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BMW X5 30d Review Part 1
Two years ago it was pointless to buy a diesel X5. This was because it took years to recover the thousands of extra dollars spent over buying the petrol version in fuel savings.
However the latest line-up has come out dramatically revised. It would appear that the bosses in Munich sent the X5 team to ze cooler until they came up with a better idea, and now we have the new and improved range of X5's. The pointless diesel model still exists in the form of the 40d, but now there is a new diesel model that costs significantly less than the petrol X5 and may actually be useful to the fuel-economy conscious SUV lover. It’s called the 30d.
At a drive away price of $101,684 in NSW Australia, the 30d offers a saving of over $12,000 when compared to the petrol model, and over $20,000 on the more powerful diesel. It's certainly the most attractive of the range for those not overly bothered by performance figures. And those who are probably aren't looking at large SUV's.
Even though it is the baby of the line-up, the performance from the 3.0 litre single-turbo diesel engine is nothing to be sneezed at. The 180kW and 540 Nm of torque that kicks in particularly well down low is more than enough to propel the X5 to 100km/h in a claimed 7.6 seconds. This is comparable to, and in some cases quite a bit better than, what most standard petrol family sedans currently offer. It's also quite unbelievable for a diesel engine car that weighs 2.1 tonnes and can somehow still manage to keep fuel consumption to a combined average of 7.4L/100km. Some reports have even claimed to have gotten it below 7 litres. These figures can also be attributed to the excellent new eight-speed automatic gearbox, which is always ready to launch the X5 with minimal "shift shock", very similar to how a CVT gearbox operates.
Not wanting to attract the attention of the local police on a license that's already suffered a few demerit point losses, the acceleration has not been thoroughly tested as yet, but I have complete faith in BMW's claimed abilities of what appears to be a very advanced diesel engine.
Unsurprisingly, the new X5 still can't measure up to its rivals in the off-road department, with the only bit of proper 4WD kit being BMW's version of hill descent control. Equipment such as locking differentials and low-range is standard on competitors like the Range Rover and Porsche Cayenne, both of which also offer better ground clearance as well. Yet, what the X5 lacks in off-road ability it makes up for in the looks department. Range Rovers only look good in dark colours while the Cayenne only looks good when it's in complete darkness.
However while on the road, which is where an X5 spends most of its time, few premium SUV's will be able to match the quality of the BMW. The X5 makes good on BMW's claim that it is an "SUV with sedan-like handling" through its ability to hold on with endless grip through corners without even a hint of body roll. The steering also has an exceptionally precise and direct feel due to the electric power steering which makes cornering and parking the vehicle effortless.
As you would expect, the interior has the luxurious feel that an SUV in this price range should. Leather covers every inch of what can be covered by leather and head and leg room for adults is more than adequate in both the front and rear. All the electronic gadgetry you could ever need is at your fingertips with BMW's omnipresent iDrive system. The iDrive knob on the centre console controls audio, climate, navigation, vehicle information and many other functions on the high-quality colour LCD screen. However, two of the most essential iDrive features do not come as standard; those being the navigation system and the reversing camera. It's unfortunate that you have to part with extra cash for these two excellent features as the navigation system comes with 3D maps and voice control, and the reversing camera features a top-down "bird’s eye" function which simplifies parking in tight spaces. The iDrive's split-screen ability also means that this can be used in conjunction with the regular reversing camera for further parking ease.
However the latest line-up has come out dramatically revised. It would appear that the bosses in Munich sent the X5 team to ze cooler until they came up with a better idea, and now we have the new and improved range of X5's. The pointless diesel model still exists in the form of the 40d, but now there is a new diesel model that costs significantly less than the petrol X5 and may actually be useful to the fuel-economy conscious SUV lover. It’s called the 30d.
At a drive away price of $101,684 in NSW Australia, the 30d offers a saving of over $12,000 when compared to the petrol model, and over $20,000 on the more powerful diesel. It's certainly the most attractive of the range for those not overly bothered by performance figures. And those who are probably aren't looking at large SUV's.
Even though it is the baby of the line-up, the performance from the 3.0 litre single-turbo diesel engine is nothing to be sneezed at. The 180kW and 540 Nm of torque that kicks in particularly well down low is more than enough to propel the X5 to 100km/h in a claimed 7.6 seconds. This is comparable to, and in some cases quite a bit better than, what most standard petrol family sedans currently offer. It's also quite unbelievable for a diesel engine car that weighs 2.1 tonnes and can somehow still manage to keep fuel consumption to a combined average of 7.4L/100km. Some reports have even claimed to have gotten it below 7 litres. These figures can also be attributed to the excellent new eight-speed automatic gearbox, which is always ready to launch the X5 with minimal "shift shock", very similar to how a CVT gearbox operates.
Not wanting to attract the attention of the local police on a license that's already suffered a few demerit point losses, the acceleration has not been thoroughly tested as yet, but I have complete faith in BMW's claimed abilities of what appears to be a very advanced diesel engine.
Unsurprisingly, the new X5 still can't measure up to its rivals in the off-road department, with the only bit of proper 4WD kit being BMW's version of hill descent control. Equipment such as locking differentials and low-range is standard on competitors like the Range Rover and Porsche Cayenne, both of which also offer better ground clearance as well. Yet, what the X5 lacks in off-road ability it makes up for in the looks department. Range Rovers only look good in dark colours while the Cayenne only looks good when it's in complete darkness.
However while on the road, which is where an X5 spends most of its time, few premium SUV's will be able to match the quality of the BMW. The X5 makes good on BMW's claim that it is an "SUV with sedan-like handling" through its ability to hold on with endless grip through corners without even a hint of body roll. The steering also has an exceptionally precise and direct feel due to the electric power steering which makes cornering and parking the vehicle effortless.
As you would expect, the interior has the luxurious feel that an SUV in this price range should. Leather covers every inch of what can be covered by leather and head and leg room for adults is more than adequate in both the front and rear. All the electronic gadgetry you could ever need is at your fingertips with BMW's omnipresent iDrive system. The iDrive knob on the centre console controls audio, climate, navigation, vehicle information and many other functions on the high-quality colour LCD screen. However, two of the most essential iDrive features do not come as standard; those being the navigation system and the reversing camera. It's unfortunate that you have to part with extra cash for these two excellent features as the navigation system comes with 3D maps and voice control, and the reversing camera features a top-down "bird’s eye" function which simplifies parking in tight spaces. The iDrive's split-screen ability also means that this can be used in conjunction with the regular reversing camera for further parking ease.
2024
Location: Wollongong, 
Australia
AustraliaBirthday: 6 August
Profile: http://www.autoviva.com/member/timb
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