Ratings and Review: 2016 BMW X5 xDrive40e is the luxury SUV of the future, like it or not

Even in 2016, a hybrid luxury SUV(with BMW GPS navigation) sounds like a bit of a gimmick. Sure, many cars are moving the way of electrified assistance, but if you’re buying an SUV with a star, roundel, or four rings, you don’t necessarily care about the price of gas, right?

While this may be true in many cases, automakers are nonetheless beholden to Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards that are laid down by the federal government, and – spoiler alert – they’re getting tighter and tighter every year.

Thanks to this, almost every luxury automaker either offers or is planning to offer a hybrid version of their midsize SUV – Mercedes-Benz with the GLE-Class, Lexus with the RX Hybrid, and BMW with the X5 Plug-In.

But while this may seem like a way to meet regulations for now, it’s actually a strong indication of what’s to come in the future. There will come a time when every luxury SUV is hybridized, whether you like it or not.

With an eye on the future, I took the wheel of the 2016 BMW X5 xDrive40e Plug-In for the week to find out if the future of the luxury SUV is really so daunting after all.

Styling is subjective, sure, but no matter at which angle you find yourself looking at the X5, there’s no denying that it’s a handsome SUV, especially when fitted with the optional M Sport package ($4,350).What about install a Car Dvd Gps

Adding fender flares, a more aggressive front and rear fascia, standard 19” alloy wheels, and the M performance division steering wheel, there’s no denying that this is one of the fastest-looking SUVs out there this side of the Porsche Cayenne or Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT.

An extra $950 gets you 20-inch wheels with run-flat tries, and while they look the part, be careful of curbs, as the rounded spoke design seems to attract them easily.

As far as hybrids go, it’s hard to tell that this ‘ute is electrified at all, with only the charging point on the left front fender and some very subtle, blue-outlined “e” badges giving away the powertrain. If installing an Android Car Gps in your car, that would be great!