Now that the second generation X5 comes with the option of seven seats, the school run can be a lot more sociable.
The new X5 is hard enough to spot next to the original, as BMW made a conscious decision not to stray too far from a winning formula. The new car on closer inspection has a lot more curves and plenty of nice design detail on the outside. X5 is now more sophisticated and ready to combat the appeal of other high-end SUV rivals like the Range Rover Sport or Lexus RX400h and its ‘hybrid’ bragging rights.
X5 can now go head to head with posh seven-seaters like the Q7, XC90, Merc’s ‘GL’ and Discovery III from Land Rover.
Inside the evolution continues with the latest iDrive present and a new electronic handbrake, but the big news is the extra seating. Two small seats pull up out of the floor to turn the SUV into an MPV. The rear seats are tiny and for kids only. In fairness to Beemer, the Bavarian company says the car is more a 5+2 as the third row is only intended for occasional use. Access to the last two seats is pretty poor but hey this is a four-wheel drive with high ground clearance and not a purpose designed people carrier, so fair enough.
Despite a reputation as a ‘Posh-Roader’ X5 is a versatile bus. During a fit of DIY I was able to load a full size door and frame into the X5’s flat load area and close the boot fully. For longer loads or if you need a place to sit and have a picnic the split tailgate works well.
Prices start around 80,000 rising to over 100K with five-seats as standard. There is big news on the engine front with the introduction of a new performance diesel 3.0 ‘SD’ (pictured above) that is going in to production this October with deliveries here due around mid-November.
Prices start at €85,200 (on the road) for the twin turbo 286bhp V6 3-litre diesel power plant. With 580 nm of torque on tap it pulls like a train and can sprint from 0-100km/h in just 7 seconds!!! Yet the SD can deliver decent fuel consumption for such a large vehicle averaging 8.2 litres per100km or 34.4mpg in old money.
If you can afford a little over one hundred grand (and the fuel costs) the 4.8 litre V8 petrol unit is serious fun. Other, albeit rich ‘mere mortals’ can opt for the straight--6 3 litre diesel or petrol versions.
X5 is widely acknowledged as being one of the best handling big SUVs out there say next to Porsche’s Cayene. Under the skin, BMW has a high tech drive train that is one of the smartest electronically controlled all wheel drive systems in the world (‘X-Drive’). Another key factor to X5s road going ability is the massive rubber Beemer fits as standard. My V8 test car rides on tyres that are so big they need planning permission! 20 inch, 275/40s on the front and 315/35s on the rear. I’ve seen smaller tyres on Dragsters!
The 2007 X5 is clear proof if it was needed that Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW) has come a long way in its 90 years.
Michael Sheridan
