The BMW iX5 Gets A Range Boost Ahead Of U.S. Launch

BMW is raising its expected EPA range estimate for the iX5 from 435 miles to 450 miles ahead of its U.S. launch, though the official EPA figure has not yet been published. The iX5 60 xDrive was initially announced this summer with a 435-mile EPA target. At the X5 line press launch on Tuesday, BMW representatives said the SUV now expects to reach 450 miles. “We have the Gen 6 technology in this vehicle, up to 450 miles estimated EPA range, which is really fantastic for a vehicle like this,” said John Kelly, product manager for BMW’s luxury vehicles. The official EPA estimate is expected in the coming weeks.

Michael Ahlers, head of the X5 project, explained that BMW determined 400 miles was the threshold beyond which customers stop worrying about range, and that a 450-mile figure provides headroom for real-world energy-draining activities such as high-speed driving and air conditioning use.

The extended range comes from a 144-kilowatt-hour battery pack, the largest ever fitted to a BMW production vehicle and one of the largest seen in an SUV. The iX5 uses the same cell count and basic arrangement as the iX3 and i3, but with cells 25 millimeters taller, boosting total capacity. It uses 46120 cylindrical cells, versus the 4695 cells in the iX3 and i3.

Charging is rated at 460 kilowatts, allowing a 10-80% charge in 22 minutes, according to BMW. The iX5 goes on sale in the first quarter of 2027.

EVs with over 400 miles of EPA range were once rare; Tesla first broke the barrier with the Model S in 2020. That club is now expanding quickly, including BMW’s Neue Klasse EVs: the iX3 is rated at 435 miles and the i3 achieved a 468-mile rating last month.