Insurance Group: 48
MPG: 22.6
CO2: 292
0-62 Mph: 5.5 secs
BHP: 408 BHP
Range: 423 miles
PROS: Fast, luxurious, good to drive
CONS: Expensive to buy and expensive to run
The XDrive 50i's 4.4-litre V8 produces 408bhp and 442lb-ft of torque, reaching 62mph in 5.5 seconds with a top speed of 149mph.
The X5 offers a controlled and stable driving experience, especially for such a big car, with great support and grip thanks to the four-wheel-drive. The engine is strong and smooth with responsive, very sharp handling. The suspension can be too firm on tarmac, although the optional extra of Adaptive Drive will provide a (costly) solution.
The eight-speed automatic gearbox is smooth and makes accelerating effortless.
The X5 is fairly good looking for a 4x4 and is much prettier than its main competitor, the hideous Porsche Cayenne. However, people will make unkind assumptions about you if you drive one.
The cabin is superb - extremely comfortable and luxuriously appointed - and the overall feeling is one of very high quality.
The SE trim comes with leather seats, power steering, metallic paint, cruise control, rear parking sensors, stability control, climate control, alloy wheels, stereo and MP3 connectivity as standard, with optional extras including Bluetooth for £585 and satellite navigation for £1925.
BMW normally have a very good reputation for reliability, however, the JD Power Survey in 2011 did report a number of exterior and mechanical faults.
The X5 has yet to be tested by the safety boffins at Euro NCAP but the previous generation model scored the full five stars and the X5 is likely to be very safe thanks to its sheer size and the number of safety features included as standard.
There is plenty of space in the X5 for all five passengers. The boot is spacious too with 620 litres to offer and 1750 litres when the rear seats are folded down.
The XDrive 50i SE is priced at £56,440, making it one of the more expensive models in the X5 range. However, it is still fairly reasonably priced, costing slightly more than the equivalent Porsche Cayenne but much less than a petrol powered Range Rover Sport.
However, you'll need deep pockets to keep it on the road. The X5 only manages 22.6mpg on the combined cycle and CO2 emissions of 292g/km mean that Mr Osborne will help himself to £1,000 of your cash when you buy the car and £460 a year thereafter.
The X5 50i is a great car to drive, looks fantastic and is a capable long distance cruiser. However, it will be very expensive to run - you'll struggle to top 22mpg - and CO2 emissions of 292g/km m...
The 40d M Sport is a fantastic luxury 4X4 offering a powerful, smooth drive, great fuel economy and low CO2 emissions. However, despite the efficient engine, running costs will still be high.
You might want to read reviews for other Large 4x4 cars that you can then compare to the BMW X5. Here are some popular BMW X5 alternatives:
