[11] The BMW Concept X5 eDrive is a plug-in hybrid concept vehicle version of the X5 with kidney grille slats, air intake bars and the inlay in the rear bumper in the BMW i Blue colour; Silverflake metallic body colour, xDrive all-wheel-drive system, specially designed roof rails, a connector for the charging cable that lights up during charging, 21-inch light-alloy wheels in an exclusive aerodynamically optimised design, a four-cylinder BMW TwinPower Turbo combustion engine and a 70 kW (94 hp) electric motor developed by the BMW Group, a charging cable stored in the load area below the flat storage compartment and BMW ConnectedDrive with Remote app.

Other options included LED strobe lights in the radiator grille, roof beacons with a siren system and an auxiliary battery.

[14][15] The BMW X5 M50d includes Adaptive M suspension (Dynamic Damper Control and air suspension at the rear axle, Electric Power Steering) and 19-inch M light-alloy wheels in double-spoke design, mixed tyres.

The BMW Individual range includes additional customisation options, such as up to seven layers of paint (including Ruby Black metallic and Pyrite Brown metallic) and the addition of special colour pigments creating iridescent effects, 20-inch BMW Individual light-alloy wheels in V-spoke design with mixed tyres, fine-grain full Merino leather trim in Amaro Brown and Criollo Brown from BMW Individual and BMW Individual interior trim strips in Piano Finish Black or Sen Light Brown.

The engine has M TwinPower Turbo and Valvetronic technologies, to deliver a 0–100 km/h (62 mph) time of 4.2 seconds.

[22] The US EPA rated the X5 xDrive40e combined city/highway fuel economy at 68 mpg‑US (3.5 L/100 km; 82 mpg‑imp) equivalent (MPG-e) in all-electric mode (energy consumption of 59 kW-hrs/100 mi).

sDrive aimed to increase agility over traditional rear-wheel drive SUVs.

Options included BMW Individual fine-grain Merino leather trim in Criollo Brown and Amaro Brown (stitching and piping in a contrasting colour and decorative perforations on the seat surfaces), BMW Individual interior trim strips in Piano Finish Black and Sen Light Brown fine wood, 20-inch BMW Individual light-alloy wheels in V-spoke design with mixed tyres and additional body colours (Mineral Silver, Glacier Silver and Imperial Blue diamond effect metallic paint variants; BMW Individual finishes Ruby Black metallic and Pyrite Brown metallic).

Wireless Apple CarPlay smartphone integration also became available as a standalone option for vehicles equipped with the GPS navigation system.

These include a sport steering wheel, carbon fibre trim, aluminium pedals, black kidney grilles, M Rims, mirrors, rear flaps, diffuser, splitter, in carbon fibre, black side skirts and sport brakes.

Vehicles with Diesel engine sold in the United States were since end of 2008 equipped with selective catalysator using Diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) to reduce NOx emissions, while the BMW X5 sold in Europe did not use a selective catalytic reduction system (with AdBlue injection) until 2013 when the F15 X5 was released.

With the option of a ‘Sport Steptronic’ automatic gearbox which had faster up & downshift times.

It also included paddle shifters located behind the steering wheel for a sportier drive.