Review: BMW X5 4.8i

Posted Fri Nov 24 2006 10:13 AM by Viknesh Vijayenthiran

As far as quasi off-roaders go, BMW’s X5 has been a huge hit with everyone from serving as the company car for a well-to-do executive to yummy mummies using it for the school run. It went fast, was inoffensively styled (Cayenne anyone?) and had the same luxury appointments as the 5-series sedan on which it was based. It’s little surprise, then, that the old X5 remained one of the best selling premium SUVs since its introduction in 1999, with over 600,000 of them finding a home.

With the second generation, BMW has dropped the facade that the X5 is anything but an off-road bush basher by equipping it with all-weather run-flats as standard. My test car was kitted with the optional sports pack, which adds 19in wheels (18in standard), BMW’s Active/Servotronic Steering and AdaptiveDrive damper control.

BMW claims that the range comes with “even more powerful and efficient engines,” but the outgoing 4.8L V8 developed 5 more hp than the new one, 355hp vs. 350hp – so who they trying to kid? Engine choices include either gasoline or diesel six-cylinder motors as well as the range topping V8 model as tested here. Engineers have upgraded the xDrive permanent all-wheel drive system, and retained the 40/60 front to rear torque split. A brand new suspension setup comes with modified A-arm double wishbones at the front instead of the former’s struts, and a revised four-link fully independent set-up at the rear. It doesn’t match the brilliant air suspension from the Q7 and Touareg, but it does the job and, more importantly, it improves on the previous X5, which itself was top notch.

Though it’s hard to spot, every inch of the new X5’s sheet metal has been changed. It’s been nudged by a few inches in every dimension, but this isn’t enough to stop the styling from looking dated. For a company hell bent on having some of the most avant-garde styling in the automotive biz, it looks like BMW allowed its designers go on holiday when they were creating the X5.

Inside is where the action is. In keeping with the Joneses, BMW offers space for up to seven occupants with the newly available third-row seating. The last two seats are mainly there for show, as the only adult you’ll be able to fit in them would have to be a circus midget. With the third row seats down, the boot carries 620L of cargo space, but this is still much less than Audi’s Q7. Up front, an i-Drive controller makes its way onto the centre console, next to BMW’s new electronic gear shifter that will soon be featured across the range. The instrument panel, particularly the gauge cluster, has been updated and now resembles that seen in its 5-series stable mate. The X5 also gets the cool heads-up display system first seen in high-spec versions of the 5-series. About time, we say.

The old X5 was particularly tight in interior space, but BMW has addressed these issues somewhat by offering more space all around for the passengers. It still feels tight in the driver’s seat, but there is some solace in the fact that both the driver and front passenger pews now feature 10-way electrical adjustments. The updated sound system is reasonably good quality, with 12 speakers and MP3 playback. Optional appointments include four zone climate controlled air conditioning and a remote controlled 8in DVD system. Like most BMWs, things can get seriously out of hand when the salesman offers you the options list.

BMW’s active steering fails again in real world use, quickly becoming frustrating as you fight the wheel by over-and-under-compensating for turn. If there’s one option you choose not to tick make it this one.

The Bavarian soft-roader offers a much more sporting drive than its more sedate M-Class and Q7 rivals. The V8 engine is a gem, offering plenty of grunt in a smooth and refined manner. Noise levels in the cabin were subdued, and it never feels like you’re stressing the motor even at full tilt. Accelerating from 0–100 km/h is a brisk 6.5 seconds, while top speed is still limited electronically to 240 km/h or 149 mph. Pretty amazing stuff considering it weighs a hefty 2400kg, about 200 kilos up on the previous model. Official fuel consumption figures are a claimed 22.6mpg, down 5% on the former. My average for a mix of city and highway driving was closer to 18mpg, even with extended periods of driving like my granny.

Gear-swapping is done via a ZF six-speed auto that offers smooth shifts that are 50% quicker than the old unit, but the box is still one cog down on Mercedes’ sweet seven-speeder. Out on the highway you’d be hard pressed to tell the difference between the ride of the X5 and a German sedan. The four-wheel independent suspension provides handling that is both quick and accurate. The longer wheelbase combined with the low 212mm ground clearance improves ride quality and comfort. Overall, the ride is not as supple as an M-Class over potholes or other road undulations, but it feels more secure than a Cayenne on the twisty stuff. The Adaptive Drive suspension does manage to minimize body movement, giving you the feeling that you’re not actually driving something the size of a tank, but there’s still considerable lean from the body plus a slight hint of understeer.

BMW’s latest offering is the kind of car that will make your neighbors jealous. Built to such a refined standard, swathed in luxury and providing the performance you’d expect from the company with the slogan “sheer driving pleasure,” the new X5 does everything well, right up to the point the road ends. After that, you’re on your own.

- Robert Milbourne

Note: Not all images show the 4.8i model, but they do show different variants of the E70 X5.