That old body is also rigid. Not only does it make for an extremely solid feeling truck, but safe as well. The X5 received the 'Best Pick' rating for SUVs by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in the 40 mph offset crash test. That's comforting and a great way to justify its purchase to your significant other.
All the while you can appreciate the 20-inch alloy wheels mated to P275/40WR20 performance tires up front and P315/35WR20s in the rear, connecting its fully independent sport-tuned suspension through to the road. A self-leveling rear axle sorts out payload weights, keeping the chassis flat for optimal handling. The X5's speed sensitive power assisted steering is also wonderfully direct, with no center dead spot and great feedback from the road. Its brakes, well they're superb 4-wheel discs with ABS and Brake Assist (BA).
Other safety features include but aren't limited to xenon headlights with auto-leveling, a sophisticated assortment of stability and traction control systems, plus a crash sensor that automatically turns on hazard lights and interior lights, and then unlocks the doors. Hill Descent Control (HDC) enables the X5 to execute steep downhill gradients safely by automatically limiting the speed of the car to about 8 km/h. Obviously BMW outfits the X5 4.6iS with airbags, comprising two dual stage bags up front, two front side airbags in the doors, and two curtain type bags that pop out of the roof for front and rear occupants. Front belt pretensioners, 3-point seatbelts at all five positions and five height-adjustable head restraints are also part of the standard package.