BMW X5 vs BMW XM
A detailed look at how two of Australia's most popular SUVs compare on price, running costs, safety, and everyday livability.
BMW X5 scores higher, 68 vs 58
Prices are RRP before on-road costs unless stated otherwise. Always confirm with the manufacturer or dealer before purchasing.
Data checked: specs 27 Sep 2026, price 24 Jun 2026
BMW X5
26 of 27 standard · no option data · 1 no dataFrom
$137,600
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- SUV
- Fuel type
- Diesel
- Engine
- Diesel
- Power
- 219kW
- Economy
- 7.8 L/100kmWLTP test cycle, not directly comparable with ADR 81/02 figures
- Safety
- No data
- Boot (seats up)
- 650L
Top CarSorted Score, 68 vs 58
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
BMW XM
26 of 27 standard · no option data · 1 no dataFrom
$309,900
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- SUV
- Fuel type
- Plug-in Hybrid
- Engine
- Plug-in Hybrid
- Power
- 550kW
- Economy
- 12.8 L/100km as a hybrid
- Safety
- ANCAP hasn't rated this model
- Boot (seats up)
- 527L
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
BMW XM: we're still completing kerb weight, electric range and energy consumption.
A blank cell below means we don't have that figure, not that the car scores badly on it. We leave them empty rather than estimate, so any row where one car is blank isn't a like-for-like comparison yet.
$137,600RRP
- with the BMW XM's standard kit: $137,600 (nothing to add)
$309,900RRP
- with the BMW X5's standard kit: $309,900 (nothing to add)
Printed option prices only. A pack is counted once and makes the figure a floor when it carries no printed price. Nothing is inferred from the other car.
A plug-in hybrid is compared on its fuel use as a hybrid (battery depleted), the figure that is like for like with the other car; its certified combined figure, which assumes every trip starts with a full battery, is printed under it. Electric range is how far it goes before the petrol engine is needed.
Fuel figures here come from different test cycles (BMW X5: WLTP; BMW XM: ADR 81/02), so they are not compared like-for-like and no fuel winner is shown.
Price and cost per week
BMW X5 xDrive30d
$137,600
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 24 June 2026
No published drive-away price on our record.
About $613 a week in repayments ($137,600 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.). An estimate, not a loan offer.
BMW XM Label
$309,900
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 24 June 2026
No published drive-away price on our record.
About $1,410 a week in repayments ($309,900 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.). An estimate, not a loan offer.
The BMW X5 starts $172,300 lower on RRP.
On-road costs (stamp duty, registration, CTP and dealer delivery) depend on your state and the dealer; ask for a written drive-away price before you sign.
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Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Finance
From ≈$613/wk(≈$2,657/mo)
Estimate on the BMW X5 at $137,600 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
Compare real car-loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Novated lease
Paid from pre-tax salary with the running costs inside the lease. What it comes to depends on your salary and the term.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the BMW X5Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link. Opens apply.driva.com.au in a new tab.
Safety Rundown
We hold no ANCAP data for the BMW X5. ANCAP's published ratings include no record for the BMW XM. With no pair of ratings to compare, the active-safety features in the spec table above are the fairer comparison.
Driver assistance, as the manufacturer lists it
Driver assistance, system by system. We can confirm 7 of 10 key systems on the BMW X5 and 8 on the BMW XM.
Swipe across. Tap a feature to see what it does and each car's source.
StandardOptional: printed price, +pack or NCO (no-cost)No, not offeredNo dataCounts beside each car use the same colours; ? is no option data.
From each manufacturer's Australian equipment list. No data means that car's document does not say. The drawings are our own illustrations of how each kind of system works.
Recalls on our record
BMW X5
- REC-006553 · published 4 Mar 2026Due to a manufacturing defect, the Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) cooler may develop an internal coolant leak.Year range on the notice: 2010 - 2022
- REC-006539 · published 17 Feb 2026Due to a manufacturing defect, the starter motor solenoid switch can experience increased wear that could cause an internal short circuit.Year range on the notice: 2020 - 2023
- REC-006090 · published 2 Oct 2024Due to a manufacturing defect, a component of the brake booster system may have been incorrectly welded and could break.Year range on the notice: 2022 - 2024
- 8 more on the model page.
BMW XM
- REC-005906 · published 5 Mar 2024Due to a manufacturing defect, signal interference may occur within the electronics of the brake system.Year range on the notice: 2022 - 2023
A recall covers the builds its notice lists, not every car of a model. Check your VIN at vehiclerecalls.gov.au.
Charging times
How long each takes to charge, from a household power point to a DC fast charger, estimated from battery size and the car's own maximum charge rates.
How long to charge
25.7kWh usableEstimates from usable battery size and the car's max charge rates (7.4kW AC). Real times vary with temperature, starting charge, charger output and the charging curve.
Feature Showdown
The BMW X5 features a 14.9-inch touchscreen paired with a 12.3-inch digital dash, while the BMW XM gets a 14.9-inch display and 12.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.
The BMW X5 stands out with Harman Kardon audio — features our data doesn't list for the BMW XM. The BMW XM counters with Bowers & Wilkins audio. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.
Interior trim differs: the BMW X5 gets sensatec synthetic leather upholstery while the BMW XM offers merino leather. Climate control is 2-zone in the BMW X5 and 4-zone in the BMW XM.
Equipment few rivals have, on either carShowHide
Drivetrain
The BMW X5 uses a Diesel producing 219kW and 670Nm of torque, sent through a auto to a AWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 6.1 seconds.
The BMW XM responds with a Plug-in Hybrid making 550kW and 1000Nm, paired to a auto driving all four wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 3.8 seconds.
The BMW XM has the clear power advantage at 550kW vs 219kW. In the 0-100 sprint (manufacturer-claimed), the BMW XM is 2.3s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.
Space & Comfort
The BMW X5 measures 4,935mm long on a 2,975mm wheelbase, 175mm shorter than the BMW XM at 5,110mm (3,105mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the BMW XM generally means more rear legroom.
Boot space is 650L in the BMW X5 and 527L in the BMW XM, giving the BMW X5 a 123L advantage.
For towing, the BMW X5 leads with a 3,500kg braked capacity vs 2,700kg. That 800kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.
Neither U-turns in one sweep on a 7 m local street (both need a three-point turn); the BMW XM's turning circle is 1.3 m tighter, 11.4 m against 12.7 m kerb to kerb. The street estimate is indicative, worked from the published turning circles.
Cost to own
At 15,000 km a year, fuel for the BMW X5 costs about $2,223 a year (7.8 L/100km) and fuel for the BMW XM about $3,648 a year (12.8 L/100km as a hybrid), at $1.90 a litre and 32c a kWh. A plug-in hybrid is costed running as a hybrid (battery depleted); charged daily, it uses less fuel and some electricity.
Warranty: 5 years / Unlimited (BMW X5) and 5 years / Unlimited (BMW XM).
Where each one leads
The BMW X5: the lower starting price ($137,600 against $309,900), the bigger boot with the seats up (650L against 527L) and the higher braked towing limit (3,500kg against 2,700kg).
The BMW XM: more power (550kW against 219kW).
The Verdict
BMW X5 scores higher, 68 vs 58
The BMW X5 scores 68 to the BMW XM's 58 on the CarSorted Score, and leads 3 of the 5 spec rows that separate them, at the lower price. The biggest gaps: performance (BMW XM ahead by 22 points), value (BMW X5 ahead by 14 points). Boot space with the seats up: 650L in the BMW X5, 527L in the BMW XM.
Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Finance
From ≈$613/wk(≈$2,657/mo)
Estimate on the BMW X5 at $137,600 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
Compare real car-loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Novated lease
Paid from pre-tax salary with the running costs inside the lease. What it comes to depends on your salary and the term.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the BMW X5Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link. Opens apply.driva.com.au in a new tab.
Common questions
Which is cheapest, BMW X5 and BMW XM?
The BMW X5 is the cheapest at $137,600 before on-road costs. That undercuts the BMW XM by $172,300.
What are the ANCAP safety ratings?
ANCAP's published ratings include no record for BMW XM, and we hold no ANCAP data for BMW X5, so there is no crash result to compare.
Which has the most boot space?
The BMW X5 has the largest boot at 650L with the seats up.
Which can tow the most?
The BMW X5 has the highest braked towing capacity at 3,500kg.
Which is the most powerful?
The BMW XM makes the most power at 550kW. The BMW XM is quickest to 100km/h in 3.8s.
Track the BMW X5 & BMW XM
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How to read this page. Prices, specifications, ANCAP ratings, warranty, the CarSorted Score and the verdict come from our records for the grades shown, sourced from the manufacturers' Australian documents, and change when those records change; the date each was last checked is printed under the headline. Prices are recommended retail prices before on-road costs unless marked drive-away. A plug-in hybrid's fuel figure is labelled with its basis: with a full battery (the certified combined figure) or as a hybrid (battery depleted). Charging and running costs are estimates on the stated assumptions. Always confirm price and specification with the manufacturer or dealer before you buy. CarSorted does not accept payment for recommendations.
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