quoted EPA figures and the manufacturers' claims. Using a precise fuel-flow measuring device spliced into the fuel line, we run two separate circuits to represent city and highway consumption.
    CR's Overall Mileage CR's Overall Mileage CR's overall mileage is a composite of measured fuel usage on a prescribed city course and highway cruising; and CR's 150-mile test trip of mixed driving, if tested. In recent road tests, we've discontinued the 150-mile trip test.
    CR's City Mileage CR's City Mileage Measured fuel usage on a prescribed city course.
    CR's Highway Mileage CR's Highway Mileage Measured fuel usage on a prescribed highway cruising.
    Annual Fuel Cost Annual Fuel Cost The cost and amount of fuel used in 12,000 miles and is calculated from CR's overall mileage.
    Braking Braking The braking rating is a composite of wet and dry stopping distances and pedal feel. Braking distance is from 60 mph, with no wheels locked.
    Emergency Handling Emergency Handling Several factors go into the rating, including the avoidance maneuver speed and confidence, as well as how the vehicle behaves when pushed to its limit,
    Comfort / Convenience
    Ride Ride Our expert judgment of how well the suspension isolates and absorbs road imperfections and how steady it keeps the body on various road surfaces.
    Noise Noise Our expert judgment of the vehicle's interior noise level in everyday driving.
    Front Seat Comfort Front Seat Comfort Our judgment of how comfortable the front seat is for drivers of various heights.
    Rear Seat Comfort Rear Seat Comfort Our judgment of how comfortable the rear seat is for two passengers to sit across.
    Interior Fit and Finish Interior Fit and Finish An expert evaluation of the interior quality and craftsmanship.
    Trunk/Cargo Area Trunk/Cargo Area Our rating is based on the amount of luggage or cargo space that a vehicle has in the trunk or cargo area.

    Owner Reports

    Worse Better
    Reliability History Reliability History The reliability charts are based on responses on hundreds of thousands of vehicles from our latest Annual Auto Survey. Consumer Reports subscribers reported on any serious problems they had with their vehicles during the past 12 months that they considered serious because of cost, failure, safety, or downtime, in any of the trouble spots included in the table below. The results are presented relative to the average model that year. Extra weight is given to the more serious areas such as major engine or transmission problems. Based on this data and further analysis, we predict reliability for the latest year. N/A indicates that we did not receive a large enough sample size to provide data for a specific year. An X indicates that the vehicle was not manufactured for a specific year.
    2000
    NA
    2001
    NA
    2002
    NA
    2003
    NA
    2004
    NA
    2005
    NA
    2006
    NA
    2007
    NA
    2008
    NA
    2009
    NA
    2010
    NA
    2011
    2012
    2013
    2014
    2015
    2016
    2017
    2018
    Reliability Trouble Spots
    Engine Major Engine Major Engine rebuild or replacement, cylinder head, head gasket, turbo or supercharger, timing chain or timing belt.
    Engine Minor Engine Minor Accessory belts and pulleys, engine computer, engine mounts, engine knock or ping, oil leaks.
    Engine Cooling Engine Cooling Radiator, cooling fan, antifreeze leaks, water pump, thermostat, overheating.
    Transmission Major Transmission Major Transmission rebuild or replacement, torque converter, clutch replacement.
    View all Reliability
    Owner Satisfaction Owner Satisfaction To learn about satisfaction, CR has collected survey data from our annual survey on more than half a million vehicles. Our subscribers provide great insights into their satisfaction by answering one simple question: If they had it to do all over again, would they definitely buy or lease the same model? In addition, respondents also rate their cars in six categories: driving experience, comfort, value, styling, audio, and climate systems. N/A indicates that we did not receive a large enough sample size to provide data for a specific year. An X indicates that the vehicle was not manufactured for a specific year.
    2000
    NA
    2001
    NA
    2002
    NA
    2003
    NA
    2004
    NA
    2005
    NA
    2006
    NA
    2007
    NA
    2008
    NA
    2009
    2010
    2011
    2012
    2013
    2014
    2015
    2016
    2017
    2018
    Driving Experience Driving Experience Includes acceleration and handling
    Comfort Comfort Includes seats, climate control, noise, and ride
    Value Value Did you get what you wanted relative to the price you paid?
    Styling Styling How it looks inside and out
    View all Owner Satisfaction
    Safety Equipment
    ABS and ESC standard. Front side and head protection air bags standard; rear side available.
    Road Test

    With this redesign, BMW dialed back the sharp handling and taut ride of previous models, trading some of their sporty feel for a cushier ride that makes it seem, well, less BMW-like. The cabin is now more luxurious, solid, and quiet. Fit and finish are impeccable and it's loaded with an array of up-to-date electronic features. The result is a very comfortable, refined, and high-tech SUV, although one that's less engaging to drive than previous X5s.

    The generous list of standard equipment doesn't include a backup camera, which is inexcusable at this price. Our X5 had the optional Driver Assistance Plus package, which includes several active safety systems that can even brake the vehicle when needed to avoid an accident.

    Seating
    2 front, 3 rear, 2 third
    Drive Wheels
    AWD , Rear
    Warranty

    In most cases, automotive warranties are based on the vehicle identification number (VIN), and the warranty will be valid regardless of ownership. The dealership can tell you exactly how much warranty is left.

    Read more about extended warranties
    Body Styles
    4-door SUV
    Transmissions Available
    • 8-speed Automatic
    Engines Available
    • 3-liter 6 turbo (300 hp)
    • 3-liter 6 turbodiesel (255 hp)
    • 4.4-liter V8 turbo (445 hp)
    • 4.4-liter V8 turbo (567 hp)

    Owner Reported Trouble Spots

    The Reliability score is based on our latest subscriber survey of 2015 BMW X5 owners. The owner comments describe problems respondents experienced with this vehicle.

    In-car Electronics

    CD or DVD players, radio, speakers, GPS, communication system (e.g., OnStar), display screen freezes or goes blank, phone pairing (e.g. Bluetooth), voice control commands, steering wheel controls, portable music device interface (e.g., iPod/MP3 player), backup or other camera/sensors.

    What Owners Say

    Backup or other camera/sensors

    “The active blind spot detection system malfunctions. This was a problem at purchase and is in the shop being fixed now by a BMW dealership under warranty”

    Anonymous, IL (2015 BMW X5 xDrive35i 3.0-L 6 Cyl turbo)
    In-dash navigation system (GPS)

    “Does not accurately show my current location”

    Anonymous, PA (2015 BMW X5 xDrive35i 3.0-L 6 Cyl turbo)

    “Bluetooth doesn't always connect with incoming and outgoing calls. I have to manually connect to car thru my phone. Unpredictable when this happens but happens frequently”

    Thomas S., KY (2015 BMW X5 xDrive35d 3.0-L 6 Cyl turbo)

    “Problems are all related to podcasts. The system is unUSble”

    Dan B., NY (2015 BMW X5 xDrive35i 3.0-L 6 Cyl turbo)

    “Equipment will not recognize my Canadian accent”

    Garry D., ON (2015 BMW X5 xDrive35d 3.0-L 6 Cyl diesel)
    External music device interface (e.g., smart phone, MP3 player)

    “I can use bluetooth for phone calls the music/podcast interface is subpar. The index of podcasts available is always completely random. Podcasts are listed in the wrong grouping. Then if you select one there's no way to stop it and reselect another s”

    Dan B., NY (2015 BMW X5 xDrive35i 3.0-L 6 Cyl turbo)
    Load more

    Climate System

    Blower (fan) motor, A/C compressor, condenser, evaporator, heater system, automatic climate control, refrigerant leakage, electrical failure.

    What Owners Say

    A/C compressor

    “Quit working and had to be replaced. Only BMW dealership didn't stick the part”

    Anonymous, LA (2015 BMW X5 xDrive35i Unsure)
    Blower (fan) motor

    “This has been from the beginning, and we had the X5 in several times for this, with the dealer trying lots of small fixes and never finding the real problem. Finally, after talking with the manager, they found a recall for an evaporator temp sensor circuit-they had to talk with national BMW tech rep. The a/c would work fine when you first got in the car, but if you stopped for short period of times, and then got back in the car, it would stop blowing cold air and then no air would come out. Appa”

    Anonymous, IL (2015 BMW X5 xDrive50i 4.4-L V8 turbo)

    “The problem is not yet resolved, but they currently believe the computer that controls the central console climate system and radio needs to be replaced”

    Anonymous, CA (2015 BMW X5 xDrive35i 3.0-L 6 Cyl turbo)
    Refrigerant leaks

    “Gasket leak. They fixed it and gave me extended warranty in case it happens again”

    Anonymous, GA (2015 BMW X5 xDrive35d 3.0-L 6 Cyl turbo)

    “Leaked. Required multiple visits to track”

    Anonymous, NY (2015 BMW X5 xDrive35i 3.0-L 6 Cyl turbo)
    Automatic climate control

    “Needed a replacement of insulation around the sensor”

    Anonymous, NC (2015 BMW X5 xDrive35d 3.0-L 6 Cyl diesel)
    Load more

    Body Hardware

    Power or manual windows, locks and latches, tailgate, hatch or trunk, doors or sliding doors, mirrors, seat controls, safety belts, sunroof, convertible top.

    What Owners Say

    Seat belts

    “Drivers seat belt upon leaving car, did not always retract and became caught in drivers door”

    Anonymous, MA (2015 BMW X5 xDrive35i 3.0-L 6 Cyl turbo)
    Tailgate, hatch or trunk

    “Continuous rattle. Have trouble diagnosing and repairing”

    Anonymous, CA (2015 BMW X5 sDrive35i 3.0-L 6 Cyl turbo)
    Doors or sliding doors

    “Door latch needed adjustment. Door would not fully close”

    Robert R., MI (2015 BMW X5 xDrive35i 3.0-L 6 Cyl turbo)

    “A door latch was improperly installed at the factory and allowed a rear passenger door to not latch and stay open”

    K M., NV (2015 BMW X5 xDrive35d 3.0-L 6 Cyl diesel)
    Load more

    Paint/Trim

    Paint (fading, chalking, cracking, or peeling), loose interior and exterior trim or moldings, rust.

    What Owners Say

    Loose interior trim or moldings

    “Metal strip on door threshold became dislodged. Door edge was painted in an area that received a great deal of ware. It should have been covered”

    Anonymous, MA (2015 BMW X5 xDrive35i 3.0-L 6 Cyl turbo)
    Paint (fading, chalking, cracking, or peeling)

    “Fading paint and metallic trim”

    Anonymous, LA (2015 BMW X5 xDrive35i Unsure)

    “If you look at this car "hard" it scratches, dents and looks bad”

    Christopher M., NJ (2015 BMW X5 xDrive35d 3.0-L 6 Cyl diesel)

    Body Integrity

    Squeaks, rattles, wind noises, loose or cracked seals and/or weather-stripping, air and water leaks.

    What Owners Say

    Squeaks or rattles

    “Problem with rear seat latch causing clacking noise over uneven terrain, but dealer has ordered a replacement”

    Anonymous, NY (2015 BMW X5 xDrive35d 3.0-L 6 Cyl diesel)
    Wind noise

    “horrible fit and finish, driver's door is noisy and leaks air”

    Christopher M., NJ (2015 BMW X5 xDrive35d 3.0-L 6 Cyl diesel)

    Suspension

    Shocks or struts, ball joints, tie rods, wheel bearings, alignment, steering linkage (includes rack and pinion), power steering (pumps and hoses, leaks), wheel balance, springs or torsion bars, bushings, electronic or air suspension.

    What Owners Say

    Alignment

    “pulls right”

    Anonymous, NV (2015 BMW X5 xDrive50i 4.4-L V8 turbo)
    Electronic or air suspension

    “pulls right”

    Anonymous, NV (2015 BMW X5 xDrive50i 4.4-L V8 turbo)

    Drive System

    Driveshaft or axle, CV joint, differential, transfer case, 4WD/AWD components, driveline vibration, traction control, electronic stability control (ESC), electrical failure.

    What Owners Say

    Electrical failure

    “The electrical failure affected the phone pairing, climate system, CD/radio & nav. I am told it was a heat monitoring switch that failed and, because the car could not figure out how hot those items were getting, shut all of them down”

    Anonymous, CT (2015 BMW X5 xDrive35i 3.0-L 6 Cyl turbo)
    4WD/AWD components

    “False error and check engine information. Updated software and problem went away”

    Stephen S., CO (2015 BMW X5 xDrive35i 3.0-L 6 Cyl turbo)

    Engine Minor

    Accessory belts and pulleys, engine computer, engine mounts, engine knock or ping, oil leaks.

    What Owners Say

    Oil leaks

    “Im not sure if its an oil leak, but this is a V8, and we have to be vigilant to check the oil level. It uses oil, and if you drive alot of longer drives, say over 50 miles, it will go through oil. We first found this out after having just a few months, and the system told us to add immediately 2 quarts of oil. Over the next year and a half, we have to do this periodically, on top of the regular oil maintenance/change. The service guy even gave me 2 quarts of oil to keep with me. This is really r”

    Anonymous, IL (2015 BMW X5 xDrive50i 4.4-L V8 turbo)
    Engine knock or ping

    “Motor made an annoying knocking noise. Dealer made adjustments”

    Garry D., ON (2015 BMW X5 xDrive35d 3.0-L 6 Cyl diesel)

    Brakes

    Antilock system (ABS), parking brake, master cylinder, calipers, rotors, pulsation or vibration, squeaking, brake failure or wear.

    Power Equipment

    Cruise control, clock, warning lights, body control module, keyless entry, wiper motor or washer, tire pressure monitor, interior or exterior lights, horn, gauges, 12V power plug, remote engine start, alarm or security system

    Electric System

    Alternator, starter, hybrid battery and related systems, regular battery, battery cables, engine harness, coil, ignition switch, electronic ignition, distributor or rotor failure, spark plugs and wires failure.

    Fuel System

    Check engine light, sensors (includes O2 or oxygen sensor), emission control devices (includes EGR), engine computer, engine computer, fuel cap, fuel gauge/sender, fuel injection system, fuel pump, fuel leaks, stalling or hesitation.

    Engine Cooling

    Radiator, cooling fan, antifreeze leaks, water pump, thermostat, overheating.

    Exhaust

    Muffler, pipes, catalytic converter, exhaust manifold, leaks.

    Transmission Minor

    Gear selector or linkage, leaks, transmission computer, transmission sensor or solenoid, clutch adjustment, rough shifting, slipping transmission.

    Engine Major

    Engine rebuild or replacement, cylinder head, head gasket, turbo or supercharger, timing chain or timing belt.

    Change Vehicle