BMW X5 2008
By Benjamin Cyr
Road-test liked:
- The excellent handling. The driver almost forgets this is such a big vehicle;
- The comfy interior. Long trips are nothing but a ride in your living room (but bet you it’s not as fun ;-);
- The xDrive system is competent and transparent. In normal road conditions, i twill split power 60/40 between rear and front wheels;
- Its general appearance. The sport group with the 21 inch wheels (rear wheels are 325/30, same as a Dodge Viper) give an aggressive look;
- Assembly is of high standard;
- Active and passive security;
- The new V8 has good acceleration and passing power.
Road-test disliked:
- Too many option groups. This makes it too complex and can boost the price really fast;
- The iDrive system which controls all internal systems such as climate, navigation, audio, etc. needs too much attention. Its not intuitive enough;
- The third row seats are difficult to access and their comfort is not great;
- Fuel consumption is important; we averaged 17l/100km during our week.
The luxury SUV segment is quite competitive. Many of these trucks are competent and interesting, such as the Volvo XC90 V8, Cadillac SRX, Audi Q7, Range Rover and Porsche Cayenne. But after driving the BMW X5 4.8i, I will say my choice would be the bimmer. Why? It’s quite simple, it offers a good mix of performance, space, fun and security. |
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