BMW X5
It's easy to dismiss the seven-seat BMW X5 as a typical ‘gas guzzler’ - it's a big, heavy 4x4, with quite limited off-road ability that's bought largely for use in town and on the motorway. However, that's an unfair criticism because, as big cars go, the X5 is very fuel efficient. As a company, BMW has worked hard to reduce the emissions of its engines, and the X5 is no exception. That, added to brilliant on-road performance, good comfort and people-carrier practicality, make BMW's large 4x4 hard to fault.
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- pros:
- Efficient and powerful diesel engines
- Masses of cabin and boot space
- More fun to drive than rivals
- cons:
- Expensive list prices
- Expensive options
- Not as comfortable as other 4x4s
The X5 is part 4x4, part people carrier and a luxury car throughout. While the option of seven seats makes it a great family all rounder, what's most striking is how stable and agile it feels - more like a sporty saloon car. Yet it also offers the high driving position that 4x4 owners love. A range of smooth and powerful engines is available, but it's the diesels that really excel. They perform well and mean the X5 is surprisingly economical.
