BMW was one of the first manufacturers to the crossover SUV party back in 2000 when it first introduced the X5. The X5 wasn’t designed for the SUV user who plans to head off road for serious work or play – there are American-made workhorses for that. No, the BMW X5 is designed for those who want a bigger car to drive to the ski lodge and need some additional size and weight to manage on those icy, slick roads, or for the growing family that can’t abide a minivan.
In keeping with the new trend toward clean diesel, the X5 comes in a diesel version known as the xDrive35d. You’ll notice no diesel smell and, while the engine itself is pretty quiet on its own, the cabin is well-insulated to keep out most engine and road noise. Fuel economy isn’t bad for the SUV class, at an estimated 19 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway. The diesel is also surprisingly responsive and peppy. And – perhaps best of all – since the car is a diesel, you may qualify for credit on your federal income tax.
Unfortunately, the iDrive control system is neither responsive nor peppy – it remains confusing and irritating for most drivers. The knob is in an inconvenient location and the menu isn’t intuitive at all. Plan to spend several weeks figuring out this system. But that’s OK – you’ll have the time while you’re wondering why in a car that’s positioned as being family-friendly, the glove box is hard to find and so incredibly small. Or, if you don’t want that huge eyesore iDrive system that’s so infuriating, wait for the 2010 model when the X5 will have the upgraded version.
In addition, most folks have a “love or hate” relationship with the running boards. They seem to be well designed for children to use when scrambling up into the seats, but for adults, the size and placement don’t seem to work particularly well. However, there are some other perks for the adults, including a heated steering wheel, power liftgate and a bag for skis. The power liftgate makes it easy to access the cargo area, which includes a cargo area cover and an additional compartment hidden under the cargo floor.
As you might expect, there’s plenty of room in the back seat of the X5. It can accommodate two bulky car seats and an adult, which makes it a nice choice for families. There’s even an optional third row, with easy to reach LATCH car seat connectors. And while your kids will enjoy looking out of the panoramic moon roof, you’ll like the way it makes the interior feel more spacious.
And when it comes to options, you can get heated front and rear seats if you opt for the Cold Weather package. The power liftgate is part of the Premium Package, along with auto dimming mirrors and a universal garage door opener. Opt for the Technology Package and you get a navigation system, front and rear parking sensors and an option that’s increasing in popularity – a rearview camera that helps to prevent backover deaths.
Finally, there are a number of family-friendly safety features, including anti lock brakes, brake assist, traction control and the usual array of air bags. However, there are no airbags available for the third row seat – something BMW will hopefully address on future models. The front headlights will move as you turn, making it easier to see at night, or hit the brakes hard and the adaptive brake lights will light up a wider area to improve your visibility.
