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.
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| The discrete modifications are a testament to a well-crafted original design. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |
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.
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| After succumbing to its exterior charms, you enter an environment where luxury and comfort are limited only by four doors. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |
