The Bavarians were not the first to make an elite fast car with a versatile spacious body, impressive ground clearance and permanent all-wheel drive. But at the moment of its appearance in 1999, the BMW X5 so surpassed its few competitors at the time in dynamic image and character that it became the founder of a new class of Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV). And opponents had no choice but to try to match it.
Trendsetter
Meanwhile, BMW was not resting on its laurels, sipping fresh Bavarian beer, but was strengthening its position by releasing increasingly extreme and respectable versions. Gradually, the "X5" also grew in size. And already from the second generation it appeared in a 7-seat version. But at the same time, third-row passengers are still deprived of the right to dictate terms to designers and engineers regarding ergonomics. Therefore, the car retained its sleek posture. The modern BMW X5 looks especially fit. That is why it is hard to believe that it has grown in size.
The architectural group, consisting of the radiator grille and headlights merged into a single ensemble, visually makes the front of the car wider and lower. At the same time, a certain aggression is also manifested in the appearance of the "X5". But this is not deliberately flaunted bravado, but a calm demonstration of confidence in one's own abilities.
At the same time, fans of the brand cannot but be pleased by the fact that the third-generation "X5" continues to carry the characteristic features of BMW - the Hofmeister kink of the windows in the rear roof pillars and their dynamic slope, the two-piece tailgate and the L-shaped rear lights. Moreover, it is also emphasized by a similar pattern of LED lights.
The front panel in the cabin has retained the recognizable architecture of its predecessor, but now shines with nine ambient lighting options, has become less massive and has noticeably improved visibility. The wheelbase of the "X5" has not changed. At the same time, the designers have worked significantly on the organization of interior space, and therefore the second row has become more spacious. In addition, the car, which has grown in length, offers a more spacious trunk.
Trick in the details
All BMW X5s are equipped with special Air Blade trim pieces on the sides of the tailgate glass, vertical slots of air curtains in the front bumper and ventilation openings in the front fenders. These elements reduce air turbulence behind the car, form a flat air stream around the front wheels and reduce pressure in the wheel arches.
All these tricks are aimed at improving aerodynamics and, as a result, increasing the car's efficiency. But, just for fun, you can tell your friends that these are actually "pylons" and "gills" made in favor of the sporty style of the Bavarian crossover.
After all, pressure and determination are read in the appearance of the modern "X5". And they are confirmed by a large number of gasoline and diesel modifications, at the top of which is the BMW X5M. With a 575-horsepower turbo engine and acceleration to 100 km/h in 4.2 seconds, it can perform everyday functions and fully unfold on a real race track. This explains the high cost of this version. But you can start your acquaintance with the BMW X5 with models that have more modest characteristics and price.
We are talking about the most affordable modification with an inline 4-cylinder 2-liter engine (previously, a "six" with a volume of 3 liters was not present on the X5) and exclusively rear-wheel drive sDrive. And yet, in this segment, all-wheel drive is preferable. It allows you to significantly expand the geography of using the car off smooth roads, adds confidence and increases driving safety in difficult road and bad weather conditions. But there is another reason to choose the all-wheel drive BMW X5 xDrive25d.
So what do we have?
To purchase this particular 2018 model, the company "AVT Bavaria Ukraine", the official BMW importer in Ukraine, offers unique conditions. And special financial conditions from BMW Financial Services allow you to buy a car on credit for 2 years with a 50% down payment and an interest rate of 0.01% per annum, or for 5 years with a 35% down payment and an interest rate of 0.01% for the first year of the loan.
Discounts apply to fixed configurations of such "X5s". To understand how profitable this offer is and whether we are being offered a "bare" car, we took such a car in the most affordable version for a test drive. In addition to a large amount of standard equipment, the equipment of such a car already includes a considerable number of individual options and packages.
Comfort is provided by 2-zone climate control, heated 3-spoke sports steering wheel with leather trim and front seats, light and rain sensors, electric drives for the upper half of the tailgate, windows of all doors, driver's seat with driver's seat memory function. The front seats are so comfortable that you don't want to get out of them unnecessarily. And voice control, auto-dimming mirrors, numerous compartments for small and medium-sized items in the cabin and trunk, 3 12-Volt sockets, and much other equipment significantly increase the convenience of using the car.
Start parking and you will understand how convenient it is to do this with a rear-view camera and parking sensors in the front and rear. In the dark, you also drive quite confidently. This configuration has bi-xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights and an automatic high beam control function.
The acoustic system with a digital amplifier and 9 speakers provides decent sound. The electronic instrument panel with a diagonal of 10.25 inches looks both classic and innovative. The central display of the same size, like a tablet inserted into the dashboard, meets modern trends in ergonomics and is equipped with a TV tuner.
To control the infotainment system of all cars, to the right of the automatic transmission selector, there is an iDrive controller, and to the left, a Driving Experience Control switch. It allows you to change the character of the BMW X5 in accordance with the Eco Pro, Comfort and Sport settings or create your own configuration of settings thanks to the adaptive mode.
What about emotions?
The appearance of the BMW X5 perfectly reflects its essence. And it is such that a utilitarian practical crossover can easily be dynamic in appearance and have a fighting character. And to make sure of this, it is not at all necessary to create separate "sporty" modifications. The right genes can be easily felt even in the most modest BMW X5 xDrive25d.
Its 2-liter engine in the latest configuration develops 231 hp. And this is exactly the power indicator that was in the 6-cylinder 3-liter gasoline (!) engine in the first-generation X5 (E53). Only it was distinguished by an appetite of 15-16 liters per 100 km. And the modern 4-cylinder turbodiesel should fit into 6 liters per hundred. Although in reality this figure turns out to be 4 liters higher. After all, we have to drive in conditions far from ideal.
During rapid acceleration, it is better not to look at the traditional BMW mechanical economizer at the bottom of the tachometer - and the instrument panel has retained its branded appearance even in electronic form. Against the background of a larger engine, the 2-liter "four" has to "move the pistons" more actively.
Thanks to a pair of turbines, the engine deftly gets out of turbo lag and develops a torque of 500 Nm, luxurious for such a displacement, already at 2000 rpm. The automatic 8-speed Steptronic gearbox competently selects gears, and acceleration is very smooth and comfortable.
And even if the acceleration doesn't take your breath away, the driving process can be made more exciting by simply switching to manual gear shifting. Then you can forcibly keep the engine in the zone of maximum traction, which, however, the power unit itself successfully does in Sport mode.
In it, even during smooth and leisurely driving, the engine responds as sensitively as possible to the slightest addition of gas, and the steering wheel is filled with pleasant effort and elastically resists turning. At such moments, it is very pleasant to drive the car, and the gambling character of BMW is best felt.
In Comfort mode, the crossover seems to relax and shake off excess tension. The steering wheel becomes noticeably lighter, the gearbox shifts softer and longer, the engine obediently falls asleep at traffic lights at the command of the Auto Start Stop system. When the Eco Pro settings are turned on, the climate control also starts to work more calmly, and the transmission disengages when the gas is released, providing coasting. If you turn on the navigator at the same time, it chooses the route on which you can achieve the most economical driving.
The automatic 8-speed Steptronic gearbox ensures the smoothest operation of the power unit. The Hill Descent Control system independently lowers the car down a dangerous slope, and the cruise control will brake the car if necessary.
The wheels on all promotional cars are the same in size and pattern. Maybe 18-inch wheels don't look too "cool", but tires with a high profile better absorb small hard bumps. After all, the car has tires with Runflat technology, which are deliberately stiffer than usual, but allow you to move in case of a puncture. At the same time, there is still a "spare wheel" in the trunk. This allows you to continue driving even with severe wheel damage - it can be replaced on the road. The car does not shake your soul on bumps. But works them out elastically and roundly. The suspension also pleases with quiet operation.
Thus, the BMW X5 xDrive25d turns into a convenient and comfortable crossover. And at the same time it combines a driver's character, practicality, the convenience of an all-wheel drive crossover, comfort and prestige. And getting all this today is easier thanks to a special offer from the official BMW importer in Ukraine. And the choice of several configurations allows you to choose the option of finishing the interior with leather and valuable wood species.
Author: Dmytro Chaban
