BMW X5 xDrive40d with 306 CV, road test (Equipment, prices and overall assessment)

As usual, we close the road test of the BMW X5 with this final part. Up to now, we have already told you how it performs with its powerful 306 CV diesel engine, and we have reviewed all the details of the design and interior, as well as the spaciousness and interior quality.

Now, in the third part, we turn to the equipment (safety included), as well as the prices, and we finish with our overall assessment of the BMW X5. In terms of equipment, our test unit came fully loaded with virtually everything, which, of course, made the final bill much bigger.

Equipment

As standard in terms of safety, we get features such as front, side and head airbags, dynamic stability control (which integrates systems such as ABS, ESP and emergency brake assist, among others), hill descent control, and a dynamic brake light that flashes during emergency braking to warn the vehicles behind us.

With all this safety equipment, it is no surprise that in the EuroNCAP safety tests it achieved five stars in the tests carried out in 2003, that is, for the model before the facelift.

Among the long list of options on our test unit, we will highlight some that we found interesting or that stood out for their practicality or operation. Among them was the Head-Up display, which projected information onto the windscreen and stood out for the amount of information available without taking your eyes off the road, as it projected everything related to speed, road signs, navigation information and cruise control.

Also among the options were the bi-xenon lights, which offered very good illumination, as well as the swivelling headlights and automatic high beams that switched on and off by themselves when detecting a vehicle or well-lit areas.

We must not forget the full navigation system, which even played videos and let us connect to the internet using our smartphone as a modem, though of course this was an optional item, along with the AUX and USB sockets that it also featured. Finally, as we already covered in the second part, the five exterior cameras package, which we found a very practical feature.

Prices

• X5 M50d 381 CV 92,500 euros
• X5 xDrive30d 245 CV 61,600 euros
• X5 xDrive35i 306 CV 62,500 euros
• X5 xDrive40d 306 CV 65,200 euros
• X5 xDrive50i 408 CV 85,700 euros

The final price of our test unit, after adding several options and the M Sport Package, was around 98,000 euros (approx.).

Overall Assessment

Sportiness with an SUV look, that is what the BMW X5 is, and even more so when our test unit fitted the M Sport pack, which only accentuates the car’s sporty character. The BMW X5 does not particularly stand out for its off-road abilities; it moves with ease but that is not its ideal terrain, since it is at home on roads, even winding ones, where it has shown a poise and stability unexpected from an off-roader.

This 306 CV diesel engine is very performance-oriented while maintaining reasonable consumption, and it is also considerably more modern than other diesels of similar power fitted to premium SUVs from other brands. We would have liked a more concise verdict on the 4×4 abilities of the BMW X5, but our unit was not equipped with that focus.

If you are looking for a crossover that is agile, performance-oriented and makes an impression both in presence and in behaviour, while letting you enjoy sporty driving without the SUV side being a drawback, this is your car.

Inside, we liked the presentation, above all the typical controls and interiors BMW, which are well ordered and have everything to hand. The interior quality is high and everything is well finished, but perhaps some elements should be standard, such as the leather dashboard or the seats, although extensive option lists are common among premium brands.

Space is another strong point of the X5, especially in the rear seats, where three adults can travel comfortably. However, the third row of seats is not particularly spacious; it fulfils its function for occasional use, but there are other alternatives with more room in the SUV segment (and with less too, it must be said).

Overall, we found it a vehicle committed to sportiness, not only through its optional equipment or design, but through its good road behaviour and agility. Meanwhile, finally, the price to pay sits within the normal range for the segment. As an example, a Mercedes ML 350 CDI with 265 CV starts at 65,525 euros (barely 300 euros more than the X5), and the Audi Q7 3.0 V6 TDI with 245 CV starts at 65,210 euros (that is, the BMW X5 is still more powerful and cheaper).

Photos | David Taboada, Test Team
Thanks to the collaborators in the photo session and the off-road tests of the model