BMW raises electric iX5 range estimate to 450 miles

BMW's first fully electric X5 is getting a little more range before it even goes on sale. At the US press launch of the new X5 family this week, BMW said it now expects the iX5 60 xDrive to achieve 450 miles (724 km) of EPA range, up from the 435 miles (700 km) it quoted earlier, InsideEVs reports. The official EPA rating is expected in the coming weeks, so for now this is still BMW's own estimate.

What's behind the number

• Battery: a 144 kWh pack, the largest BMW has ever put in a production car, using its Gen6 technology.
• Cells: the same count and basic layout as the Neue Klasse iX3 and i3, but the iX5 uses taller 46120 cylindrical cells. They are 25 mm taller than the 4695 cells in the smaller cars.
• Charging: up to 460 kW, with 10–80% in 22 minutes, according to BMW.
• Timing and price: on sale in the first quarter of 2027. BMWBlog lists $81,250 including destination for the five-seat SUV.

InsideEVs says BMW decided that around 400 miles is the point where buyers stop worrying about range. Aiming for about 450 leaves a buffer for range-sapping habits like motorway speeds and air conditioning.

Our take

Bigger range numbers are nice, but for a 2.8-tonne family SUV the more meaningful figure may be the charging curve. A 22-minute 10–80% stop makes the huge battery much easier to live with on long trips, provided the chargers on your route can deliver that power. Meanwhile, the range claim deserves some caution until the EPA publishes its rating. BMWBlog mentions a pre-production iX5 that covered 500 miles between San Francisco and Newport Beach with some charge left, but speed and route conditions weren't disclosed.

Two practical notes. EPA figures aren't directly comparable with Europe's WLTP numbers, so don't stack them against European brochures. And range on paper is only half the story: how you charge at home and look after the pack matters too (see our home EV charger guide and EV battery care tips). The same Gen6 batteries recently helped BMW's China-market i3 50L cover 1,213 km in a road test.