This is the new BMW X5, and it is big. Really big. Longer, wider and taller than it’s predecessor, and much longer, wider and taller than the very first generation of the ground-breaking ‘Sports Activity Vehicle’ BMW launched back at the turn of the century.
We’re now on the fourth generation of X5, and it’s just shy of 5m long. The first one was 4.6m. Think about that, because there’s still another SUV that’ll be bigger than this X5, called the X7. We suspect there’ll be no mistaking this one for any other X5 that has come before it, though: it looks tauter, squarer-jawed, angrier. And that kidney grille is just getting out of hand now.
Underneath the sharper creases sit four engines, three of which you can buy in Europe, and one that you can’t. The one we don’t get is a hefty 4.4-litre petrol V8 (badged xDrive50i) that pumps out 460bhp and 650Nm of torque and – together with an eight-speed auto ‘box and four-wheel-drive – can hit 100kph in 4.7secs.
The range-topper for Europe is the M50d, with its 3.0-litre quad-turbo straight-six. That’s right, four turbos: two for low pressure, two for high pressure. It produces around 400bhp and a simply ludicrous 760Nm, of which 450Nm is available at 1,000rpm. Basically, turn it on, point at the horizon, squirt. This new M50d will see off 0-100kph in 5.2secs.
The other two engines are a single-turbo 3.0-litre diesel (xDrive30d) with 265bhp, and a single-turbo 3.0-litre petrol (xDrive40i) with 340bhp.
So it’s fast. And big. And promises to be quite clever. As ever, there’s a raft of technology that’ll keep the car busy, and you less so. The all-wheel-drive torque-split is now more rear-biased, there’s an electronic diff lock on the back, adaptive dampers as standard, the option of active steering and adaptive ‘M’ suspension.
You want something more comfy? Go for the two-axle air suspension, that also raises the car by 80mm. Want something more all-terrain? Go for the Off-Road pack, that alters the ride height, throttle, gearbox and stability control according to your chosen surface. There’s the usual gamut of driver assists too, like lane keeping, departure warning, cruise control, and a ‘reversing assistant’ that basically takes control of the steering over a path you’ve literally just done.
You’ll notice it’s cleaner and plusher inside, too. There’s a pair of 12.3in screens for the driver and a central display that forms a new design. There’s lots of leather. There are cooled and heated cupholders, a glass roof, and the option of a third row of seats for two little people.
The range-topper for Europe is the M50d, with its 3.0-litre quad-turbo straight-six. That’s right, four turbos
Prices start from £56,710 (RM303,000) for the xDrive30d, £58,100 (RM310,000) for the xDrive40i, and a whopping £70,690 for the M50d (RM377,000). The X5 has been a bit of a hit for BMW: since its launch, more than 2.2 million models across three generations have found homes. It’s highly unlikely this one will struggle, then…
