BMW X5 2020 Tow Test

BMW Australia late last year introduced a beefed-up 3500kg towing capacity for all but two model variants in its American-built BMW X5 range.

At the entry level, the standard xDrive25d remains limited to 2700kg, as does the xDrive45e. But the xDrive30d, xDrive40i, M40d and M50i are now available with the unique-to-Australia factory-fit option that stems from more than four years of work undertaken to meet tough Australian homologation requirements.

BMW expects the option to significantly improve sales, broadening its appeal to people who tow caravans, horses or boats. And the question we all want answered is: Should Toyota and BMW’s traditional premium SUV rivals be worried?

What you pay and what you get

When you’re tow-testing, the diesel engine option is usually preferred but unfortunately BMW Australia didn’t have the BMW X5 xDrive30d turbo-diesel available for us to assess. So our focus in this tow test is on the 2020 BMW X5 xDrive40i twin-turbo petrol, which starts at $122,900 plus on-road costs, but with options fitted here was $131,100 (plus ORCs).

Options on the test vehicle included the towing package ($3200 fitted, including tow bar, tongue and wiring) and Performance Package ($5000, including metallic paint, M Sport exhaust system and 22-inch double-spoke alloy wheels in place of the standard 20-inch alloys).

The towing package is enabled from the factory in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and includes additional reinforcement to the body plus Australian dealer-fitted electrics and tow tongue.

The electronics are also a little different with the towing package. For example, Surround View offers an additional zoom function for the rear camera, so you can better see the tow ball when hitching up.

The lower rear bumper garnish has to be removed to use the towbar, and in that state it looks unfinished. However, the tow tongue can be removed from the hitch receiver and the lower bumper garnish refitted.

The BMW X5 xDrive40i comes standard with dual 12.3-inch digital display screens, Level 2 autonomous capability and driver assist systems including autonomous emergency braking and active cruise control.

A 10-speaker audio system, adaptive LED headlights with high beam assist, 2.5-zone climate control, leather upholstery, glass panoramic sunroof, powered tailgate and Apple CarPlay are all included.

While the Performance Package mentioned above adds extra M Sport fruit, the xDrive40i already comes with other M Sport gear as standard, such as a leather-clad steering wheel, upgraded brakes and aerodynamics package.

So far, there’s no Android Auto connectivity offered, and the spare tyre is a T155/80R19 space-saver. The space-saver is not ideal if you’re towing into remote areas and get a flat tyre, but then again it’s a lot better than a can of tyre repair goo that some vehicles come with.

Protection and tech

The 2020 BMW X5 xDrive40i is bristling with safety and tech features you’d expect from a premium luxury SUV.

As with all X5s from the xDrive25d up, the xDrive40i has a head-up display, active cruise control with stop and go function, front/rear cross traffic warning, steering and lane control assist, lane keeping assist with side collision warning, lane change assist, crossroads warning and evasion aid.

The X5 also has an emergency call system, parking assist and connectivity via an in-built 4G SIM card.

A three-year free subscription to BMW Connected Package Professional offers remote services (monitoring of the car remotely with your phone), real-time traffic info and concierge services (such as ATM, fuel station or restaurant locations) as well as news and weather through ConnectedDrive Services.

Managing the load

Powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine, the BMW xDrive40i produces 250kW and 450Nm, accelerates from 0-100km/h in a claimed 5.5sec and consumes an average 9.2L/100km on the official combined cycle.

Without a trailer on the back, the X5 is a quick, smooth and agile performer. It’s never far from your mind that this is a relatively tall and heavy SUV when pushing it though corners, but it remains one of the most rewarding and fleet-of-foot in its category.

At 5.5sec from rest to 100km/h, the X5 is not hanging about, either. The ideal transmission is one which is unremarkable in operation; that is, your attention is not drawn to the gearshifts.

Generally, then, the X5’s auto is unremarkable, with the only criticism being when cruising gently it can sometimes be a bit slow to respond with a kick-down if you stab the throttle for a burst of speed.

Even with the 2800kg Avida Topaz caravan behind it, the X5 performed well.

On the freeway sitting at 100km/h, it would occasionally ease into eighth gear (with the engine spinning at around 1500rpm), but in general was happiest in seventh gear (with 2000rpm showing on the tacho).

The X5 climbed our steep test hill at the posted 90km/h without breaking a sweat. Well, it was perspiring a little, as the transmission had kicked down to third gear with the engine revving at 5000rpm – but barely half throttle was required to hold the speed.

As for engine braking, on the steep descent the BMW did well – it didn’t creep past the 70km/h start speed, while manually holding second gear at 5500rpm.

Fuel consumption when towing a heavy trailer with a petrol six isn’t going to be pretty, and so the 19.9L/100km average the X5 achieved on test wasn’t a surprise.

However, in real-world towing, without our regular stopping for photography and the performance testing, the trip computer figure of around 17L/100km for much of the time we were towing is no doubt achievable.

The ins and outs

The 2020 BMW X5 xDrive40i has a comfortable, spacious interior and is an easy vehicle to simply get in and drive.

The assistance and guidance features help, as do the comfortable and supportive seats.

While the xDrive40i has a 3500kg towing mass limit, it's restricted to 280kg on the tow ball. So while our Avida Topaz test caravan with 265kg tow ball mass at tare was a good test for the BMW, it would not be recommended as a van you’d typically load up and put behind the X5, as you’d easily exceed the tow ball mass limit.

With the van hitched up, the rear dropped a noticeable 26mm while the nose rise was just 11mm.

Ride quality remained good, with only a little wallowing on undulating roads and no yawing. So all up, the X5 appears to be a stable and comfortable tow vehicle.

Deciding factors

The towing capacity increase to 3500kg on the BMW X5 xDrive40i is a welcome improvement, but the 280kg tow ball load limit will be a deal-breaker for some – as will the 3.0-litre twin-turbo petrol engine’s thirst when towing.

That said, the BMW X5 has plenty of towing performance and is comfortable and stable with it.

How much does the 2020 BMW X5 XDrive40i cost?
Price: $122,900 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 250kW/450Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 9.2L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 211g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2018)