Skip advert
Advertisement
In-depth reviews

BMW X5 review - Practicality & boot space

"We love the X5’s split tailgate, and you can add a third row of seats"

Carbuyer Rating

4.3 out of 5

Owners Rating

4.0 out of 5

Read owner reviews
Practicality & boot space Rating

4.0 out of 5

Despite its sporting attributes, the BMW X5 is still a big SUV with lots of practical features. For a start there's a handy split tailgate, providing an ideal platform for loading heavy items, that's also likely to prove popular with dog owners. There's also acres of interior space, but those after more flexible seating may need to look at a rival model or opt for the larger BMW X7.

BMW X5 interior space & storage

The X5 is a very spacious SUV for five adults, with almost no transmission tunnel to affect space for a middle rear passenger. There's lots of headroom in the front and rear, and it's possible to add a third row of seats for £1,650. We haven't been able to sample these yet, but we suspect they won't be as spacious as those fitted in the Land Rover Discovery, making them best suited to children. The centre console is very wide, offering plenty of storage.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Customers can also specify electric control for the seating, using a panel in the boot to move the second row fore and aft or fold down the backrests of the second and third rows. As part of a £4,300 upgrade pack you can also add heated and cooled cupholders among other features.

Boot space

There's 650 litres of boot space lying behind the split tailgate (500 litres for the plug-in models), so the X5 isn't quite as practical as the Mercedes GLE with 690 litres of space. It's a similar story if you fold down the 40:20:40 rear seats, liberating 1,860 litres compared with the 2,010 of the Mercedes. Those split and fold chairs are more convenient than the GLE's 60:40 items, though, especially if you like skiing and don't fancy the idea of fitting a roof rack. Choose the Comfort Access pack and both sections of the tailgate can be opened and closed 'hands-free', along with the boot cover.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Richard is a former editor of Carbuyer, as well as sister site DrivingElectric.com, and he's now Deputy Editor at Auto Express. Having spent a decade working in the automotive industry, he understands exactly what makes new car buyers tick.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

BMW X5 review – an upmarket driver’s SUV
BMW X5 front quarter driving
In-depth reviews
3 Oct 2024

BMW X5 review – an upmarket driver’s SUV

The 10 best large SUVs on sale in 2024
Best large SUVs
Best cars
25 Sep 2024

The 10 best large SUVs on sale in 2024

Top 10 best hybrid family cars 2024
Top 10 best hybrid family cars
Best cars
2 Jan 2024

Top 10 best hybrid family cars 2024

Most Popular

Renault 5 review – iconic supermini reinvented as an EV
Renault 5 front quarter
In-depth reviews
7 Oct 2024

Renault 5 review – iconic supermini reinvented as an EV

Best new car deals 2024: this week’s best PCP finance offers
Carbuyer best new car deals hero
Deals
11 Oct 2024

Best new car deals 2024: this week’s best PCP finance offers

Vauxhall Grandland review – better than before and available as an EV
Vauxhall Grandland front quarter driving
In-depth reviews
9 Oct 2024

Vauxhall Grandland review – better than before and available as an EV

Tips & advice

View All
Car dashboard warning lights: the complete guide
Car dashboard symbols and meanings
Tips and advice
26 Mar 2024

Car dashboard warning lights: the complete guide

Electric car charging stations: public networks, charger types, apps and maps
Charging station
Tips and advice
23 Jul 2024

Electric car charging stations: public networks, charger types, apps and maps

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?
PCP vs HP
Tips and advice
17 May 2022

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?

Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Tips and advice
21 Mar 2024

Average speed cameras: how do they work?

Best cars

View All
Top 10 best car interiors
Peugeot 208 hatchback
Best cars
25 Jun 2021

Top 10 best car interiors

Top 10 best electric cars 2024
Best electric cars
Best cars
16 May 2024

Top 10 best electric cars 2024

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2024
The best cheap-to-run cars 2023
Best cars
2 Jan 2024

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2024

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2024
Fastest hot hatchbacks hero
Best cars
2 Jan 2024

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2024