The BMW X5 Diesel 3 litre auto is the 2007 Australia's Best Luxury Four-Wheel Drive winner.
"It was always going to take a superb vehicle to knock Lexus off its perch in this class - but the BMW X5 is nothing if not superb." say the Australia's Best Cars judges.
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BMW's first generation X5 was the clear leader in the luxury SUV class. The new model is bigger - to accommodate seven seats - but is it better?
Value for money
Pricing
The 3.0 petrol X5 costs $85,000, the 3.0 turbo diesel is $86,800 and the 4.8 V8 is $118,300.
Warranty
Three years/unlimited kilometres.
Standard features
The 3.0 models get six airbags, cruise control, runflat tyres with pressure warning, stability control, hill descent control, fog lights, rain sensing wipers, Data Dot security, roof rails, automatic airconditioning, trip computer, leather wrapped wheel, leather upholstery, front and rear parking sensors, in-dash single and six stack CD players.
The V8 adds self levelling air suspension, adaptive bi-xenon headlights, rear view camera, four zone air, navigation, TV and voice activation, premium sound, full power adjustment for the front seats, "Comfort" front seats with lumbar support, phone handset, holster and Bluetooth connectivity.
The 3.0 litre can be ordered in Executive specification, for an extra $9500. This includes most of the equipment added to the V8. Two third row seats cost an extra $5000 on the 3.0 litre models and $3000 on the V8.
Other options include: adaptive suspension $6700; head up display $2600, 20 inch alloys $2500, sunroof $3500, alarm $975, metallic paint $1700, sport package (seats, suspension 19 inch alloys, go fast trim) $7900 (3.0) or $2600 (4.8), rear seat DVD system $4000... and a lot more.
Retained value
A 3.0 diesel auto, according to Redbook, retains about 60 per cent after five years, which is excellent.
Design and function
Ergonomics
Current owners will see a familiar layout, with a sleek, slimline dash, firm, long travel driver's seat and the notorious iDrive, which now has eight "favourites" buttons in a further attempt to simplify its operation.
BMW has now modified iDrive to the point where you can almost bypass it completely, particularly for most audio functions. However BMW will never admit defeat and remove the central cursor knob.
A new glovebox design is easy to get at, and prevents things from falling out.
Vision is clear around the car, but the rear camera should be standard, as it was on the previous model.
Innovation
The new model is bigger than its predecessor, to accommodate seven seats. Its wheelbase is longer, tracks at both ends are wider and the body is stronger - yet weight has increased by only 30-50 kg.
Kerb weight now ranges from 2050-2170 kg - still at the light end of the class.
The 3.0-litre turbo-diesel straight-six produces 173 kW of power and 520 Nm of torque between 1750 rpm and 2750 rpm.
The 3.0 litre straight-six petrol engine produces 200kW at 6650 rpm and 315 Nm at 2750 rpm.
The 4.8-litre petrol V8 produces 261 kW at 6300 rpm and 475 Nm at 3400 rpm.
All X5s come with a six-speed automatic transmission. It's an improved version of the unit seen previously, with an electronic selector and shift times claimed to be 50 per cent faster.
BMW's XDrive all-wheel-drive system provides fulltime 4WD. It normally provides a 40/60 split to the front and rear, but can distribute it anywhere from 0/100 to 50/50 depending on surface conditions.
All new front suspension uses double wishbones; the rear is four link independent.
The 3.0 litre models will tow up to 2400 kg; the V8 can tow up to 2700 kg.
Run flat tyres are used, a first in the luxury SUV class. They are accompanied by tyre pressure monitoring and a temporary spare (which you lose if you take the seven seat option).
BMW claims that you can drive for up to 150km at speeds up to 80 km/h with a flat tyre, or up to 2000 km with a slow leak.
The 3.0 models use 18 inch alloys with 255/55 tyres. The V8 has 19 inch wheels with 255/50 tyres.
Safety
The new model has not yet been tested, but it should score the same five stars out of five as its predecessor.
Security
The previous model scored four and a half stars out of five in NRMA Insurance's anti-theft rating.
Comfort
The X5 driver's seat is typically BMW-firm, and comfortable on a long drive, however the backrest offers little upper body support when cornering.
Space and practicality
Row two seat space has been increased, with 40 mm more leg room than the previous model and adjustable travel, however the seat itself is narrower, so is less comfortable for three occupants.
As before, the 60/40 split bench seat is relatively uncontoured (which makes it good for child restraints, of which there are two on the back), firm and comfortable.
The optional two rear seats each fold out of the floor. Access is difficult, the seats are too small, and leg room is too tight, for anyone bar small children, who will be unable to see over the middle row seat. Also worth noting is the fact that the curtain airbags do not extend to protect occupants in these seats.
The back stalls in the Mercedes GL and Audi Q7 are much more spacious.
The previous model's major failing - insufficient load space - has been addressed in the boot. The floor is slightly narrower, but more than 10 cm longer (in five seater mode) and nearly two metres long when the middle seats are folded. It is still accessed via the horizontally split, lightweight tailgate. A pair of tracks with four sliding lugs, a load cover with roll out protective mesh barrier and 12 volt outlet are fitted.
Build and finish quality
The X5 is made in the USA. Build and finish quality are excellent.
On the road
Fuel efficiency
For an accurate comparison of the consumption rates of the different X5 engines, we've used European standard test figures.
They show that fuel consumption on the V8 ranges between 9.6 litres per hundred kilometres on the highway cycle (driven very gently, we'd suggest) and 17.5 litres per hundred around town.
The 3.0 petrol uses 9.2/16.0 litres/100 km respectively - close to the V8, and an indication that the 3.0 litre petrol six lacks the low down torque to efficiently shift a vehicle of this size and weight.
The 3.0 turbo-diesel has plenty of that, of course, and is a real miser, using only 7.2/11.3 litres per hundred kilometres.
Performance
Whichever way you look at it, the diesel has to be the engine of choice. It offers strong, effortless performance with vastly superior economy to the petrol engines.
The V8 wins the top end performance contest, but against the stopwatch its advantage over the diesel is surprisingly small: it clocked 7.7 seconds to 100km/h, while the diesel took only 8.6 seconds for the same trip.
The diesel offers superior pulling power across the bottom half of the rev range, which is where you spend 90 per cent of your time.
The six-speed auto now has an electronic selector lever. Shifts are fast, smooth and crisp. As before, Sport mode is provided.
The 3.0 diesel and 4.8 petrol V8 transmissions share all ratios bar final drive, which is fractionally taller on the diesel version.
Ride
On the standard conventional suspension and runflat tyres, the ride is firm, but acceptably comfortable on most surfaces. That said, choosing a larger wheels/lower profile tyres option will probably compromise ride comfort to a significant degree.
Handling and steering
The handling honours contest is now a very close run thing in this class, where the X5 is up against the Mercedes M/GL, Range Rover Sport and the Audi Q7.
It feels lighter, more responsive and better balanced when changing direction than the Audi and Range Rover.
It's a neck and neck result with the Mercedes GL, but the lighter, lower BMW just gets the money here as well.
However, BMW's claim that the X5 handles like a sports car is rubbish. Caution is required in tighter corners, where you also need faith in the adhesive properties of today's tyres. The new model feels more top heavy than its predecessor, and exhibits a touch more body roll on initial turn in.
The steering is accurate and, by big SUV standards, communicative, though it can be a bit heavy when parking. On dirt roads, XDrive does a remarkable job of ensuring stability, grip and drive.
Braking
Braking performance is excellent in all respects. The X5 has one of the biggest brake pedals we've ever seen.
Smoothness and quietness
The 3.0 litre diesel engine is as refined as the petrol engines. Wind and road noise are also low.
Summary
BMW's new X5 is a step forward in some ways, but also a step backwards in a few others. It is no longer the clear class leader against the Mercedes and Audi, both of which we suggest you test drive also before making your decision.
The writer of this report does not necessarily represent the views of the NRMA and this report is provided for you as an alternative to our own NRMA car reviews.
The writer of this report does not necessarily represent the views of the NRMA and this report is provided for you as an alternative to our own NRMA car reviews.
