Vehicle: 2007 BMW X5 4.8i with Rear Climate Pkg, Activity Pkg, Sport Pkg, Premium Pkg, Technology Pkg and 3rd row seats
Price as tested: CDN$87400

Handling: With the introduction of new X5, BMW has brought the already excellent dynamic package into a new height. The X5 got both the ingredients and cooking formula right without messing the original successful formula. They are smart enough to package the artifical Active Steering into seperate package instead of messing into the awesome Sport package. Unlike its predecessor’s questionable AWD system which uses ABS sensors to monitor wheel slippage, the X-Drive works much more effective under extreme situation. The ingredients started with a stiff and solid chassis, back up with rightly tuned suspension and well-damped springs. X5 with sports suspension handles as well as any sports sedans out there. The steering feedback is typical BMW precise and weighty, without being twitchy on the highway. Why I said its “typical BMW” because, as I said in previous 3 and 5-Series reviews, Active Steering feels artifical. During steering ratio transition, it has a tendency to make the driver feels floaty. BMW chassis never feels floaty even with standard suspension due to its tuning, however, its the Active Steering that is solely disappointed. Even when one gets too hot into any corners, there are always excellent DSC-3 and DTC to avoid any crashes when the X rears its ugly head. However, in terms of stability control instrusiveness, DSC-3 has always been the one that has plenty of threshold before it starts to kick-in. For an SUV, X5 has minimal body rolls and understeer/oversteer are extremely well-tempted. In terms of ride quality, it finally got softened the rough riding characteristics of the outgoing car. Although it doesn’t ride as comfortable as some of its peers, it has been a huge improvement already.

Performance: There are currently 2 engines available in the new X5. The 260hp 3.0L straight-6 which shares with the X3, or the 350hp 4.8L V8 32-valver in our tester. Both with BMW’s Double VANOS variable valve timing and Valvetronic technologies. It got screaming performance right out of the box in this 4.8 liter motor. On the one hand, it never run out of breath at high rpm when pushed hard. On the other hand, equally impressive 350 lb/ft of torque could make this X5 one of the quickest SUV in the market. The throttle response is brisk. Without the smooth-shifting 6-speed Steptronic, which got proper ratios, it can hardly got a performance that impressive. Unforunately, its fuel economy is equally “impressive” either. During the day of our testing, we averaged 22L/100km for both city and highway driving. One can only imagine how crazy the upcoming high-performance IS will be. Maybe those Bavarian engineers will put those V10 from M5 to pit it against Cayenne Turbo S and ML63 AMG.

Brakes: Consider X5’s close to 5400 lb curb weight, its braking performance is stealler. Along with the large 4-wheel discs and standard ABS, its electronic braking force distribution works decently. There aren’t much nose dive during hard braking. On the other hand, pedal feel and modulation are typical Bavarian. That means exceptional. The ABS acts accordingly even under today’s hail situation in Greater Vancouver area.

Interior: When it comes to X5’s interior, its simply a mixbag. When it comes to the use of plastic materials, BMW has cut corners in minor trim pieces. It doesn’t have the high-quality feel as its predecessor, that’s despite major trim pieces remained high standards. I am still not too fond of BMW’s complicated i-Drive. Its not user-friendly by using a single knob to control all the functions. Stylistically speaking, i-Drive screen doesn’t look good inside neither. Even if the wood trim is a high-quality piece, its glossy finish makes faux wood trim looks “real” in comparision. Why on why BMW has to keep that annoying fuel economy gauge, which flying around during acceleration???

There are still lots to going for inside. It starts with great set of sports seats, which are simply superb. The instrumentation gauges are clear and analog, of couse, except for that annoying fuel economy gauge below the tachometer. It has always been an ergonomical move to put climate control above stereo.

Unfortunately, we have to bring you another bad news before wrapping up this review. This optional 3rd row seating is simply a waste of money. Forget about adults, even kids would complained about the lack of comfortable space back there. It also placed way too close to the back window. Consider German carmakers always considered themselves as “safety conscious”, I wonder whether this 3rd row option was forced by marketers to adapt this poorly executed idea. Save yourself $1900 for a 5-seater or go buy a minivan!!

With the extra 2 seats, the cargo space is nil with only 620L of capacity. But without those, it increases to 1750L which is decent for its size.

In terms of luggage loading, BMW designers still refused to put 1-piece tailgate onto X5. The clamshell 2 pieces are annoying to load any heavy luggages into the cargo area. As well as lack of seperate back window flip-up for light item. One has to wonder why its lesser silibing, X3, has a more user-friendly cargo loading than its bigger brother.

Conclusion: Dynamically speaking, the new X5 remains a very impressive ute, It got a great powerplant, excellent driving dynamics and wonderful braking prowess. At the end of the day, just forget about the comical 3rd row seating when you are shopping for this vehicle. Or you will be kicking yourself for wasting $1900 on this stupid piece of engineering!!!!

OVERALL VERDICT FOR 2007 BMW X5 4.8i
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Performance: 5/5
Handling and ride/fun-to-drive: 4.75/5
Interior/ergonomics/user-friendliness: 3/5
Fit-and-finish/build quality: 4/5
Cargo/accessibility/layout: 2/5
Value-for-money: 4/5

Overall rating: 4/5