2014 BMW X5 Review

Some will argue that the boost thrill of the past was lost in all this engineering quest. Well, the discussion was the same in the era when carmakers switched from one ridiculously-sized turbo to a twin setup. The perceived loss of excitement weighs less than the efficiency and performance benefits brought by the tech advantages.

What’s more, quite a lot of the tri-turbo engine’s ability to thrill you is consumed by the massive X5. Have a go in the M550d before you come to a conclusion.

Add this engine consistency to the superb smoothness and agility of the ZF eight-speed automatic and you’ll end up with a happily ever after scenario.

As for the off-roading bits, this is perhaps the part where things have changed the least. The limited ground clearance and lack of at least a locking center differential mean you’ll have to keep things moderate. We did get some extra kicks from the upgraded xDrive system though. Manhandling this big diesel beast in the mud with the DSC off is an absolute pleasure.

Alas, aforementioned on-road nature of the 2014 X5 means you never get to perceive all the performance. Modern BMWs have lost a part of the feel that made the brand what it is, so we’re not all that surprised.

Considering this, as well as the aforementioned handling limitations, there’s not really a point in recommending the M50d. If you want a diesel, you’ll be just as better off with the two inferior oil burners, the twin-turbo 313 HP 40d and the single-turbo 258 HP 30d (35d in the US). BMW also introduced a 218 HP twin-turbo four-cylinder engine, the 25d, which can also be had with xDrive or rear-wheel drive (sDrive in Bimmer talk).

The conclusion stays the same for the petrol side of the range, where the 306 HP (300 HP in the US) 35i has enough grunt for the X5, making the 450 HP 50i a really, really optional unit. By the way, Americans also get the 35i in an sDrive guise on top of the usual xDrive configuration. BMW’s made improvements across the board, so expect to find slightly better efficiency and performance numbers.

Returning to the 2014 BMW X5 M50d, this simply isn’t as convincing as the M135i when it comes to illustrating what BMW’s M Performance sub-brand means. It feels as if they’ve pushed things a bit too far, whereas the brilliant M135i was as natural as possible.