BMW X5 M: which version to buy and why
If the question is which BMW X5 M to buy, the catalogue splits six named versions across three generations of the same SUV 5-doors body, and the numbers already rank them. The lightest, lowest-consumption choice is M50d 3.0 AT xDrive (381 hp, 10.5 l/100 km mixed, 2225 kg). The fastest 0–100 km/h figure in the set is 4.4 AT xDrive Steptronic at 625 hp in 3 generation (3.8 s).
If the question is which BMW X5 M to buy, the catalogue splits six named versions across three generations of the same SUV 5-doors body, and the numbers already rank them. The lightest, lowest-consumption choice is M50d 3.0 AT xDrive (381 hp, 10.5 l/100 km mixed, 2225 kg). The fastest 0–100 km/h figure in the set is 4.4 AT xDrive Steptronic at 625 hp in 3 generation (3.8 s). The highest specific output of the 4395 cm³ V-shaped eights is that same 625 hp pair at 142.2 hp per litre. Nothing in this catalogue is a price, an MSRP, or a “for sale” listing; the comparison is power, mass, economy, and what each generation actually changed.
People searching BMW X5 M competition, BMW X5 M60i, BMW X5 M50i, BMW X5 M60, or BMW X5 M40i will not find those nameplates as version keys here. The keys that exist are 4.4 AT xDrive, M50d 3.0 AT xDrive, 4.4 AT xDrive Steptronic (575 hp, 600 hp, and 625 hp), and 4.4 V8 MHEV M xDrive M Steptronic.
Generations: what each one bought you
1 generation (2009-01-01 to 2013-12-31) is the only generation with a diesel. Two versions, both SUV 5-doors, both AWD, both Automatic with 6 gears, both with 180 mm ground clearance and 85 l tanks. 4.4 AT xDrive is the 555 hp gasoline V-shaped 8; M50d 3.0 AT xDrive is the 381 hp diesel Inline 6. Buying this generation is a fuel-type decision, not a body-type decision.
2 generation (2015-01-01 to 2018-12-31) dropped the diesel from this catalogue and put one gasoline version on sale: 4.4 AT xDrive Steptronic at 575 hp. Versus 1 generation 4.4 AT xDrive, that is +20 hp and +70 Nm (750 versus 680), 8 gears instead of 6, Euro 6 instead of Euro 5, mixed consumption 11.1 versus 13.9 l/100 km (−2.8), kerb mass 2275 versus 2380 kg (−105 kg), ground clearance 195 versus 180 mm (+15 mm). Rear suspension becomes Independent, pneumatic instead of Independent, spring. Fuel grade in the data is 95, not 98. If the brief is “same 4.4-litre eight, cleaner, lighter, quicker,” 2 generation is the step that delivers all three at once.
3 generation (from 2019-01-01, still in production) is listed with two 4.4 AT xDrive Steptronic gasoline versions at 600 hp and 625 hp, plus restyling 1 from 2023-03-01 as 4.4 V8 MHEV M xDrive M Steptronic at 625 hp. Restyling is not a fourth generation. Versus 2 generation’s 575 hp, the 600 hp 3 generation car adds 25 hp, cuts 0–100 km/h from 4.2 s to 3.9 s (−0.3 s), raises kerb mass from 2275 to 2310 kg (+35 kg), raises mixed consumption from 11.1 to 13.0 l/100 km (+1.9), raises CO2 from 258 to 296 g/km (+38), and raises ground clearance from 195 to 212 mm (+17 mm). The tank shrinks from 85 to 83 l. Wheels move from 285/40 R20 and 325/35 R20 to 295/35 R21 and 315/35 R21. Power went up; the mixed mpg figure in this dataset did not.
BMW X5 M specs: engines compared
| Version | Generation | hp (kW @ rpm) | Nm @ rpm | cm³ | Fuel | Cylinders / layout | Boost | Gearbox / gears | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.4 AT xDrive | 1 generation | 555 (408 @ 6000) | 680 @ 1500–5650 | 4395 | Gasoline, 98 | 8, V-shaped | Turbo | Automatic, 6 | AWD |
| M50d 3.0 AT xDrive | 1 generation | 381 (280 @ 4400) | 740 @ 3000 | 2993 | Diesel | 6, Inline | Turbo | Automatic, 6 | AWD |
| 4.4 AT xDrive Steptronic | 2 generation | 575 (423 @ 6000–6500) | 750 @ 2200–5000 | 4395 | Gasoline, 95 | 8, V-shaped | Turbo | Automatic, 8 | AWD |
| 4.4 AT xDrive Steptronic | 3 generation | 600 (441 @ 6000) | 750 @ 1800–5600 | 4395 | Gasoline, 98 | 8, V-shaped | Turbo | Automatic, 8 | AWD |
| 4.4 AT xDrive Steptronic | 3 generation | 625 (460 @ 6000) | 750 @ 1800–5800 | 4395 | Gasoline, 98 | 8, V-shaped | Turbo | Automatic, 8 | AWD |
| 4.4 V8 MHEV M xDrive M Steptronic | 3 generation, restyling 1 | 625 (459 @ 6000) | 750 @ 1800 | 4395 | Gasoline, 95 | 8, V-shaped | Turbo | Automatic, 8 | AWD |
Engine size for every gasoline version is 4395 cm³. Engine name in this catalogue is the version string, not a factory code; engine code is not measured. All eights are Front, longitudinal, 4 valves per cylinder, Turbo. Injection is Distributed injection (multi-point) on both 1 generation engines and Direct injection (direct) from 2 generation onward. Compression is 9.3 on 1 generation 4.4 AT xDrive, 16.5 on M50d 3.0 AT xDrive, 10.0 on 2 generation and both 3 generation 4.4 AT xDrive Steptronic cars, and 10.5 on 4.4 V8 MHEV M xDrive M Steptronic. Bore × stroke is 89 × 88.3 on 1 generation gasoline and 2 generation, 88.3 × 89 on both 3 generation 4.4 AT xDrive Steptronic versions, 84 × 90 on the diesel, and 89 x 88.3 on the MHEV restyling.
Specific output (hp ÷ litres): M50d 3.0 AT xDrive 127.3 hp/l; 1 generation 4.4 AT xDrive 126.3 hp/l; 2 generation 4.4 AT xDrive Steptronic 130.8 hp/l; 3 generation 600 hp 4.4 AT xDrive Steptronic 136.5 hp/l; both 625 hp cars 142.2 hp/l. The diesel is almost as dense per litre as the first gasoline eight; the later eights pull away.
The 600 hp and 625 hp 4.4 AT xDrive Steptronic cars share 750 Nm. The 625 hp car’s torque band is listed to 5800 rpm rather than 5600 rpm. Peak power is +25 hp. That is the entire measured mechanical gap between those two identically named versions.
4.4 V8 MHEV M xDrive M Steptronic matches 625 hp (459 kW versus 460 kW) and 750 Nm, but torque is quoted at 1800 rpm only, not as a band. Fuel is 95, not 98. Calling it MHEV is in the version name; there is no separate electric power figure in the data.
BMW X5 M horsepower, 0–100, mpg
Top speed is 250 km/h on every version. The ranking is 0–100 km/h and consumption.
- 4.4 AT xDrive Steptronic 625 hp, 3 generation: 3.8 s; city 17.2, highway 11, mixed 13.0 l/100 km; CO2 296; Euro 6.
- 4.4 AT xDrive Steptronic 600 hp, 3 generation: 3.9 s; same 17.2 / 11 / 13.0; same 296; Euro 6. The extra 25 hp buys 0.1 s.
- 4.4 V8 MHEV M xDrive M Steptronic: 3.9 s; city not measured, highway not measured, mixed not measured; CO2 not measured; eco class not measured. Same 3.9 s as the 600 hp car, 0.1 s slower than the 625 hp pre-restyling car, with no mpg number to defend the MHEV badge.
- 4.4 AT xDrive Steptronic 2 generation, 575 hp: 4.2 s; 14.7 / 9.0 / 11.1; CO2 258; Euro 6. Slowest of the post-2015 eights, best gasoline mixed figure in the set.
- 4.4 AT xDrive 1 generation, 555 hp: 4.7 s; 19.3 / 10.8 / 13.9; CO2 325; Euro 5.
- M50d 3.0 AT xDrive: 5.4 s; 8.8 / 6.8 / 10.5; CO2 199; Euro 5. Slowest 0–100 (+0.7 s versus the 555 hp eight, +1.6 s versus the 625 hp 3 generation car) and the only mixed figure under 11 l/100 km.
Tank range as arithmetic on mixed consumption (tank ÷ mixed × 100): M50d 3.0 AT xDrive 85 / 10.5 ≈ 810 km; 2 generation 4.4 AT xDrive Steptronic 85 / 11.1 ≈ 766 km; 1 generation 4.4 AT xDrive 85 / 13.9 ≈ 612 km; both 3 generation 4.4 AT xDrive Steptronic cars 83 / 13.0 ≈ 638 km. Restyling mixed consumption is not measured, so range is not measured.
BMW X5 M mpg in this dataset is therefore best on M50d 3.0 AT xDrive, then 2 generation 4.4 AT xDrive Steptronic, then the 3 generation pair. Horsepower by calendar label in the search queries (2016, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026) maps only to production windows: 2009–2013 is 555 or 381 hp; 2015–2018 is 575 hp; from 2019 the 600 and 625 hp 4.4 AT xDrive Steptronic cars; from 2023-03-01 the 625 hp MHEV. No separate 2024/2025/2026 horsepower figure exists here.
BMW X5 M dimensions, weight, ground clearance
Exterior width, length, and competition dimensions are not measured. What is measured is mass, clearance, tank, and wheels.
Kerb mass: M50d 3.0 AT xDrive 2225 kg; 2 generation 4.4 AT xDrive Steptronic 2275 kg; both 3 generation 4.4 AT xDrive Steptronic 2310 kg; 1 generation 4.4 AT xDrive 2380 kg; 4.4 V8 MHEV M xDrive M Steptronic 2400 kg. Gross: 2830 / 2970 / 3000 / 2905 / 3040 kg in the same order (the two 2310 kg cars share 3000 kg gross).
kg per hp: 625 hp 4.4 AT xDrive Steptronic 2310 / 625 = 3.70 kg/hp (best); 600 hp sibling 3.85; 2 generation 575 hp 3.96; MHEV 2400 / 625 = 3.84; 1 generation 555 hp 4.29; diesel 2225 / 381 = 5.84 (worst mass-to-power, lightest car).
Ground clearance: 180 mm both 1 generation versions; 195 mm 2 generation; 212 mm all three 3 generation cars including restyling. The 3 generation buyer pays for 17 mm more than 2 generation and 32 mm more than 1 generation.
Tanks: 85 l through 2 generation, 83 l from 3 generation.
Wheels: 1 generation 275/40 R20 and 315/35 R20; 2 generation 285/40 R20 and 325/35 R20; 3 generation 4.4 AT xDrive Steptronic 295/35 R21 and 315/35 R21; restyling wheels not measured.
Front brakes on every version: Ventilated disc. Rear: Disc ventilated. Front suspension: Independent, spring on every version. Rear: Independent, spring on 1 generation and both 3 generation 4.4 AT xDrive Steptronic cars; Independent, pneumatic on 2 generation; Semi-independent, springorts hélicoïdaux, sem on 4.4 V8 MHEV M xDrive M Steptronic. That last rear layout is the catalogue’s English label; it is the only semi-independent rear in the set.
Which BMW X5 M version to choose
Buy M50d 3.0 AT xDrive if mixed consumption, CO2, and kerb mass dominate. It is 174 hp below 1 generation 4.4 AT xDrive and 244 hp below the 625 hp 3 generation 4.4 AT xDrive Steptronic, but it carries 60 Nm more than the 555 hp eight (740 versus 680) and only 10 Nm less than every later gasoline eight’s 750 Nm. It is 155 kg lighter than the 555 hp eight and 175 kg lighter than the MHEV. Mixed 10.5 versus 13.9 is −3.4 l/100 km versus its gasoline twin; versus 3 generation’s 13.0 it is −2.5. CO2 199 versus 325 is −126 g/km. The cost is 5.4 s to 100 km/h, Euro 5, 6 gears, 180 mm clearance, and a production window that closed 2013-12-31.
Buy 2 generation 4.4 AT xDrive Steptronic (575 hp) if the gasoline eight is required and mpg still matters. It is the gasoline mixed-economy leader at 11.1 l/100 km, 2.8 below 1 generation’s 13.9 and 1.9 below 3 generation’s 13.0. It is 105 kg lighter than 1 generation 4.4 AT xDrive and 35 kg lighter than 3 generation’s 2310 kg pair. It is the only Independent, pneumatic rear. 0–100 km/h at 4.2 s is 0.5 s faster than 555 hp and 0.4 s slower than 625 hp. Fuel 95 matches the MHEV and undercuts the 98 requirement of 1 generation gasoline and both 3 generation 4.4 AT xDrive Steptronic cars. Production ended 2018-12-31; “BMW X5 M specs 2016” and “specs 2018” in search point here, not at 600 hp.
Buy 3 generation 4.4 AT xDrive Steptronic at 600 hp if 3.9 s and 212 mm clearance are enough and 25 hp is not worth splitting two cars that share mass, tank, wheels, mixed 13.0 l/100 km, and CO2 296. Versus 2 generation you pay +35 kg, +1.9 l/100 km mixed, +38 g/km CO2, and −2 l of tank for +25 hp, −0.3 s, and +17 mm clearance.
Buy 3 generation 4.4 AT xDrive Steptronic at 625 hp if the brief is the lowest kg/hp (3.70) and the only 3.8 s 0–100 in the catalogue. The increment over the 600 hp car of the same name is 25 hp and 0.1 s; consumption, mass, clearance, tank, wheels, Euro 6, and 750 Nm are identical. That is the smallest mechanical step in the whole model line. Peak torque is listed to 5800 rpm rather than 5600 rpm.
Buy 4.4 V8 MHEV M xDrive M Steptronic only if restyling 1 from 2023-03-01 is the requirement (95 octane, compression 10.5, version name with MHEV). It does not improve on the 625 hp 4.4 AT xDrive Steptronic in the numbers that exist: same 625 hp, same 750 Nm, 3.9 s instead of 3.8 s, 2400 kg instead of 2310 kg (+90 kg), 3040 kg gross instead of 3000 kg, kg/hp 3.84 instead of 3.70. City, highway, mixed, CO2, eco class, and wheels are not measured — they are not “better,” they are absent. Rear suspension is the only layout change (semi-independent label versus Independent, spring).
Do not buy 1 generation 4.4 AT xDrive if any later gasoline eight is available on the same criteria: 555 hp is the weakest gasoline output, 4.7 s the slowest gasoline 0–100, 13.9 mixed and 325 CO2 the worst gasoline economy and emissions, 2380 kg the heaviest pre-MHEV kerb mass, Euro 5, 6 gears, 98 fuel. It beats the MHEV on kerb mass by 20 kg and matches 250 km/h with everyone else. That is not a reason to prefer it over 2 generation’s 575 hp car, which is lighter, quicker, and 2.8 l/100 km better on mixed.
Short map: lowest fuel use — M50d 3.0 AT xDrive. Best gasoline mpg and the pneumatic rear — 2 generation 4.4 AT xDrive Steptronic. Fastest and best kg/hp — 3 generation 4.4 AT xDrive Steptronic 625 hp. Same generation without chasing 0.1 s — the 600 hp car of the same name. Newest badge with unmeasured mpg — 4.4 V8 MHEV M xDrive M Steptronic. Engine oil, engine cover, and engine price are not measured for any version.