High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The BMW X5 is a luxury crossover SUV introduced in 1999 as the first generation E53. It was BMW`s first SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle) also known as "Four-by-Four" (4x4) in the UK. It features all-wheel drive which is branded as the "X" drive system and is available with either manual or automatic transmission. The second generation X5, known as the E70, was launched in 2006, with the first M version announced in 2009.