A real hot rod
The performance and sophisticated equipment of this BMW excite the interest of enthusiasts and the general public alike, much more so than the 3.0si, a less expensive model equipped with a modest inline 6-cylinder engine.
Under the hood of our test vehicle, we found a powerful 4.8-litre V8 engine-4,799 cc to be exact-one that the X5 shares with the 550i sedan. On the SUV, it produces 350 horsepower, 10 less than the one powering the sedan.
This engine allows the 5,203-pound colossus we tested to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.8 seconds. The 550i, 1,257 pounds lighter, does it only one second faster. Behind the wheel of an X5, it's easy to forget that we're not driving a car.
Equipped with the optional Sport package (+ $2,500), our SUV definitely qualified as sporty. Among other things, the package comes with a stiffer suspension, perfect for achieving top speeds on a German autobahn. But there are no autobahns here. I found this very stiff suspension was too much for our pothole-infested roads. As soon as we hit a bumpy lane, the firm and curt reactions of the suspension made the vehicle uncomfortable and unpleasant to drive. On the highway, however, I could have sworn I was driving a sport sedan, thanks in part to the ultra-precise power steering.
And on a daily basis, our X5's enthusiasm proved expensive. During our weeklong winter road test, the X5 averaged 16.9 litres per 100 kilometres. It even reached 19.5 litres per 100 km during a snowstorm. What's more, a powerful V8 engine only drinks premium gas.
Sophisticated passenger compartment
The tasteful finish and quality materials of the X5 passenger compartment are high-end. The caramel-coloured (or Saddle Brown Nevada) leather seats of our test vehicle created a vibrant interior and contrasted nicely with the black dashboard.
Burl walnut wood trim, a standard feature, decorates a large part of the dashboard and centre console. Present in both X5 models, the trim enhances the refined feel of the vehicle and no doubt justifies the reaction of our little scouts' parents.
The performance and sophisticated equipment of this BMW excite the interest of enthusiasts and the general public alike, much more so than the 3.0si, a less expensive model equipped with a modest inline 6-cylinder engine.
Under the hood of our test vehicle, we found a powerful 4.8-litre V8 engine-4,799 cc to be exact-one that the X5 shares with the 550i sedan. On the SUV, it produces 350 horsepower, 10 less than the one powering the sedan.
 |
| Under the hood of our test vehicle, we found a powerful 4.8-litre V8 engine. |
This engine allows the 5,203-pound colossus we tested to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.8 seconds. The 550i, 1,257 pounds lighter, does it only one second faster. Behind the wheel of an X5, it's easy to forget that we're not driving a car.
Equipped with the optional Sport package (+ $2,500), our SUV definitely qualified as sporty. Among other things, the package comes with a stiffer suspension, perfect for achieving top speeds on a German autobahn. But there are no autobahns here. I found this very stiff suspension was too much for our pothole-infested roads. As soon as we hit a bumpy lane, the firm and curt reactions of the suspension made the vehicle uncomfortable and unpleasant to drive. On the highway, however, I could have sworn I was driving a sport sedan, thanks in part to the ultra-precise power steering.
And on a daily basis, our X5's enthusiasm proved expensive. During our weeklong winter road test, the X5 averaged 16.9 litres per 100 kilometres. It even reached 19.5 litres per 100 km during a snowstorm. What's more, a powerful V8 engine only drinks premium gas.
Sophisticated passenger compartment
The tasteful finish and quality materials of the X5 passenger compartment are high-end. The caramel-coloured (or Saddle Brown Nevada) leather seats of our test vehicle created a vibrant interior and contrasted nicely with the black dashboard.
Burl walnut wood trim, a standard feature, decorates a large part of the dashboard and centre console. Present in both X5 models, the trim enhances the refined feel of the vehicle and no doubt justifies the reaction of our little scouts' parents.
 |
| The tasteful finish and quality materials of the X5 passenger compartment are high-end. |