True to form, the X5 has plenty of low-end grunt (which bodes well for the next-generation twin-turbo version) and begins to taper off around 210 km/h. Of course, traveling at this rate of speed did not have a positive impact on the BMW's fuel economy (rated at a very respectable 8.7 L/100 km), but that's the price you pay for some old-fashioned fun without the speed limits.
The X5 3.0d did sound like a traditional (read: knocking) diesel engine. This is likely a sign that BMW has used less sound insulating material than other manufacturers (Audi comes to mind), but this policy may change for the North American market.
Second-generation X5: Better than ever
The X5 3.0d is an example of the second-generation BMW X5, which was introduced for the 2007 model year around the world. It has to be noted that the original X5, introduced as a 2000 model, was one of the very first true "sports-SUVs" and it laid the groundwork for many to follow.
The first version was a significant achievement: It brought genuine driving excitement and design excellence to a category that was previously dominated by lackluster people-movers. Despite some reliability issues, the original X5 was a winner. Given all that, it's somewhat incredible that the second-gen model is even better.
The exterior design, while a clear evolution of the first X5, is slicker and more refined. The interior, meanwhile, is even more luxurious and comfortable; higher-quality materials dominate, while a stiffer chassis and longer wheelbase translate into improved ride quality.
The new X5 also features the innovative gear lever that operates the 6-speed automatic transmission. While this stubby, centre console-mounted lever takes some time getting used to, it's pretty slick all the same. Push the button at the top of the lever to engage park, push the button on the left side to shift between neutral, drive and reverse.
Moving the whole lever over to the left allows the driver to select among the six gears manually, something that enables the significant torque of the X5 to be utilized even better when driving around town. Or, as I learned, when driving from town to town.
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| Inevitably, an impressive amount of torque is available. |
The X5 3.0d did sound like a traditional (read: knocking) diesel engine. This is likely a sign that BMW has used less sound insulating material than other manufacturers (Audi comes to mind), but this policy may change for the North American market.
Second-generation X5: Better than ever
The X5 3.0d is an example of the second-generation BMW X5, which was introduced for the 2007 model year around the world. It has to be noted that the original X5, introduced as a 2000 model, was one of the very first true "sports-SUVs" and it laid the groundwork for many to follow.
The first version was a significant achievement: It brought genuine driving excitement and design excellence to a category that was previously dominated by lackluster people-movers. Despite some reliability issues, the original X5 was a winner. Given all that, it's somewhat incredible that the second-gen model is even better.
The exterior design, while a clear evolution of the first X5, is slicker and more refined. The interior, meanwhile, is even more luxurious and comfortable; higher-quality materials dominate, while a stiffer chassis and longer wheelbase translate into improved ride quality.
The new X5 also features the innovative gear lever that operates the 6-speed automatic transmission. While this stubby, centre console-mounted lever takes some time getting used to, it's pretty slick all the same. Push the button at the top of the lever to engage park, push the button on the left side to shift between neutral, drive and reverse.
Moving the whole lever over to the left allows the driver to select among the six gears manually, something that enables the significant torque of the X5 to be utilized even better when driving around town. Or, as I learned, when driving from town to town.
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| This lever enhances the driving dynamics of this SUV. |