To be fair, I’m in the market for a new car. I’m growing increasingly tired with my Audi e-tron’s EV range. It’s time for something different, but what SUV should I choose? And the question I had here was: Audi e-tron vs BMW X5 50e? Who wins and why?

Why the BMW X5 50e?

At this point in time, I have a shortlist of cars I consider good alternatives for the Audi e-tron. One thing I’ve made up my mind about is that I don’t want another EV. At least not for the time being. Maybe it’s because the e-tron is an older generation EV, or maybe it’s because I live in the countryside, but I’m just not getting enough range out of a car that costs 100,000 dollars. So, time for something that I can rely on just a little bit more. You can read my thoughts on driving electric here.

The downside of driving an EV is that I’m used to a significant powerhouse. The e-tron is no slug with just over 400 bhp. Unfortunately for me, that’s hard to rival in a hybrid car. And yes, I am almost forced to go for a hybrid, as my next car will be a company car. With Belgian regulations, I would pay a significant amount of money for a regular combustion engine. So much so, that it’s a no-brainer to either buy an EV or a PHEV. And that leaves us with just a few ‘good’ options when the criteria are: SUV, PHEV, +400hp …

Fair enough, I am extremely picky when it comes to cars, as there are a few good alternative options out there like the Volkswagen Touareg R, Volvo XC90, Range Rover or Velar, Ford Explorer, Audi Q8 60, Porsche Cayenne or the BMW X5 50e. The problem is, they’re all oddly similar in boot size, horsepower, etc. Thus, most of it comes down to personal preference like interior, range, exterior looks and, I guess … reputation.

Over the past few years I’ve been driving Audis and I’ve enjoyed the experience. I like the interior designs and I like the way they drive. With an A4, Q3 and e-tron to look back on, it is starting to feel like I could use something new and refreshing. Especially since the Q8 60 is identical to the e-tron and ‘outdated’ in light of the new interior designs you see in the A5, Q5 and A6. And if I’m being completely honest, I don’t really like that design all too much, they just don't tick the box. The BMW X5, Porsche Cayenne and a wildcard Porsche Panamera do. In the near future, I’ll review and compare both Porsches and see how they hold up against the king of the SUVs.

First impressions of the BMW X5 50e

The BMW X5 has quite the reputation. Regardless if you’re a BMW fanatic, it’s hard to ignore its road presence and performance. This test was quite an interesting moment for me. I’ve driven (fast) BMWs in the past and I’ve always liked them. But you can’t exactly call an M4 a very practical car. And BMW has a reputation of being sporty and ‘fun’. But how does that translate into an SUV? I love my e-tron, I really do. It’s a fast, comfortable cruiser with a good MMI and good exterior design. How can the X5 live up to that?

Standing in front of the X5 is an intimidating first experience coming from an e-tron-sized car. On the inside, they’re relatively similarly sized, with the e-tron even having the bigger boot and probably a little more rear leg room. But the body of the X5 sits much taller and plumb. That is probably down to the angular shapes of the boxy SUV.

However, as soon as you step in, those proportions seem to vanish into thin air. Instead of feeling as massive as it does on the outside, you get a spacious, but not oversized impression in the driver’s seat. What was probably the biggest difference compared to the e-tron was the headroom. With its taller body, the X5 offers a lot of that, complemented even more by the panoramic sunroof on this particular car. The Audi in comparison feels dark and low. Just like that, my perception of this being a plumb, big monstrosity evaporated.

How comfortable is the BMX X5 50e?

Then we get onto the seats. They win. It’s that simple. The comfort seats in this car were fabulous. They offered just the right support and with plenty of adjustability it was easy to get super comfortable in minutes. I’ll admit this test car was spec'd to the wazoo, with ventilated seats, heated steering wheel and armrests (I didn’t even know that was a thing). But overall, the comfort level is undeniable.

My only small point of critique is the rear seats: although plenty comfortable, legroom was on the smaller side for such a big car. Luckily, the big windows and the tall roof make it feel spacious, even in the back. Another big element to the comfort, and the comfort of driving this beast around is its big windows. What makes it so easy to drive is that you can really understand the proportions of the car. Cars like the e-tron feel bigger and wider, because visibility is worse. The X5 gives you plenty of views outside, helping you understand the edges.

Is the BMW X5 50e fun to drive?

Maybe it’s the seats, maybe it’s actually down to the air suspension, but the X5 is incredibly comfortable to drive. The steering is superb on its sportiest settings; sharp, just the right weight for an SUV. It does feel engaging to drive (which I know sounds cliché, but it’s the truth). The ride quality in general is very soft and smooth. The fact that the X5 50e is a PHEV, brings on the electric part of that experience.

In EV-only mode, the power is obviously reduced to a mere 198 bhp. But, that’s still plenty to accelerate swiftly in traffic. And with a range of around 90 km (56 miles) you can get around in EV mode pretty easily. It’s plenty punchy for daily commutes. Personally, that is one of the reasons why the X5 is so high up my list, as I can do most of my daily driving on EV power alone. Will I? Well, there’s no denying that once you put the X5 into its sportiest setting the thing really comes alive. Combined with the electric motor this beast generates just shy of 490 bhp. It might not be the fastest accelerating SUV, but with a 0-100 km (or 60 mph) of around 4.4s she’s plenty to have fun with. The best part of the acceleration is the drama, with the 3L straight six making an entertaining noise when you floor it.

But overall, the driving experience in the X5 50e is one that I can get used to very quickly. It’s comfortable, aided by its great seats and roomy interior. Yet incredibly potent with a nice purring sound of its six cylinder engine.

Admittedly, some of that sound is likely blasted through the speakers, but beggars can’t be choosers …

Conclusion

Honestly, I don’t really see how the Porsche Cayenne or Panamera can beat this one. But I will give them a fair chance. But I must admit I really like the X5 50e. It surprised me in every way, and most of all I can see myself having fun with it, even given its size. And ultimately, that’s what I miss with my e-tron. It’s a great car. But it’s boring. EVs … are boring. And maybe the X5 will be my last ICE car given Europe’s ridiculous emission regulations. I surely hope not, but if it eventually happens to be so, it’s a beautiful swansong that I can’t wait to drive daily.

Pros:

• Excellent performance with nearly 490 bhp combined
• Comfortable ride quality and smooth air suspension
• Very comfortable seats with extensive adjustability
• Spacious-feeling cabin, especially headroom
• Good visibility due to large windows
• Solid EV-only range (~90 km / 56 miles) suitable for daily driving
• Enjoyable engine note from the straight-six engine

Cons:

• Complex infotainment system
• Expensive, especially with optional extras
• Limited rear-seat legroom considering the vehicle size
• Engine noise partially artificial 
• Cabin noise is noticable