Heads up everyone! The new BMW X5 has landed and it's actually surprisingly good!
The BMW X5 is a car everyone knows of, from housewives, to children, to car enthusiasts, but not because it has ever been considered a 'great' car. Instead, everyone knows of the X5, because it's usually all you can see in your rearview mirror when driving along any given motorway in the United Kingdom.
However, as time has gone on, that image has gradually shifted to Audi's, which is a good thing, because the new BMW X5 is a very good car.
It's rather on the 'large' side...
The model I had the pleasure of spending a week of my time with was the X530d M Sport, which consists of the inline 6, 3 litre diesel engine, with a rather large turbo, boasting 225bhp, and a rather adequate 560Nm of torque. Just enough to propel you to the shops and back. It also came with the sport automatic transmission, which meant I had the flappy paddles to play with, and a rather large host of other optional extras, such as panoramic sunroof, auto headlights and wipers, and so on.
Starting with the interior, it's a lovely place to be. The seats are large, but hug you nicely, letting you relax comfortably as you peer over the vast dashboard, however they are a little slow to move when using the electric adjustments, and with no manual option, you best get the seat in a comfortable place the day before you need to go anywhere, to get there on time. The steering wheel was comfortable too, with a near limitless level of adjustment, which adjusts a little quicker than the seats, so that's a plus.
Running along the dash is a strip of LED light, which bathes the cabin in a warm orange glow, which can be changed to white or neon blue, if you're going for a 1980's Miami vibe, or can be switched off all together. The central mounted screen, linked with the iDrive system is easy to use, and responds quickly to inputs, even the touchscreen is a joy to use. In the back, you'll find ample leg room, however the seats are a little too upright, which leads to minor back-ache on longer trips.
Moving back to the engine department, the engine pulls very well. Even whilst pulling along something that weighs more than Clarksons ego, it growls down the road at an unbelievable pace. The gearbox is smooth, solid and so very very responsive, making motorway and town driving a pleasure, then whacking it into Sport Auto and using the paddles, when you're really hammering along makes you feel so involved in the drive. Having driven with this gearbox, I am now very inclined to move away from the good, old fashioned manual myself.
It even got a wash.
Driving the car hard is a real treat, as you're thrust along, putting your foot down and hearing the engine growl angrily, whilst the HP and Torque guages on the iDrive screen shoot around to the 'MAX' setting. In the corners, it's let down a little, with boaty handling and a lot of body roll, but given it's getting on for over 3 tons, it is to be expected.
So to summarise - Is the BMW X5 as good as people say it is? I can honestly say, hand on heart, that yes it is. It's no longer a '3-series SUV'. I can imagine even with a smaller, less thirsty engine, the car is a great all round vehicle, and even without a lot of the optional extras, it's still a very comfy car to be in.
Driving: 8/10
Interior: 8/10
Exterior: 9/10
To live with: 9/10
Overall: 8.5/10
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