483-HP 2025 BMW X5 Plug-In Hybrid Now In PH For P6.990M

The BMW X5 is the pioneer of the German luxury automaker’s growing crossover SUV lineup. Debuting in 1999, the X5 has been through a lot of evolution through the decades. Today, however, the X5 experiences its most significant change in the form of the 2025 BMW X5 plug-in hybrid, combining electrification and performance in one cleverly engineered package. Oh, and did we mention it costs P2 million less than the comparable diesel variant?

Cheaper And Faster Than The Diesel

You have the recently introduced Executive Order 62 to thank for, which now exempts hybrids (including plug-in hybrids) from import duties, regardless of their country of origin. As a reminder, the X5, along with the X3, the X4, the X6, and the X7, are all made in Spartanburg, South Carolina in the United States, while the X1 and X2 (including the electric iX1 and iX2) are made in Regensburg in Germany.

The 2025 BMW X5 plug-in hybrid, called the xDrive50e M Sport, will effectively replace the xDrive30d Business and M Sport, and what you get in lieu of a 3.0-liter turbocharged straight-six diesel is a gasoline-fed version of this engine. If you know your BMW engines, yes, this means that the X5 is powered by the now-legendary B58 inline-six. It’s the same engine in the BMW M340i and Toyota GR Supra, and you know how sublime this engine is in these two performance cars.

Pair that with an electric motor mounted together with the ZF eight-speed automatic (this makes it a parallel hybrid system), the X5 xDrive50e has a total system output of 483 horsepower and 700 Nm of torque. That’s enough for this midsize luxury SUV to rocket from 0-100 kph in just 4.5 seconds, all the way to a 250 kph electronically-limited top speed.

EV For Daily Use

But of course, the main appeal of a plug-in hybrid is its ability to cruise in pure electric mode for such a long distance. in this case, with its large 27.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, the X5 xDrive50e has a WLTP-rated range of 118 kilometers. The battery is charged solely through AC, with a maximum charge rate of 7.4 kW.

Fully-Loaded Despite Costing Less

Yet despite costing less than the xDrive30d M Sport, the xDrive50e M Sport is fully loaded with features and chassis enhancements. Two-axle air suspension with adaptive dampers is fitted as standard, which not only improves its ride quality but also its handling as well. Combine this with the M Sport brakes that have a very strong bite, you’ve got a two-row luxury SUV that has the driving characteristics of a sports sedan rather than a large family car.

That sporty driving experience is already evident the moment you look at the 2025 BMW X5 plug-in hybrid. With the M Sport exterior, the X5 plug-in hybrid has an aggressive front end with a large kidney grill that glows at night, along with 21-inch Y-spoke wheels. Gloss black trim pieces adorn the exterior, while the rear bumper also has a sporty design with two integrated exhausts. Finally, as a subtle nod to its electrified drivetrain, the BMW logo has a blue highlight.

Moving inside the 2025 BMW X5 plug-in hybrid, you will greeted by the two curved displays running the latest iDrive 8.5 with BMW ConnectedDrive capabilities. There’s a Harman Kardon surround sound system as well, along with Vernasca leather on the seats. The leather extends even on the doors and the dash, and this is complemented by open-pore wood trim. The front sports seats are highly adjustable and also feature seat heating. Other features include four-zone climate control, a powered split tailgate, and sunshades for the rear passengers.

Finally, the 2025 BMW X5 plug-in hybrid also comes with a full plethora of advanced driver-assistance systems. For the first time, the X5 in the Philippines gets the Driver Assistance Professional package, which not only gets the standard-fit automatic emergency braking and lane departure warning, but also full-speed adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, lane centering, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic alert, and safe exit warning, among other advanced driver-assistance systems.

Priced at P6,990,000, we think that the 2025 BMW X5 plug-in hybrid isn’t just a value-f0r-money proposition in the midsize luxury SUV segment, but as you’ll find out soon enough, this is also what we think is the best all-rounder in the segment. Our full review is coming out soon.