Stevens Creek BMW

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Driving Impressions

The BMW X5 4.8i we drove was notably quick to take off, despite its substantial curb weight of more than 5,000 pounds. BMW credits its new six-speed transmission for this rapid forward response. At deep throttle, the V8's pleasant, distant growl never intruded on cockpit conversations or speakerphone communications.

We averaged 17.5 mpg on a rapid highway drive, pacing traffic at 80 mph. In-town errands lowered that average to below 15 mpg, which is the price you pay to have this gutsy engine at the ready. However, we rarely gave in to temptation to use full-throttle and make maximum use of the V8's 350 horsepower and the linear delivery of its 350 pound-feet of torque. You will not find a better delivery of engine power.

BMW's V8 is as quiet as Cadillac's SRX, and feels more isolated than the Infiniti FX45. It feels much quicker than the Lexus RX and Mercedes M-Class, as well as the heavy Audi Q7. The quick-reacting throttle is biased for pavement driving, opposite the M-class Mercedes, which has much longer pedal travel for more sensitive slick-road and loose surface maneuvers.

The X5 ride feels stiff at first, yet none of the passengers we had in our test car complained. On a twisty section of country lane in Michigan lake territory, we unleashed the suspension of the X5, and couldn't safely find its upper limits on public roads. It will handle bends that would have the Lexus plowing, and where the Mercedes ML350 and the Volvo XC90 would be leaning like an America's Cup sloop in a gale. The X5 with optional 19-inch wheels and tires grips as well as the capable but more compact Infiniti, yet you sit higher in the BMW, which exaggerates the feeling that it's sticking tight to the asphalt.

Braking produces dive that alerts passengers that something alarming could happen, yet at no time even in heavy traffic did we feel we were near the limit of stopping ability. A new brake fade control from BMW compensates for heavily used brakes. Brake application remains easy and smooth, and what's even better is that slight applications of the brakes to initiate attitude changes in the X5 when driving with alacrity on twisty roads are easy and natural. This is an SUV made for the Nurburgring.

The BMW X5 3.0i offers all of this handling goodness. Its six-cylinder engine produces 260 horsepower, which is not exactly low-powered; it's 35 hp more powerful than it was in the previous-generation X5. We found that the inline-6 is smooth and revs evenly throughout its operating range. With lower output it requires slightly more patience.

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