Photo: Autos.ca
It’s really cold out. No, I mean, really cold, like polar vortex cold, temperatures in the US reaching all-time lows and breaking records nobody ever wanted to brake. Snow keeps pouring in and mobility issues start to come up. In such weather, RWD seems like a silly suggestion. How about xDrive though?
The guys from Autos.ca, based in Canada, took a BMW 535d xDrive for a test drive in heavy snows and cold weather, to see if the German xDrive can handle incredibly bad weather as well as the competition alternatives.
The car proved to be safer than expected, never ever giving off a sensation of instability, danger or even slight skidding. The 3-liter turbocharged diesel engine under the bonnet that makes 258 HP and 560 Nm of torque was more than capable of handling the car’s near 2-tone weight and its occupants.
It should be pointed out that it was decked with almost every possible option out there, from brown full-leather comfort seats to Harman Kardon sound system and the technology package, all of them working together to offer the best possible experience.
The best thing about the BMW all-wheel-drive system is that it also allows you to have fun if you want to, not just keep you safe. It has enough rear bias to make you drift and feel alive but you also have to be careful not to hit something. Remember, this is a big car.
Big as it is, parking is an easy job, thanks to the cameras mounted on the 5er, showing you how much distance you have from the person behind but also how much you should steer to get in the perfect position.
In the end, there are few reasons why you should go for the diesel offering against the more traditional 535i version. The fuel consumption obtained was below 10 l/100 km which, in the conditions the car was driven, is more than satisfactory and the power and torque will allow you to have fun and grin all the time.
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