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When you decide on a BMW, you know you are getting the perfect combination of powerful performance, exquisite design and engineering, and rich luxury. Choosing the right model of BMW, however, can be a little tricky, with so many amazing cars and vehicles to choose from, finding the one that is just right for you might take some work. Fortunately, the decision really comes down to looking at what is available and comparing what each vehicle offers to what you need. For example, when we look at the 2020 BMW X7 vs 2020 BMW X5, we can see that it primarily comes down to the size of the vehicle you need.
These are both fantastic SAVs from BMW that offer a level of sophistication and raw power that gives you a driving experience you simply will not find anywhere else. To figure out which one is right for you, we will take a look at the performance of each of these vehicles, looking at the engines they have to offer and just how powerful they are. We will also go inside the 2020 BMW X7 and the 2020 BMW X5 to explore the incredible technology and sophisticated interiors that they each have to offer. By the end of this, you will have a good sense of which one is right for you; then, come visit us at BMW of Cincinnati North to find your next vehicle today.
What is an SAV?
One of the first things you might notice when you check out the 2020 BMW X7 and 2020 BMW X5 is that they are referred to as SAVs instead of SUVs. As you probably know, "SUV" refers to a Sport Utility Vehicle, which is typically created as a blending of car and truck design, either on a truck or car platform. SUVs are everywhere, and there is at least one model of SUV available from pretty much every manufacturer.
A Sport Activity Vehicle, or SAV, on the other hand, is what you will find from BMW and it is not about muddying car and truck design, as much as it is about creating a large vehicle that gives you fantastic functionality with the nimble responsiveness and performance you would expect from a sedan. With a BMW SAV, the focus is on the activities you need to be able to perform, which is why you can configure these vehicles to have impressive towing power. And at the end of the day, they are available with startlingly powerful engines that make driving them just as much fun as the most impressive car.
The 2020 BMW X7 - Power and Performance
Let us start things off by looking at everything the 2020 BMW X7 has to offer, beginning with the incredible engines you can choose from. We will take a look at the interior of the X7 down below, but first, we want to talk about power and performance. A lot of SUVs out there have engines that are only decent, often providing you with the bare minimum level of performance to keep the vehicle moving. As a gorgeous SAV, however, the 2020 BMW X7 takes performance to an entirely new level with two engines and three different trims that affect your driving experience.
The standard engine on the 2020 BMW X7 is offered on the xDrive40i trim: a 3.0L TwinPower Turbo I-6 engine that offers up to 335 hp and 330 lb-ft of torque. This, along with the other engine options on the BMW X7, comes paired with an 8-speed STEPTRONIC automatic transmission with sport and manual shift modes. With this engine, you get an estimated 20 MPG in the city and 25 MPG on the highway (22 MPG combined). You can go from 0 to 60 in just 5.8 seconds, and it has a top speed of 130 mph.
If you choose the xDrive50i trim, however, then you get a 4.4L TwinPower Turbo V8 engine that delivers up to 456 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque for an incredible driving experience. This engine gets an estimated 15 MPG in the city and 21 MPG on the highway, with 17 MPG combined. You can really see the power this model has since it can go from 0 to 60 in 5.2 seconds, and it has a top speed of 155 mph.
Finally, there is the high-performance M50i trim level, which features a 4.4L BMW M Performance TwinPower Turbo V8 engine that provides a stunning 523 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque. This engine has the same estimated fuel economy as the xDrive50i, but it can go from 0 to 60 in just 4.5 seconds, with a top speed of 155 mph. This level of performance really puts most SUVs to shame and demonstrates the incredible power the 2020 BMW X7 has to offer.
The 2020 BMW X7 - Interior Space
As we look inside the 2020 BMW X7, it is important to first note that this is a large SAV with three rows of seating, offering room for up to seven people. The X7 measures just over 203 inches in length, about 78 inches in width, and rides just over 71 inches tall. We will go over some of the incredibly luxurious tech features inside the 2020 BMW X7 in a moment, but first, let us talk about how much room you and your passengers will have.
Up in the front row, you and your front passenger can enjoy nearly 42 inches of headroom and almost 40 inches of legroom. Your second-row passengers will enjoy almost 40 inches of headroom and more than 37 inches of legroom, while passengers in the third row will have more than 36 inches of headroom and almost 34 inches of legroom. Although you might not want to have your tallest friends in the third row, everyone else will be quite comfortable with plenty of room stretch out.
The large size of the 2020 BMW X7 also means it is a great option if you have a lot of things you like to take with you. Whether you are looking to fit dozens of shopping bags or load up with everything you need to take your family on a long adventure, the X7 has you covered. You get nearly 13 cu.ft. of cargo space behind the third row of seats, almost 49 cu.ft. of room behind the second row, and more than 90 cu.ft. of total cargo area behind the front row.
The 2020 BMW X7 - Interior Luxury
The technological features and comfort that you can get inside the 2020 BMW X7 is truly spectacular, with a number of options that are among the best you will find in any vehicle. Some of these features depend on which trim level you choose, but even the starting trim is fantastic. For example, a pair of 12.3-inch displays are standard in every model, including a voice-operated Infotainment touchscreen and a digital instrument cluster. There is an available head-up display that projects key information onto the windshield, along with numerous USB ports, programmable bookmarks, and support for over-the-air updates.
A three-spoke power adjustable steering wheel features controls for audio, Bluetooth phone functionality, and cruise control. There is an available Harman Kardon surround sound system that features 16 speakers, including two bass speakers, for absolutely stunning audio quality. Wood trim, velour carpeting, and Vernasca leather upholstery make for an interior that surrounds you in comfort and sophistication.
The available 20-way power adjustable front sports seats will keep you and your favorite passenger incredibly comfortable, with three-stage heating that is perfect for cold, winter months. Automatic four-zone climate control ensures you and all of your passengers have a fantastic experience, while a panoramic moonroof with an automatic two-piece glass panel affords a view of the sky that you will never forget. You truly have to sit in the 2020 BMW X7 and feel it all for yourself.
The 2020 BMW X5 - Power and Performance
Now that you are as infatuated with the 2020 BMW X7 as we are, you might have completely forgotten about the 2020 BMW X5, but you should not. In terms of performance, the BMW X5 does a truly impressive job of keeping up with its larger sibling. While there are four trims available for the X5, this really comes down to three big options and a consideration of whether you want rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.
The standard trim of the 2020 BMW X5 is the sDrive40i, which features a 3.0L TwinPower Turbo I-6 engine that provides up to 335 hp and 330 lb-ft of torque. This, along with all trims of the BMW X5, comes paired with an 8-speed sport automatic transmission; it gets an estimated 21 MPG of fuel economy in the city, 26 MPG on the highway, and 23 MPG combined. The sDrive40i trim features rear-wheel drive and can go from 0 to 60 in 5.2 seconds, with a top speed of 151 mph. If you choose the 2020 BMW X5 xDrive40i trim, then you get the same engine and performance, but with all-wheel drive instead.
For even more power, consider the xDrive50i trim, which has a 4.4L BMW TwinPower Turbo V8 engine capable of delivering up to 456 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque. This engine gets an estimated 16 MPG in the city, 22 MPG on the highway, and 18 MPG combined. With it, the 2020 BMW X5 can go from 0 to 60 in just 4.6 seconds and has a top speed of 155 mph.
Finally, there is the incredible M50i trim with its 4.4L BMW M Performance TwinPower Turbo V8 engine that gives you up to 523 hp and up to 553 lb-ft of torque. Although this engine gets an estimated 16 MPG in the city, 22 MPG on the highway, and 18 MPG combined, its power is truly undeniable. With this engine, the 2020 BMW X5 can go from 0 to 60 in just 4.1 seconds and has a top speed of 155 mph.
The 2020 BMW X5 - Interior Space
While the 2020 BMW X7 is a large SAV with three rows of seating, the 2020 BMW X5 is a midsize model that has just two rows of seats. This is one of the biggest differences between these two models and will really impact which one you should choose. The BMW X5 measures just over 194 inches in length, nearly 10 inches shorter than the X7, about 79 inches in width, and rides just over 68 inches in height.
In terms of interior space, the 2020 BMW X5 really delivers on ensuring you and your passengers stay nice and comfortable. Up in the front row, you get about 40 inches of legroom and more than 40 inches of headroom. In the second row of seats, your passengers will get nearly 38 inches of legroom and almost 39 inches of headroom in which to stretch out.
Of course, you also get plenty of space inside the 2020 BMW X5 for all the supplies and things you need to take with you. Behind the rear seats, you get almost 34 cu.ft. of cargo area, while you get more than 72 cu.ft. of total cargo space behind the front row. So whether you need to load up a couple of bicycles, stow your bags from a day of shopping, or make sure you have everything you need for a road trip, the BMW X5 has you covered.
The 2020 BMW X5 - Interior Luxury
When you look at midsize SUVs from other manufacturers, you often find that they cut corners on interior technology and luxury. With the 2020 BMW X5, however, you quickly see all of the sophistication and richness you would expect from a BMW SAV. Even the starting trim features a pair of 12.3-inch displays: one of them acts as a touchscreen Infotainment system, and the other as a digital instrument cluster. A three-spoke power adjustable steering wheel with controls for audio and cruise control, 10-speaker sound system, and automatic climate control are all standard.
Fantastic available features on the 2020 BMW X5 include a Harman Kardon surround sound audio system with 16 speakers, just like you can find in the X7. You can get 20-way power adjustable front seats in the BMW X5 with three-stage heating to ensure you stay nice and warm up front. Available automatic four-zone climate control, customizable ambient lighting throughout the interior, and a panoramic moonroof with two-piece glass panel all ensure that the luxury and sophistication you can get inside the X5 is second-to-none.
Which BMW SAV is Right for Me?
Now that you have had a good look at the tremendous amount of power, the great luxury and technology features, and roomy interiors available with these two vehicles, you are probably wondering which one is right for you. While that is something that only you can really answer, we will take a moment to look at some key differences to consider and help you decide.
First and foremost is their size: the 2020 BMW X7 is a large SAV with three rows of seating that can accommodate up to seven people, while the 2020 BMW X5 is a midsize model with two rows of seating for up to five people. So you should consider just how much seating you need and then go from there. If you routinely need seating for five, but there is a remote chance you might need to fit an extra person or two inside, then this can be a tough choice, but otherwise, it should be pretty simple.
Keep in mind, however, that the larger size of the X7 means it also gives you a lot more cargo space. You get nearly 20 cu.ft. of additional cargo space inside the 2020 BMW X7 compared to the BMW X5, with more room for longer objects. You will need to decide if you need that much space or if the X5 would work for you. Of course, the X7 is also larger overall--so make sure you have room in your life for a large SAV, otherwise, the BMW X5 may be a better pick to fit into your lifestyle.
In terms of performance, these are both quite comparable and will give you an incredible driving experience. Since it is a little smaller, the 2020 BMW X5 can achieve a faster 0 to 60 time than the X7, especially if you compare their performance-focused M Series trim levels. Ultimately, however, they are both incredibly fun to drive with remarkably powerful engines to offer.
BMW of Cincinnati North is Here to Help
Still not sure which model is right for you? No problem, we are here to help. Our friendly and knowledgeable salespeople are ready to answer any questions you might have and show you both the 2020 BMW X7 and the X5 in all their spacious, powerful glory. While specs on a page can be helpful, we often find that you need to sit inside these vehicles and really feel everything they have to offer to figure out which one is perfect for you. Call or come visit us in Cincinnati, OH, today and we will make sure you find the right SAV.
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