Comparison: Ground clearance BMW X5 vs. competitors 2025

BMW X5 - How has the ground clearance changed over the generations?

Starting with the elder of the clan, the X5 E53 both pre and post-facelift, apparently preferred to keep its clearance a hidden family secret, as we have zilch on record. Moving swiftly on, the X5 E70 and its facelifted counterpart sat confidently at 222 mm off the ground. Then someone in Munich hit the 'Lower' button, sending the X5 F15 down to 209 mm, which must have been quite the belly rub. But worry not, as the latest X5 G05 and its facelift remind us that evolution isn't just about the survival of the fittest, but also the tallest, maintaining a respectable 214 mm ground clearance. It seems the X5 has learned from its past undulating journey and has reached a middle ground... clearance.

The ground clearance compared to other BMW models

In the grand hallway of BMW models, where the shimmering chandeliers of horsepower and luxury hang, the X5 stands tall, quite literally. With a ground clearance of 214 mm, it struts above the common pavement-hugging crowd. Let's cast a glance at its relatives. The sporty M4 CSL Coupé and the wind-in-your-hair Z4 Roadster are scraping their undercarriages at a mere 113 and 117 mm respectively. Even the larger sedans and coupes, like the 3{series} Limousine at 140 mm or the 5{series} Limousine at 144 mm, bow before the X5's elevated stature. Only when we step into the territory of the BMW X6, X7, and their M Performance variants do we see the X5 looking up, as they flaunt a 212 to 221 mm ground clearance (0 mm higher).

How does the ground clearance of the BMW X5 compare to it's nearest competitors?

But what about those beyond the BMW fortress? The sovereign X5 may clock in at an impressive 214 mm from the terra firma, but it’s by no means alone in the skies. Starting with the compact crowd, the ground-hugging Mercedes-Benz EQA and GLA, both at a paltry 134 and 154 mm ground clearance, couldn't hope to rival the X5's lofty perch. However, some players like the Volvo XC60, an almost mountainous 230 mm, and the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque, at a strapping 215 mm, dare to look the X5 straight in the kidney grilles. Then there's the Tesla Model X, which floats above the commoners at a majestic 223 mm (9 mm higher). But for every sky-high rider like the Lamborghini Urus at a sky-scraping 248 mm, there's a Jaguar I-Pace, lounging at 142 mm, that thoroughly believes in keeping its feet close to the ground (72 mm lower).

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