BMW X5 Shrugs Off The Mud As A Tougher Off-Roader Looms Near

The new BMW X5 is planting its wheels firmly on the road. BMW has made clear that turning its best-selling SUV into a hardcore off-roader was never the plan. Speaking at the debut of the latest model, senior executive Philip Koehn said extra mud-plugging ability simply was not a priority. Instead, the brand set out to sharpen the X5 across the board.

That does not mean the X5 is helpless once the tarmac ends. The outgoing model could be fitted with a proper Off-Road Package. That kit added air suspension, a locking rear differential, underbody protection and all-terrain tyres. It was already far more rugged than most owners would ever demand. BMW even runs an off-road course at its Spartanburg driving school to prove the point.

Koehn reckons the newcomer has moved the game on again. He describes it as the most capable X5 the company has ever built. The engineers, he says, have stretched the envelope in every direction. For a vehicle that spends most of its life on school runs and motorways, that is a sensible balance to strike.

There may be a deeper reason for leaving the X5 road-focused. BMW is rumoured to be cooking up a separate, far more rugged machine. Known internally by the code G74, it would square up to the Land Rover Defender and the Mercedes-Benz G-Class. Such a model would wear purpose-built bodywork designed for rough terrain.

Nothing is set in stone yet. The G74 has not been confirmed for production, so patience is required. If BMW gives it the nod, the off-roader could break cover late in 2028 and reach buyers around 2029. For now, the BMW X5 stays true to its road-biased roots, and a tougher sibling waits in the wings.