THE AUTO PAGE
By
John Heilig
- MODEL: 2019 BMW X5 xDrive 40i
- ENGINE: 3.0-liter twin turbo I-6
- TRANSMISSION: 8-speed automatic with sport-manual shift modes
- HORSEPOWER/TORQUE: 335 hp @ 5,500-6,500 rpm/330 lb.-ft. @ 1,500-5,200 rpm
- WHEELBASE: 117.1 in.
- LENGTH X WIDTH X HEIGHT: 194.3 x 78.9 x 69.0 in.
- TIRES: 275/45R20
- CARGO CAPACITY: 33.9/72.3 cu. ft. (rear seats up/down)
- ECONOMY: 20 mpg city/26 mpg highway/17.5 mpg test
- FUEL TANK CAPACITY: 21.9 gal.
- CURB WEIGHT: 4,813 lbs.
- TOWING CAPACITY: 6,600 lbs.
- COMPETITIVE CLASS: Acura MDX, Cadillac XT5, Infiniti QX60
- STICKER: $73,980 (includes $995 delivery, $12,055 options)
-
BMW offers a wide variety of
vehicles, not including vans or trucks. The Big Momma of them all is the X5
Sport Activity Vehicle (as opposed to a Sport Utility Vehicle) that is
assembled in Spartanburg, S.C. And it’s a beauty.
First, the X5 is one of the
quietest running vehicles of any ilk I have driven lately. In the X5’s defense,
I have driven some pretty noisy vehicles of late. But the X5 has absolutely
silent operation at all speeds. It’s worthy of the company’s 7-Series sedans.
To go with the quiet ride is
comfort. The front seats offer power adjustments to find the ideal comfort
level. Rear passengers also enjoy excellent legroom and a flat floor to
accommodate a middle passenger. Those rear passengers have their own HVAC
controls as well as pull-down sun shades on the windows.
The 3.0-liter twin turbo six
offers excellent power, even though the X5 weighs in at 4,813 pounds.
Horsepower is rated at 335 over a wide range of engine speeds, and torque
checks in at 330 lb.-ft. All this power reaches the wheels through an 8-speed
Steptronic automatic transmission with paddle shifters if you’re interested in
a manual mode. The X5 xDrive 40i can go from 0-60 mph in 5.3 seconds. Not bad
for a sport ute.
The X5 also wears BMW’s
latest generation of xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive, which can split torque
between the front and rear wheels with even greater precision than
before.
As is to be expected from a
vehicle whose sticker is nearly $74,000, the X5 offers BMW luxury along with
everything else. Inside there are tasteful dark brown seating surfaces and door
trim that work well with the black dash, etc.
Instrumentation is clear,
although the array is different from most cars with the speedometer on the left
and tachometer on the right. The tach is replaced with economy information when
the EcoPro ride option is chosen. Other options are sport, comfort and adaptive.
The infotainment screen is
clear and wide. There’s a large controller on the console that aids in
navigating the screen, along with six buttons.
The wheel is busy with the
normal array of options. However, I couldn’t find the on/off switch for the cruise
control.
You want luxury? How about a
pair of cupholders that can be heated or cooled?
Along with the start/stop
button that is located on the center console rather than the dash, the shift
pattern is different, and this is good. You don’t shift robotically, but you
have to think. For example, Park is a button on the shifter, and you push
forward for reverse, and rearward for drive. Again, it forces thinking.
The clamshell tailgate is
practical. One owner told me that the shorter bottom part of the tailgate
provides an ideal seat for him to put on his golf shoes. It also is convenient
of you have longer objects to carry. The cargo area is large enough for several
golf bags. The rear seat back releases are in the cargo area. There’s a hidden
storage area under the cargo floor for objects you’d like to keep from prying
eyes.
Outside mirrors fold when
you lock or unlock the X5. They also fold and unfold every time you walk near
the vehicle with the keys in your pocket.
It has a couple of quirks,
but the BMW X5 xDrive 40i is a near-perfect luxury Sport Activity Vehicle with
a healthy sticker price to go along with its many features.
(c) 2019 The Auto Page Syndicate
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