The BMW X5 has high fuel consumption across all engine types, which significantly increases running costs. Diesel versions do perform slightly better than petrol models, but they are by no means economical vehicles. Turbo or engine problems push consumption up even further. This regularly happens with older X5 models. What should you expect and how can you influence your fuel costs?
What makes the X5’s fuel consumption so high?
The high fuel consumption of the BMW X5 is directly related to its high weight and powerful engines. With an unladen weight of around 2,265 kilograms, this SUV needs a lot of energy to get moving and to stay moving. In addition, most engines are focused on power and acceleration, not on economy. The BMW X5 combines four-wheel drive with powerful petrol and diesel engines, which structurally makes consumption higher than in more compact cars.
Turbo issues and engine problems such as defective turbochargers and VANOS faults can increase consumption even further. The engine runs inefficiently due to poor maintenance or technical defects, which causes a lot of fuel to be wasted. The cooling system also plays a role: an engine that does not stay at the correct temperature uses more fuel.
‘ For anyone looking for economy in the X5 range, the plug-in hybrids are the best choice. ’
Which X5 engine is the most economical?
For anyone looking for economy in the X5 range, the plug-in hybrids are the best choice. The xDrive45e iPerformance averages 2.1 litres per 100 kilometres according to official figures, with an electric range of up to 80 kilometres. The newer xDrive50e performs even better with a consumption of 0.8 to 1.1 litres per 100 kilometres and an electric range of up to 110 kilometres. These plug-in variants are particularly economical on shorter journeys, when you can charge regularly.
Among the conventional engines, the diesel variants offer the best efficiency. The xDrive25d uses between 6.6 and 8.0 litres per 100 kilometres according to NEDC standards and features mild-hybrid technology. The xDrive30d and xDrive40d with B57 diesel engines perform similarly while also delivering strong torque. Petrol models such as the xDrive40i use roughly 8.5 to 9.3 litres per 100 kilometres, while the powerful M60i and X5 M are well above 12 litres.
Why do real-world figures differ from the official numbers?
The WLTP test cycle gives a more realistic picture than the old NEDC standard, but it is still based on controlled conditions. In practice, consumption is often higher due to city traffic, motorway driving and a more dynamic driving style. Drivers of the xDrive40i report consumption of around 10 litres per 100 kilometres over longer distances, which is higher than the official 8.5 to 9.3 litres.
With plug-in hybrids, real-world consumption strongly depends on charging behaviour. If you charge daily and mainly drive short distances, you stay close to the official figures. Without regular charging, the hybrid effectively operates as a heavy petrol car with consumption heading towards 10 litres. The weight of the battery then works against you.
How can you reduce fuel consumption?
Adjust your driving style by accelerating gradually and anticipating traffic situations in good time. Using Eco mode limits power and optimises the shift strategy, which saves fuel. Start–stop technology helps in traffic jams and at traffic lights. Make sure the system works properly and do not switch it off by default.
On plug-in models, charge the battery regularly for maximum electric driving. Plan short trips on electric power and longer journeys using the combustion engine. Regenerative braking partially recharges the battery, but does not replace external charging. With older X5 models pay attention to maintenance of turbochargers, timing chain and VANOS system. Defective parts noticeably increase consumption.
Check tyre pressures regularly. Tyres that are too soft increase rolling resistance and therefore fuel consumption. Avoid unnecessary ballast in the car and only use roof racks when needed. Extra weight and air resistance cost fuel.
‘ Plug-in hybrids such as the xDrive50e can work out much cheaper if you mainly drive on electric power. ’
What are realistic annual fuel costs?
Annual fuel costs depend on the number of kilometres driven, the engine you choose and the fuel price. At an average of 15,000 kilometres per year and an xDrive40i with real-world consumption of 10 litres per 100 kilometres, you use 1,500 litres of petrol. At a petrol price of 1.90 euros per litre, this comes to 2,850 euros per year.
The diesel variants are cheaper thanks to lower consumption and lower diesel prices. An xDrive25d that uses 7.5 litres per 100 kilometres requires 1,125 litres of diesel over 15,000 kilometres. At 1.70 euros per litre, you pay 1,913 euros per year. Plug-in hybrids such as the xDrive50e can work out much cheaper if you mainly drive on electric power. If you drive 50 kilometres per day on electric power with occasional longer journeys, you stay below 500 euros in fuel and pay additional electricity costs for charging.
Is it normal that my X5 uses so much fuel?
High consumption is normal for the BMW X5, especially for petrol models and powerful versions. Consumption above 10 litres per 100 kilometres in the xDrive40i or M60i fits the character of these cars. If your consumption suddenly increases or is structurally above the expected values, then check for possible causes.
Defective turbochargers increase consumption. VANOS problems also push fuel use up. A slack timing chain has the same effect. A faulty cooling system or contaminated fuel injectors can also be responsible. If in doubt, have a diagnostic check carried out to rule out engine problems. Sometimes driving behaviour also plays a role: short journeys, lots of city driving and sporty driving all increase consumption.
Which engines should you avoid if you want economy?
The petrol V8 models such as the M60i and X5 M are not an option if fuel costs are a priority. These engines consume well over 12 litres per 100 kilometres and are purely focused on performance. The xDrive40i is also not an economical choice with consumption around 9 litres in ideal conditions.
Older petrol models such as the xDrive35i use 9.8 to 10.7 litres per 100 kilometres and sometimes suffer from timing chain problems that further increase consumption. Choose diesel or plug-in hybrid if fuel costs weigh heavily in your decision.
‘ For longer distances, mild hybrid offers a practical balance between performance and consumption. ’
What are the benefits of mild-hybrid technology?
Mild-hybrid technology supports the combustion engine with a small electric motor that recovers energy when braking. This system is fitted to diesel variants such as the xDrive25d and helps to reduce consumption by a few tenths. The engine restarts more smoothly after start–stop and receives support when pulling away, which saves fuel.
The impact is limited compared with plug-in hybrids, but the system works without external charging. You automatically benefit from the efficiency gain without changing how you use the car. For longer distances, mild hybrid offers a practical balance between performance and consumption.
How does four-wheel drive affect consumption?
The xDrive four-wheel-drive system adds weight and mechanical complexity, which increases consumption. The system intelligently distributes power between front and rear axle for optimum grip, but this requires energy. In normal conditions the X5 mainly drives with rear-wheel drive in order to be more economical.
If you mainly drive on dry, flat roads, you will hardly notice any difference. In slippery or demanding conditions, the system activates more often, which slightly increases consumption. The difference compared with rear-wheel drive remains limited to a few tenths per 100 kilometres.
What should you know about electric range on plug-in models?
The electric range of the xDrive45e is around 80 kilometres, while the xDrive50e reaches up to 110 kilometres. You will achieve these distances in mild weather, on flat terrain and with a relaxed driving style. In winter the range drops due to heating and a colder battery, sometimes by 30 per cent.
The charging capacity of 7.4 kW means that a full charge takes a few hours on a wallbox. Fast charging is not possible on these models, so you need to plan your charging times. For daily commuting of up to 50 kilometres, driving on electric power is perfectly achievable, which significantly reduces your fuel costs.
On the Carnews website you will find more information about maintenance tips, common problems and real-world experiences with the BMW X5 and other models. Based on your situation you can determine which points are relevant for the lifespan and performance of your car.
Frequently asked questions
The real-world consumption of petrol versions such as the xDrive40i is often around 10 l/100 km, so roughly 1 to 1.5 litres higher than the factory figure of about 8.5–9.3 l/100 km. Diesel variants such as the xDrive25d and 30d usually end up around 0.5–1 litre higher in practice than the quoted 6.6–8 l/100 km. Plug-in hybrids such as the xDrive45e and 50e only achieve the extremely low factory figures (around 1–2 l/100 km) if you charge a lot and consistently and mainly drive short journeys; with mixed or long-distance use, real-world consumption is significantly higher. For the heavy V8 models (M60i, X5 M), using 1–3 litres more than the official values (approx. 12.8–12.9 l/100 km) is common in practice, depending on driving style.
Drive as smoothly as possible: anticipate traffic, accelerate gently, use engine braking and avoid hard acceleration and high speeds (above ~120 km/h consumption rises sharply). Use the right driving mode: choose Eco Pro/Comfort instead of Sport, and in plug-in hybrids drive as much as possible purely on electric power in town and hybrid mode on motorways. Keep tyre pressures and wheel alignment correct and avoid unnecessary weight and roof racks to reduce air and rolling resistance. Make use of features such as start–stop, coasting and regenerative braking to minimise energy loss.
Mild-hybrid systems in the diesel variants support the combustion engine when accelerating and recover braking energy, which reduces real-world consumption by a few per cent without you having to change your driving style much. Plug-in hybrid systems (such as the xDrive45e and xDrive50e) can cover a substantial share of short trips purely on electric power, which can reduce average measured consumption to around or even below 2 l/100 km. This low consumption is mainly achievable if you charge frequently and drive a lot in town or on shorter routes. On long motorway journeys without regular charging, the advantage of the plug-in hybrid over an efficient diesel or mild-hybrid clearly diminishes.
Due to its high weight (well over 2,200 kg) the BMW X5 needs more energy to get up to speed and to maintain that speed, which increases fuel consumption. At higher speeds, air resistance also increases quadratically, and because of the large frontal area and SUV height this resistance increases more than in lower, sleeker cars. As a result, motorway consumption rises noticeably compared with city or mixed use. A more favourable aerodynamic design (lower drag coefficient, smaller frontal area) would require significantly less fuel at the same speed.
The fuel efficiency of the BMW X5 depends strongly on the powertrain you choose: the plug-in hybrids (such as the xDrive45e and 50e) are, on paper, very economical and match or outperform many premium SUV competitors in official l/100 km figures. In real-world use, X5 diesels perform similarly to, or slightly better than, many rivals from brands such as Audi and Mercedes in long-distance consumption. The petrol variants have consumption in the same ballpark as other powerful premium SUVs, where higher performance also means higher consumption. Overall, the X5 is competitive on efficiency within the premium SUV segment, particularly in the diesel and PHEV versions.