New 2013 BMW X5 review, test drive

Sampling the petrol V8 first through the streets of Vancouver before hitting the Rockies, I am amazed at the responsiveness of this engine. It lunges forward at the tap of the throttle and feels more sportscar than SUV. And despite the use of an aluminium bonnet and plastic fenders, the X5 is quite heavy, at 2175kg, but it never feels that way. The eight-speed gearbox (standard across all X5s), with its quick-acting torque converter, plays a key role in transmitting all that grunt so effectively. Out on open roads, you have more power on tap than you know what to do with and it’s easy to get carried away by its staggering performance. For the record, the 50i will accelerate from 0-100kph in 5.0 seconds. 

The 30d is the X5 that will account for over 90 percent of sales in India. It’s incredibly responsive and pulls cleanly from as low as 1700rpm. Though it doesn’t have the explosive performance of the petrol, this diesel has serious punch and pulls like a freight train with one seamless slug of torque. It’s a pity then that this engine isn’t as refined as it should be. There’s a noticeable drone from under the hood, which only disappears when you’re cruising at modest speeds. Again, the eight-speed gearbox works intuitively, smoothly ironing out any bumps in power delivery.