2018 BMW X5

Trapezoidal tailpipes are now standard on the 35i and 35d versions. The M Sport package offers a new design of 21-inch alloy wheel. And BMW has fitted a new transmission to the whole range, but it still has eight forward gears, so there's no big difference for the driver -- and no difference to the official fuel consumption figures.See the 2018 BMW X5 models for sale near you

Assuming there's no problem buying a plug-in hybrid with the knowledge that fuel savings probably won't offset the extra initial cost and the point would be to reduce emissions, the xDrive40e has excellent equipment and power levels.

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The 2018 BMW X5 is available as the sDrive35i ("s" signifies rear-wheel drive), xDrive35i, xDrive35d, xDrive50i or xDrive40e iPerformance.

The sDrive35i ($57,945) comes standard with 19-in alloy wheels, dual-zone automatic climate control, adaptive xenon headlights, LED fog lights, a roof spoiler, a power tailgate, power-folding and auto-dimming mirrors, a universal garage door opener, a power adjustable steering wheel, leatherette upholstery, 10-way power front seats (heated) with driver's-side memory functions, iPod/USB and Bluetooth connectivity, a 9-speaker audio setup (including two subwoofers) and the iDrive infotainment system with navigation, 20GB of audio storage and a 10.2-in high-resolution screen.

The xDrive35i ($60,245) adds all-wheel drive, hill-descent control and eligibility for the Dynamic Handling package, which includes adaptive dampers, active roll resistance and a rear air suspension.

The xDrive35d ($61,745) swaps in the diesel engine, but is otherwise equipped similarly to the xDrive35i.

The xDrive40e iPerformance ($64,495) has the hybrid hardware and dedicated dials.

The xDrive50i ($74,795) upgrades to the twin-turbo V8 and adds chrome exterior accents, metallic paint, keyless entry and ignition, 20-way multicontour front seats, leather upholstery, quad-zone climate control, a 16-speaker Harman Kardon Surround Sound system, satellite radio and a rearview camera. Most of the xDrive50i's standard extras are offered on other models as options.

Add-on bundles include the Cold Weather package (a heated steering wheel, heated rear seats and heated headlight washers), the Lighting package (LED adaptive headlights with automatic high beams) and the Driver Assistance Plus package (see the Safety section below).

Other options include 20-in wheels, active steering, automated parking assist, soft-close doors, a head-up display, Nappa leather upholstery, adjustable second-row seats, wireless smartphone charging, Wi-Fi, a top-of-the-line Bang & Olufsen audio system (with a motorized center speaker that rises to the occasion) and a rear-seat entertainment system with twin 9.2-in monitors, adaptive cruise control and a third-row seat (which comes with the rear air suspension). There are also the Luxury (formerly known as the Luxury Line) and M Sport packages, with distinctive aesthetics, as well as numerous customization possibilities.

The third seating row is another option, bringing the occupant count up to seven.

Cargo space measures 23 cu. ft. behind the second-row seats and 66 cu ft. with the rear seats folded down. That's less room than most midsize crossovers provide (and not much more than BMW's X3 compact crossover). The plug-in hybrid has to accommodate the battery pack and other hardware, so its cargo space figures contract to 17.7 and 60.7 cu ft., respectively.