The BMW X5 is the best selling large luxury SUV in Australia. Globally BMW has managed 1.5 million X5 sales since 1999, making the model one of the most important to the German brand.
The current second-generation X5 model, which was launched in 2007, has continued to grow in sales despite nearing the end of its life cycle. This is why the third-generation BMW X5 remains a vastly evolutionary update more than anything else.
From the outside there’s no question the new vehicle is a BMW X5. Design wise BMW has kept it very familiar but with a more focused front-end look, enhanced by twin circular headlight units connecting to the BMW kidney grille.
The rear-end look has an X1-like resemblance, with sharper taillights and a cleaner and more modern design. Although hard to tell on individual points, the new X5 actually looks smaller on the road than the previous car, even if it isn’t. The flowing silhouette shows off a more dynamic SUV rather than the previous generation’s bulky size.
At 4886mm long, 1938mm wide, 1762mm tall, the new BMW X5 is 29mm longer, 5mm wider and has a 4mm-lower roofline than its predecessor. As part of carrying over the model’s DNA, the 2933mm wheelbase has been retained.
BMW Australia will launch the X5 in late November with three different variants and engines to start with. The initial entry model will be the $99,990 BMW X5 xDrive30d, which is powered by a 3.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine that develops 190kW of power and 560Nm of torque. That’s enough to get you from 0-100km/h in 6.9 seconds while sipping just 6.2L of diesel per 100km – a figure we came close to matching in the real world.
Behind the wheel the six-cylinder diesel was not only capable of climbing through Vancouver’s mountainous terrain, but to excite us in the process. The X5’s eight-speed transmission worked harmoniously to deliver a crisp and lag-free driving experience with power and torque always just a moment away.
In the real world, there’s simply no reason this amount of grunt should leave you unsatisfied, but if you must have more, BMW has more answers.
The BMW X5 xDrive50i, which is powered by a 4.4-litre twin-power turbo V8 develops 330kW of power and 650Nm of torque. That’s a lot. Far more than you’ll need for a family SUV. So much in fact, that it goes from 0-100km/h in just five seconds flat. So if the kids are running late to school, you can make up a few seconds.
In saying that, the xDrive50i is a remarkable machine. The engine note, the acceleration feel, the whole experience of piloting it through twisty roads shames many purpose-built sports cars. The catch, apart from the price increase ($34,000 more than xDrive30d), is that you’ll pay for it through fuel consumption, which BMW says is around 10.5L/100km but is much more likely to be in the 14L/100km range if you actually use your right foot.
The third model, which we were unable to test, is the $147,900 BMW X5 M50d, not to be mistaken with the BMW X5 M, which will arrive at a later date. The M50d uses the same six-cylinder diesel engine as the 30d but employs not one, but three turbochargers to bring power up to 280kW with a monstrous 740Nm of torque. It will go from a standstill to 100km/h in 5.3 seconds with a fuel economy of 6.7L of diesel per 100km.
Using the now standard driving experience control button allows switching between comfort, sport, sport+ and eco pro modes. This changes the X5’s behaviour considerably with alterations to the response time of the accelerator, power steering and automatic transmission. If you’ve got adaptive suspension, it will also modify the dampers for a sportier or more comfortable ride.
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