When you’re asked to name the “best BMW” your mind might default to the M5, or you may opt for something special like the M3 CS, but in reality it’s the X5. The German firm’s mid-sized SUV has worked away for over a quarter of a century, and there’s a good reason it’s BMW’s best selling vehicle in that period.
Every time I sit in an X5, all of my thoughts about it get confirmed yet again. But last time I tested one, something strange happened. I didn’t even need to think about heading to a gas station.
The X5’s range is enough to see you through the apocalypse
American life centers on gas prices. Gas prices are low, everything is good. Gas hits $4 a gallon, the economy is in trouble and politicians are messing everything up. Gas goes over $5, it’s time to burn the country to the ground and recreate Mad Max on the Great Plains.
If you do end up in a post-apocalyptic hellscape with nothing to your name but a sawn-off shotgun and a cattle dog, you’re better off with picking a BMW X5 over a Ford Falcon. For one thing, you aren’t going to have to fight any S&M cannibals for half a jerry can of gas any time soon.
The BMW I tested last had over 600 miles of range on it when the tank was full. Which is mostly down to the enormous 22-gallon gas tank it’s packing. Don’t get me wrong, there are more economical cars out there, but there’s something relaxing about having enough fuel to get you from NY to DC and back without breaking a sweat. According to the EPA, the X5 will average 25 MPG combined, or 27 on the highway and 25 in the city. My particular vehicle did a little better than that, with my rudimentary math putting it closer to 30 MPG at times.
Obviously I had to make the most of this, so I hit the highway and did a few hundred miles’ worth of driving. In eco-mode at highway speeds, the 650 mile range was accurate. Even when factoring in a couple of days of city driving before the big test. Slapping it in sport mode and losing all throttle discipline obviously did drop the range. To around 450 miles. Which isn’t that much of a dent considering it’s likely a “worst-case scenario.”
The BMW-level performance is still there
When I had it in sport mode, I managed to confirm it does actually drive like a BMW. It’s incredibly aggressive when you get the hammer down. The handling is sporty and responsive. I’d say the size made it more manageable if it wasn’t for the fact I’ve ripped along quite comfortably in the much larger BMW X7. Oh, and it’s more than comfortable cruising along at 80 mph.
Which makes it a great compromise car. There may be a time in your life when you need a small SUV. Your main vehicle needs to do sensible things. But that doesn’t mean it has to be boring.
The BMW X5 has a practical side
Okay, so the BMW X5 hasn’t got three rows, but neither have the majority of “three row” SUVs. They have a back row in the same way a Porsche 911 has a back seat. You can fit a small child, or a person with no legs in there — but trying to cram a fully grown adult back into some of them is just cruel. Third rows are also useless for most people, as they don’t have that many children. Or friends.
What it does have is just shy of 34 cubic feet of cargo space, and a very comfortable back seat. If you want to fold that back seat down, the cargo space more than doubles to just over 72 cubic feet.
There’s also a wide array of comfort features BMW has available. Sadly, the vehicle I tested only had basic cruise control. BMW does have very good cruise control on certain vehicles, while others are pretty standard. But you really don’t realize how much you miss it until you do a ridiculously long drive without any real assistance in a bid to prove a fuel gauge wrong.
There’s a reason the BMW X5 is a best seller
If you have to pick one vehicle to go through life with, then there’s an exceptionally strong argument for the BMW X5. With a starting MSRP just shy of $70,000 it’s perfect for those shopping for something mid range and practical. It does the boring day to day stuff exceptionally well, while also retaining a wild side. It looks good, it has a badge which carries some prestige, there are no real weak points with this vehicle.
The only thing that might knock the X5 off its throne is the upcoming BMW iX3. That has similar plus points to the X5: a solid infotainment system, solid appearance, great range, and a reasonable amount of cargo space. But it’s also all-electric, and might be a few thousand dollars cheaper.
