The X5 is a Sports Activity Vehicle, ‘SAV’ in BMW parlance, and it’s been around for 25 years and more than 6200 have sold in NZ making itBMW’s most popular vehicle. And we’re putting it to the ultimate urban evaluation. Yes I’ve done the everyday round town in this (it’s great by the way) but this time we’re moving house!
Folding down the seats creates a cavernous loading space, enough for the queen mattress. I pile on a disassembled table (the chairs follow on the next trip), a house load of art, mirrors, home stereo and a large collection of vinyl LPs. All that yet it drives like a daily. The next two trips I have a trailer attached. With a three-and-a-half-ton tow limit, the 3.0 litre Diesel does not even notice the hundreds of kilograms I stow – and I have ample visibility.
There’s a sense in any BMW that the driver is at the center of design. It’s true for the performance models and the big sellers like this model. It might be very practical, yet it’s enjoyable to drive – and the driver buys the car. Contributing to that driver enjoyment factor is the performance. The xDrive30d power is 219 kW and torque a mighty 670 Nm through all 4 wheels for 0-100 in 6.1 seconds, with a max speed of 233 should you find an autobahn.
The car has a noticeable presence. Strong lines make handsome while the distinctive kidney grill marks out that ‘this is a BMW’. The exterior continues to impress with its subtle features such as the detail in the lights and the all over high-quality finish. The sunroof is enormous, from in front of the driver to behind the rear passengers. BMW camera visibility is class leading, showing you an augmented reality view including the wheels and drive path. This system is more accurate on this larger vehicle than those on some smaller cars.
Even this entry level version we are driving has a lot of standard equipment. For the exterior, this includes LED headlights and rear lights, parking assistance, roof rails, an automatic tailgate, and 20-inch rims, the list goes on. Inside are the latest electronics: BMW Live Cockpit Plus with integrated navigation. The day I moved was hot and we were thankful for the potent air conditioning, although I didn’t need the heated sport seats. The driver benefits from the 8-speed auto with shift paddles, plus they get cruise control and emergency stop. We needed this when someone pulled in front of us.
The X5 was ideal for our house move ‘practicality’ test and I’ve got no doubt it would be flawless on a longer road trip, and would off-road with. So even though this car can drop you off and look regal at the charity dinner, it can mix it up in the back blocks as well. Oh, and move house!
