

That said, the M Competition’s firmer suspension (in the name of going around corners more quickly) isn’t as comfy when the going gets rough. It’s a comfortable experience, too the X5’s standard adaptive air suspension does a good job of soaking up ruts, potholes and broken Tarmac in its most comfortable setting. In fact, BMW includes its Parking Assistant, which will steer the car into a space for you and you can add rear-wheel steering as an option for better low-speed manoeuvrability.
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In town, the BMW X5, despite its size, isn’t daunting to manoeuvre thanks to good visibility for the driver through its tall wide windows and standard front and rear parking sensors.

Porsche, Land Rover, Mercedes and Audi all make very good large SUVs, but the X5 is the best all-rounder for us Otherwise, the 30d diesel is more fuel-efficient at a cruise so go for that if you’re often travelling across the UK or Europe. If you spend most of your time in town then go for the 40i petrol, or better still the 45e plug-in hybrid should you have home charging and especially if you're paying company car tax. There are also two diesels and plug-in hybrid version that promises the lowest tax bills for company car drivers. There are six engine choices when buying a BMW X5, starting with a 3.0-litre six-cylinder 40i petrol with mild-hybrid assistance, which has two high-performance versions above it called M50i and M Competition. That spaciousness continues to the boot, with the X5 having 650 litres, which is a good chunk less than you get in an Audi Q7 and Porsche Cayenne, though the BMW is a bit more spacious than the Mercedes GLE. There’s plenty of space in the back seats, as well – two tall adults will sit comfortably behind those in the front, while a third won’t be sounding off on a long journey either.
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Those in the front will have no complaints and the driver gets a supportive seat with full electric adjustment and a memory function.

Group test: Audi Q7 v BMW X5 v Mercedes GLE v Volkswagen TouaregĪnother important factor in a large luxury SUV is space and the BMW X5 offers plenty of it.
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Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are now available too. It’s clear, crisp and easily configurable. BMW’s iDrive continues to be a doddle to navigate and still comprises a rotary controller with menu shortcut buttons between the front seats and a 12.3-inch screen, which can be controlled using the controller, via touch or by voice.īut BMW isn’t done there – also standard is another 12.3-inch screen behind the steering wheel acting as the driver’s instruments. Sure, the overall design is slightly more conservative than that of a Mercedes GLE, but for some, that’ll be a good thing.Īnd in the centre of the dashboard sits one of the best infotainment systems available in any car. Everywhere you prod there are luxurious materials and soft-touch plastic, from the top of the dashboard to the door tops. The BMW X5 has most cars very much licked on the luxury front, though. If you want to get something closer, you’ll need to head to a Porsche Cayenne, but that’s a bit like a 100-metre sprinter at a marathon – it isn’t quite as comfortable or practical for families over long distances. It’s genuinely enjoyable to drive, much more so than alternatives such as the Audi Q7 and Mercedes GLE. There aren’t many cars that can do what the BMW X5 can do: it’s like a roomy, comfortable hot hatch on stilts.
