BMW’s Used Hybrid X5 is The Cheapest Plug-In Hybrid In 2025

With SUVs being so popular on US roads in 2025, manufacturers have poured millions of dollars into ensuring their portfolios of these particular models are stout against their rivals. They exist in a range of different variations, from compact to full-size luxury SUVs, to sports-focused coupe-style variants. The same goes for their powerplants, with some relying on traditional ICE engines and some with ever-advancing EV powertrains.

One of the most efficient ways of powering an SUV is by using a plug-in hybrid setup, which combines a normal gas-powered engine with an electric motor and battery. This means that you can drive around towns on pure and environmentally friendly EV power, with the engine kicking in to keep the car moving over longer distances. New examples can be expensive though, so this is the cheapest used PHEV SUV you can grab on the used market.

The X5 Has Acted As The Brand’s Luxury Mid-Size SUV For Over A Quarter-Of-A-Century

The cheapest used PHEV SUV you can buy on the US used market is the 2016 BMW X5 xDrive 40e, which was introduced mid-way through the third-generation X5s production run. The X5 has been available in its entirety since 1999, when BMW decided to insert itself into the cut-throat SUV battle that began to emerge in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Luxury SUVs in particular had proven to be big business, as demonstrated by the Land Rover Range Rover, so the likes of BMW and others wanted a slice of the action.

The X5 was developed to combine the luxury expected from a high-end BMW model and plush SUV with the driving dynamics the German marque is renowned for.

It Took Over 15 Years For The X5 To Gain Hybrid Power

BMW

The X5 was offered with a range of six and eight-cylinder engines for the bulk of its early history, though BMW elected to board it on the hybrid propulsion train in the mid-2010s. The third-gen X5 was introduced in 2013, and was notable in that a four-cylinder engine was offered for the first time, albeit in turbo-diesel trim. For the 2016 model year, the X5 was finally made available with a hybrid powertrain. An award-winning turbocharged 2.0-liter N20 inline-four engine, usually found in BMW’s smaller range of vehicles like the 1 Series, 3 Series, and X1, was mated to a single electric motor. Not only did it provide a healthy 308 hp and breathless acceleration, but it also boasted superior fuel efficiency when compared to pure ICE models.

Due to depreciation, used examples of the X5 xDrive 40e can be had for peanuts these days.

A Solid Hybrid X5 Will Set You Back A Little Over $10k

BMW

According to Kelley Blue Book, you can expect to pick up a tidy, high-mileage 2016 X5 xDrive 40e for around $11,811, with more rundown examples being available for well less than this. Take a black X5 that has covered a little over 122,000 miles, offered by Cars.com, as a good example. It comes stocked with luxury equipment and a clean title, and is priced at just $9,895 as of August 2025.

Plenty of clean but high-mileage cars are available via AutoTempest at around the $12k mark, with many good specimens with less than 100k miles on the clock on the market for around $15k. A good example is a gray 2017 X5 with 80,000 miles on the odometer, again sold through Cars.com. It is offered with a clean title, as well as refinements like a power moonroof, power tailgate, satellite navigation, and even a Wi-Fi hotspot. Not bad for $15,995.

An X5 Will Cost A Little More To Run Than Other Hybrid SUVs

BMW

Being a BMW, you’ll need to anticipate that it’ll cost more to run than other hybrid SUVs, such as a Toyota Land Cruiser. While a 2016 X5 Hybrid should set you back around $1,157 a year to keep running sweetly, according to RepairPal, a Land Cruiser should demand around $736. As far as problems go, the powerplant is pretty robust, having been developed across a wide range of BMW models, though suspension components tend to wear out pretty fast due to the large car’s weight. This is made even worse by the hybrid system, which is pretty cumbersome on its own. If you don’t get on top of this, it can also have a negative effect on your wheel alignment.

One key issue to look out for is a faulty EGR cooler, which can leak coolant when it cries enough. This could cause the engine to overheat if the system runs dry enough, which will lead to a potentially costly engine replacement or refurbishment job.

The X5 Hybrid Boasts More Power And Efficiency Than The Equivalent Full-ICE Model

BMW

The best part about the X5 xDrive 40e is that not only does its 308-hp hybrid powertrain provide more grunt than the xDrive 35i model, which comes with a 300-hp turbocharged 3.0-liter straight-six under the hood, but it also gulps less fuel. While the xDrive 35i can only muster an average MPG figure of 20, the hybrid variant manages 24 MPG. That means if you filled the 22.4-gallon fuel tank in both vehicles, you could expect to travel around 90 miles further in the hybrid version. Plus, you’ll be able to drive the hybrid X5 for around 18 miles on pure EV power before the battery runs flat.

BMW

That said, as a result of the extra weight added by the hybrid system, the xDrive 40e’s 6.5-second 0-60 mph sprint time is around 0.4s down on the xDrive 35i’s. Its nine-speed automatic transmission ensures the X5 is easy to cruise around in, while the xDrive all-wheel-drive system is effective at making sure each wheel enjoys optimal traction at all times, in any conditions.

Porsche’s Hybrid Cayenne Also Boasts Good Value

Porsche

Should the BMW not tickle your pickle, then the 2015 Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid Sport provides a tantalizing route into used PHEV SUV ownership. KBB values the model at just $13,111, which will get you a 3.0-liter V6 engine combined with a single electric motor. The Cayenne may not be quite as fuel-efficient as the BMW, with an average fuel figure of 22 MPG, but its powerplant provides significantly more power.

Porsche

A total of 416 hp is shared between the four wheels, which helps get it to 60 mph in just 5.4 seconds. Its cockpit also promises superior quality to that of the BMW, while it boasts better-balanced and more responsive handling, too. RepairPal even rates the Cayenne’s yearly maintenance cost estimate at around the same as the X5 too, so you won’t lose out here either. The simple question is, what would the kids rather be dropped off at school in, a BMW or a Porsche?

Sources: AutoTempest, BMW, Kelley Blue Book, Porsche, RepairPal.