2011 BMW X5 xDrive35i Review

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The weeks go by, but no two are ever quite the same. I know that every Monday morning a new car is waiting for me in the parking lot of the Auto123.com offices for my weekly review. When Michel, my boss, tosses me the keys to a BMW, I know that I inevitably have a great week ahead of me.


This week, the 2011 crop of the X5 was beckoning me. I was wondering how BMW could manage to improve an already excellent product. A subtle facelift cranks the X5’s athletic styling up a notch without overdoing it. The discrete modifications are a testament to a well-crafted original design. The new bumpers highlight the light clusters, while the shape of the front air intakes and their chrome crossbar is reminiscent of the X6, but a touch less exuberant.

One thing is clear: it’s anything but generic. A true sculpture on wheels, it’s immediately recognizable as the Bimmer of mid-size SUVs. I simply love it! The wheels also stand out with three choices, each more beautiful than the last. Their styling reveals a quest for originality that is rarely seen elsewhere. My tester boasted 18 generous inches of classy expression!

The X5 neatly fuses the emotional quality of a vehicle purchase – we’re talking of no less than 75 grand, here – with its practical side. Passion and function is a heady mix. And that is precisely what the X5 is about. It does everything in its power to win your heart.

The art of seduction
After succumbing to its exterior charms, you enter an environment where luxury and comfort are limited only by four doors. The front passengers get the royal treatment and ample space. Rear passengers will find things a little tight, but oh-so comfy nonetheless. The dash has also been lightly touched up, but only lightly. The BMW chorus hasn’t changed: efficient ergonomics, everything within hand’s reach, friendlier next-generation iDrive.

My tester had played the options game and was accompanied by a dizzyingly high price tag. For instance, the Premium package includes a selection of leather, wood trim and mood lighting for a cool $5,450. No option is really indispensable, but the heated front and rear seats will be appreciated come winter, as is the possibility of adding third-row seating to accommodate up to seven passengers. The catalogue includes various delights big and small, such as an electric tailgate, a panoramic sunroof and BMW TeleServices.

Don’t forget the engines!
The flurry of enhancement activity didn’t stop at the hood, either. My tester’s inline six gained no less than 40 ponies and 75 ft-lb of torque compared to the old engine. Peaking at 5,800 rpm, the 300 turbocharged ponies are well up to the task. Obviously, weighing in at 2,890 kg the X5 isn’t a compact machine, but the engine quickly banishes this thought from your mind. Considering output and weight, it does very well on the fuel consumption front, sipping no more than 10.5 litres per 100 kilometres on average. And thanks to the excellent visibility, you’ll find yourself slowing down to take in the scenery as the X5 bounds from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.8 seconds: this hulking brute is fast!


The eight-speed Steptronic transmission does a fantastic job as well. The gear ratio plays a big part in keeping fuel consumption relatively low. And there’s no use hammering away at the steering wheel paddles. The transmission is so efficient that you won’t even feel like it anyways.

A credit to its name
Hardly any BMW is not a delight to drive. And the brand wasn’t about to compromise with the X5 just because it’s a big SUV either. It is, in fact, quite fun to drive. It’s super stable in corners, where the all-wheel drive really helps soften the effects of the centre of gravity. The suspension is quite stiff without ever sacrificing comfort on the road. The Active Steering system does credit to the brand as well, very direct and adapting to the speed. And you can let yourself get a little carried away too, as the four beefy, ventilated brakes won’t let you down.

Conclusion
The X5 is easy to describe. It’s a very stylish, comfortable and luxurious package. Super practical, it can do just about anything. It offers driving dynamics that usually only cars can manage. In a nutshell, the X5 is the best of both cars AND utility vehicles.