BMW X5 Review

The Bavarian engineers didn't have an easy tasks on their hands when they had to create the X5. This is an SAV, a Sports Activity Vehicle, so it had to stick to the road during corners that were approached by overly-confident drivers, but it also fights in the SUV category, which means that it has to offer the level of comfort of a premium large sedan.

We'll cover the bits and pieces that lead to the accomplishment of the first in the "Tech facts" chapter, so for now we shall focus on the part that talks with your body rather than to your mind.

It all starts with the increase in size brought by the launch of the second generation. You'd expect an SUV of this size to offer generous space up front, but take a back seat in the X5 and you'll simply be amazed by how much space you've got. In fact, the whole interior is designed with the US market in mind, which means that even your fingers have plenty of space when they're navigating across the dashboard.

The soundproofing is well-executed and it only allows a very small amount of the action going on outside to enter the cabin, just to keep the driver happy.

However, if you really want to keep the driver happy, you'll have to opt for the M suspension, just like in the case of our test car and this will throw away some of the comfort. If you want to please all the humans inside the car, it's best to mix the aforementioned suspension with the 19-inch wheels included in the M package rather than with the 20-inch rims our test car was rolling on.

The X5 also comes with an optional third row of seats, but we didn't have such a feature on our test car.

The facelift received by the X5 that arrived in 2010, brought an upgrade for the engine range and in the case of the twin-turbo diesel we're testing here, the xDrive35d was replaced by the xDrive40d, gaining 20 hp. The 2993 cc powerplant now delivers 306 hp at 4,400 rpm and a devastating torque of 600 Nm (442 lb-ft), which is there for you between 1,500 and 2,500 rpm).

This brings the non-M-powered (you'll see why we're ) diesel X5, which tips the scales at 2,185 kg (4,817 lbs) straight into sportscar territory in terms of straight line performance. To be more precise the 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) game is played in 6.6 seconds, while the top speed sits at 235 km/h (146 mph).

For this, we must also thank the now-standard eight-speed automatic gearbox, which also offers a Steptronic mode in which you can use , the joystick or the steering wheel-mounted paddles to become a part of the shifting process.

Further down the power line, we find BMW’s xDrive system, which comes with a default torque split scheme of 40:60 (front:rear). However, if this is needed, 100 percent of the torque can be send to the rear axle. But you could’ve immagined this jusT by looking at those monstrous 315 section rear tires.

Like any SUV that’s fashion conscious, the X5 must be able to fit in the two-something ton dress that’s imposed by contemporary standards. We’ve already established that it does above and this is thanks to the aluminum construction of the suspension arms and bonnet, as well as to the thermoplastic used for the front fenders.

When we move past the mechanical bits and pieces of this chapter the X5 starts to show a tad of age, as it doesn’t get the full range of goodies featured on other new-generation Bimmers. Let’s take the connection to the road: You can order the active stabilizer bars, but you don’t get the adaptive suspension found on the much humbler 1-Series, for example.

Fortunately, the X5 gets enough tech features, such as the brilliant adaptive steering, or the Head-Up Display, to be able to deliver a pleasing experience, but if you’ve driven other new BMWs you know that there’s room for more.

If our test drive was called "BMW X5's Got Talent", the contender that would take the prize would certainly be the M Sport package, which, in the case of our test car, was enhanced by a set of 20-inch M wheels (the M Sport pack usually brings 19-inch wheels).

The front and rear fascias, as well as the wheel arches are more self-confident in this configuration (you also get a roof spoiler and chromed exhaust tips) and they should be, since the car doesn't only rely on the aforementioned rims, but also on a stiffer suspension. The kit also brings the longitudinal roof ornaments and to top that off, our test car was dressed in a BMW Individual shade of Blue.

The cabin also benefits from the M Sport pack treatment, which means that you get sport front seats, an M-branded steering wheel that comes with a leather finish, a dark BMW Individual headliner, as well as special trimming.

Other optional goodies that we recommend include the Head-Up Display, the active steering, which is absolutely incredible, especially when you have to park, the Adaptive Drive (adaptive suspension, as well as the the Hi-Fi audio system. You should also go for the power rear tailgate, as this is pretty difficult to close if you just rely on human muscle power.

If you're reaching the limits of your budget, you can leave some of the optional features on the other side of the contract and we're referring to the Soft Close function for the doors (you can easily live without it), the high beam assistant (just like other systems of its kind, it doesn't work perfect in the real world).

When it comes to talking about how the X5 handles a crash, you'll be surprised to find out that this second generation of the SAV has not been tested by the Euro NCAP. Instead the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) decided to see how the German metal, which, by the way, is produced in the US (Spartanburg) or Mexico (Toluca) manages to face its official barriers.

The X5 managed to produce exceptional results, with the SAV receiving a "Good" rating (this is the highest possible) in every area of both the frontal and the side impact crash tests. Basically, this is one of those cars that comes with green stickers all the way.

Thanks to its imposing size, aggressive design and generously-sized interior, the X5 offers you the feeling of safety even before you get behind its wheel. Once you do so, the vehicle reinforces this, especially if you go for the optional M Sport package our test car was fitted with.

The 20-inch wheels, along with the stiffer suspension amplify the level of control over the body, so the vehicle responds to your inputs quickly and isn't intimidated by heavy bends.

As for the brakes, this manage to bring the massive car to a stop in a way that gives you confidence and they even manage to keep the fading away for a period that's long enough for any sane driver to get the car out of a difficult situation where fading would be an issue.

The BMW X5 is now in the last years of its lifecycle and, just like in the case a woman that’s not in her 20s anymore, this comes with both assets and drawbacks.

The vehicle has evolved, it’s gotten more refined and it knows how to cater for multiple of your needs. It capable out on the open road, handles with a lot of confidence and brakes the same way and, even in a diesel configuration it manages to offer you a few positive emotions when you abuse the pedal on the right.

The car turns into a docile creature when we’re talking about the cabin, which is extremely spacious (it can also seat 7 persons in an optional configuration, but this only covers a limited segment of the customers). The same goes for city driving, but only if you choose an oil-burning powerplant. The whole range uses BMW’s Efficienct Dynamics technology, but only the diesels manage to keep you from thinking about the nasty moments when the pump is washing your money away.

However, old bad habits die hard, so the X5 is still far behind its competition when you place something else than tarmac under its wheels. But many people don’t do that, so let’s get to the real disadvantage of this SAV. You simply can’t trick time - you can feel that the X5 is no longer a fresh product, when, for example, you compare it with all-new models from BMW’s range and see that it doesn’t quite get the same level of tech goodies.

How much does she ask for being yours? Our test car had a price of EUR94.335 (USD116.867), out of which the optional extras weighed in at EUR30,551(USD37,848). Speaking of optional extras, we're advising you to go for the most comprehensive one on the X5's list, the M Sport package, but keep the latter's 19-inch wheels, as the optional 20-inch rollers will affect the ride.

The battle in the SUV class is fiercer than ever and the X5 takes second place on the podium, which it shares with the Mercedes ML depending on what you want from your car (stop smiling Cayenne and stop crying the rest of you).