We were flown half way round the world to Vancouver, Canada, to drive the new BMW X5
The new SUV has grown in size, and now it is taller and wider than its predecessor. Before the 1999 BMW X5, most SUVs were built with body on ladder chassis. Their dynamics were focused more on off-roading and their on-road manners were clumsy and cumbersome. The X5 changed how SUVs were perceived with their monocoque construction and how they behaved on the road.
The front end of the new X5 gets BMW’s new family design style wherein the headlamps merge into the kidney grille, which we first saw on the 3 Series. The engine hood is sculpted and the lines start from the kidney-shaped grille and merge into the A-pillar. The new front end reduces the coefficient of wind drag from 0.34 to 0.31. The front windscreen has a good amount of rake to match the hatch-like rear end, and this gives the big SUV a nice sporty stance from the side. The only thing that BMW may have to look into for the Indian market is the slit in the front wheel-arch that exits just in front of the driver and passenger doors. They will have to close these vents or the front doors will get smeared with muck.
Just as this SUV has grown in size externally, so has it inside too. The quality of the interior has always been good and now it has been taken a couple of notches higher. The large leather seats provide plenty of support in all the right places and this makes long-distance driving a joy. The refinement level is very good as you are well isolated from the engine and wind noise.
The 2,993-cc engine now produces 258 PS at 4,000 RPM and a hefty 560 Nm of torque between 1,500 and 3,000 RPM. The straight six motor is mated to a top-class eight-speed auto box and this gives the big sporty SUV excellent driveability.
The minute you get into the SUV and start manoeuvring through the parking lot you realise that BMW have taken
feedback and made the steering much lighter; now you don’t have to wrestle with it at low speeds. Along with the new electric power steering the suspension setup is on the softer side in the Comfort mode. The ride quality felt quite nice, though this was on the Canadian roads, and it will feel a bit different on Indian roads. The SUV retains all its sporty character, all you need to do is select the Sport mode and with this the steering weighs up, the suspension stiffens up, and you can start attacking corners when the going gets a little twisty.
The new X5 is a big improvement over its predecessor, and will make a big impact on the premium SUV market in India when it is launched in February 2014.
The new X5 is a big improvement over its predecessor, and will make a big impact on the premium SUV market in India when it is launched in February 2014
Story: Aspi Bhathena
