BMW X5 3.0d - HT Auto

The BMW X5 looks rather sharp. Delicately styled, but hardly effete is what it is. The new car keeps the look of the old X5, but it's a little too derivative, and some confuse the new car and the face-lifted earlier X5 quite easily.

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The X5 looks imposing all right, and those three-dimensional headlights are just sensational. While it looks sharp and modern, the way the car has been styled makes it look a little too similar to the previous model.

This is the refreshed X5. Beyond the larger headlamps and sculpted bonnet, the biggest change is the X5's growth spurt, its overall lenght increasing by 187mm to 4854mm, wheelbase by 113mm and width by 17mm.

The X5 is built on a monocoque chassis. It does not have a dedicated 4WD transfer case as standard, relying instead on electronics and a full-time 4WD system to get it through the off-road sections. The X5 comes with double wishbone independent suspension up front and multi-link suspension at the rear, but misses out on adjustable suspension. But it comes shod with run-flat tyres.

Interior

The BMW's cabin quality is fantastic. The dash is of high quality and there are genuinely no cheap plastic bits, the brushed metal, wood and leather are all of top quality and everything is solidly built. Of course, you do have a choice of customizing the interior trim and colours. The chunky steering wheel, the central console and the power controls all function superbly.

The 5-series-like 'tap-for-shift' gear selector is almost a work of art and the iDrive knob that controls the screen is superbly finished too. Front seat has proper bolstering and comfort is good. The X5's rear seat is reasonably comfortable and is nice and supportive, but you feel a touch hemmed in and there is a relative lack of space. And the backrest is devoid of lateral support, so the seat is not supportive when the car is being cornered, but is great three abreast. It's also got a third row of seats, which fold into the boot floor - they are quite spacious, but you sit knees up, which can get uncomfortable.

The X5's got a massive sunroof, but the solid cover keeps the heat out.Performance & Economy >

The BMW aces the straight-line performance game. The 2993cc engine is the same that does duty on the 530d too. Mid-range punch is very strong and the smooth straight-six motor keeps pulling and pulling towards the top of the power-band; not something many diesels can manage well. The diesel engine sounds pretty sporty too, when it's revving. At idle, it's a bit clattery though. The X5's gearbox is quick and obedient for the most part, and this adds to its hill road appeal.

The X5 get's a six-speed automatic gearbox with an improved torque conveter. With 235bhp, the X5 diesel gives this 2180kg SUV a healthy power-to-weight ratio and even healthier 1-100kmh time. Peak torque of 53kgm is developed at 2000ropm, so response from low revs is excellent too.

Fuel economy is on par with competition. In the city we got 5.7Kpl and on the highway the X5 runs 9.8kpl.

Ride & Handling

The old X5 set the benchmark for SUV agility and we expect this car to live up to its billing and reputation. Take off from rest and the heavy steering feel and sheer precision of the controls instantly tell you that little has changed. The weighty steering may not be traffic-friendly, but once congestion opens up, it is a treat. There is almost no slack in the steering and, even as you go faster, the feel and instant responses remain. And grip is insanely high as well, the X5 being able to hold onto speeds that few SUVs can attain while cornering. The brakes are phenomenal as well, but the much-heavier new car is not as agile as the lighter, earlier X5. BMW has made the car longer to accommodate the extra third-row seats and this, among other features, means the X5 feels a touch more ponderous. It feels taller and rolls more at the rear as you hurl it around corners, and this initially feels disconcerting. As you go harder, the car settles down after that initial bit of roll and you can really push this SUV's limits more than you would believe. BMW has a solution for this called Adaptive Drive - basically active anti-roll bars that stop the car from rolling; like the system you get on the Porsche Cayenne. This, however, is an option that, along with the windscreen-mounted heads-up display and active steering, costs in the region of ₹5 lakh. And even though the Q5 misses out on adjustable suspension, its ride will not give you any reason to complain. The damping is almost perfect for Indian roads and the high-profile rubber plays its part in further isolating you from road surfaces.

Verdict

The X5's magical mix of driving pleasure and seven-seat practicality give it the edge. The engine and gearbox and phenomenally responsive, the ride and handling is in a class of its own and every trip in the X5 is a sheer jpy. The X5 is a car you can buy with your heart as well as your head.

Technical Specs

Fact File

What it costsEx-showroom (Delhi) ₹70.04-98.83 lakhWarranty 24 months /unlimited place

Engine Fuel DieselInstallation Front, longitudinalBore/stroke 90.0/84.0mmCompression ratio 17.0:1Valve gear 4 valves per cyl, dohcPower 235bhp at 4000rpmTorque 53kgm at 2000-2750rpmPower to weight 107.79bhp per tonne

Transmission Gearbox 6-speed automatic

Dimensions Length 4854 mmWidth 1933mmHeight 1766 mmGround clearance 212mm

Chassis & Body Weight 2180kgTyres 255/55 R18, run-flats Dunlop SP Sport 01

Suspension Front Front Independent, double wishbones, anti-roll barRear Independent, multi-link, anti-roll bar

Steering Type Power-assisted rack and pinionType of power assist Hydraulic assist

Brakes Front 348mm ventilated discsRear 320mm ventilated discs

Economy City 5.7 kplHighway 9.8 kplTank size 85 litres

Range at a glance - Engines Petrol 4.8 litreDiesel 3.0 litre

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First Published Date: 09 Jan 2013, 13:05 PM IST