BMW X5

What do I need to know?

The X5 is BMW's largest Sport Activity Vehicle above the X3. The X4 and X6 are Sport Activity Coupés, whereas the X1 is more of a cross-country estate to rival the likes of the A4 allroad quattro.

Engines

The cheapest is the sDrive25d, a 4-cylinder 2.0 litre diesel unit giving 218 bhp yet returning 50.4 mpg and emitting 149 g/km CO2. It manages the 0-62 mph sprint in 8.2 secs. This is the only rear-wheel-drive X5 on offer with the rest being all-wheel-drive vehicles.

The xDrive25d is next with the same 2.0 litre 4-cylinder unit and power output. The only changes are the efficiency of 48.7 mpg and 154 g/km CO2 because of the added weight for AWD.

Next up is a 6-cylinder 3.0 litre engine in the form of the xDrive30d. Its figures are 258 bhp, 47.9 mpg, 156 g/km CO2 and 6.8 secs.

The second 6-cylinder 3.0 litre engine is the xDrive40d. The 40d's figures are 313 bhp, 47.1 mpg, 157 g/km CO2 and 5.9 secs.

The quickest diesel is the BMW X5 M50d. This, again, is a 6-cylinder 3.0 litre unit which looks like this: 381 bhp, 42.8 mpg, 173 g/km CO2 and 5.3 secs.

There are only 2 petrols, one of which is a performance M car. The other one, the xDrive50i is an 8-cylinder 4.4 litre 450 bhp unit reaching 62 mph in 4.9 secs. Its efficiency isn't its strong point - 29.4 mpg and 224 g/km CO2.

The BMW X5M uses that 8-cylinder 4.0 litre recipe with 575 bhp to get it to 62 mph in 4.2 secs. With 25.4 mpg on a combined cycle and 258 g/km CO2, it's safe to say that it's the least efficient X5.

From the least to the most efficient. BMW's next idea is in the form of the PHEV xDrive40e. It will have a 4-cylinder 2.0 litre petrol engine producing 245 bhp and an electric motor producing 113 bhp to give a combined output of 313 bhp. It will achieve in the region of 85.6 mpg and emit just 77 g/km CO2, yet its 0-62 mph time is more impressive than the 25d's at 6.8 secs.

Interior

On the sDrive25d SE model you get a 20GB HDD to store music on, Bluetooth®, USB interface, BMW Professional radio with a single CD player, DAB, an eight-speed automatic gearbox with Steptronic, iDrive, a 6-speaker system, a multi-function leather steering wheel, sat nav, front heated seats, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and voice control. Step up to xDrive25d/30d/40d SE for some aesthetic upgrades. On xDrive50i SE models you get further aesthetic upgrades and front electric seat adjustments with driver memory. If you choose an M Sport trim for any of the above (rather than the SE) expect an M leather steering wheel with gearshift paddles, sport automatic transmission, sports seats for the front, a key with M designation and even more aesthetic upgrades.

It's even a practical car, with 40:20:40 split-folding rear seats turning the 650 litre boot into a 1870 litre cavern! There's even an option for a 3rd row of seats, though these are only suitable for tiny children.

Exterior

On sDrive25d SE, 19" alloys and an sDrive rear-wheel-drive setup are standard along with single left and right chrome tailpipes, LED front fog lights, Parking Distance Control (PDC) for the front and rear, rain sensing wipers, light sensing headlights, xenon headlights with washers and black roof rails. xDrive25d/30d/40d SE brings xDrive all-wheel-drive along with it. xDrive50i brings 19" alloys. With M Sport trim, expect 19" M alloys, adaptive M suspension, M aerodynamic and bodystyling.

Safety

Airbags are in abundance with driver, front passenger, front and side and 1st and 2nd row hear airbags all present. The rear doors have child locks and the cruise control has a brake function. Dynamic Stability Control Plus (DSC+) comprises ABS, ASC, brake drying, Cornering Brake Control (CBC), Dynamic Brake Control (DBC), Dynamic Traction Control (DTC), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Hill Descent Control (HDC) (xDrive25d only) and Hill Start Assist.

Packages

The Cold Weather Package costs £325 and bring along heated front and rear seats and a heated steering wheel with it.

For £2,800 the Rear Seat Entertainment Package adds, well, rear seat entertainment... Basically, it's a set of screens and TV functionality.

Options

As you could imagine with a premium German brand, the option list is both lengthy and price.

A heads-up display will set you back five pounds short of £1000!

The Harman/Kardon surround sound system is a whole £100 cheaper! But if you want the B&O advanced audio system with no less than 16 active loudspeakers, that'll be £3,345.

A fully electric towbar is £945, and a panoramic glass sunroof is £1,295.

The sport steering wheel is £110 and sport automatic transmission is £195.

To add the luxury of soft-close doors, add £485 to the grand price.

I suppose the luggage compartment separating net is fairly reasonable at £150.

Fron seat ventilation is £695, yet seat heating for the front and rear is just £325. Comfort seats are £890 for the front and £410 for the rear - maybe they're just not as comfortable?

Four zone automatic air conditioning is £545, definitely a useful option in such a big car. Something else that earns its existence on a big car such as this is the surround-view camera system, on at £530.

The 3rd row of seating is quite cheap in relation to everything else at £1,410.

At least there's one FREE thing. The model designation deletion.

Prices do vary depending on which model you decide to go for though.

Pricing

So the options are expensive. How does the car look in terms of pricing? Well, sit down and take a deep breath.

• sDrive25d SE automatic - £43,745
• sDrive25d SE sport automatic - £44,050
• sDrive25d M Sport sport automatic - £47,680
• xDrive25d SE automatic - £46,050
• xDrive25d SE sport automatic - £46,355
• xDrive25d M Sport sport automatic - £50,750
• xDrive30d SE automatic - £48,850
• xDrive30d M Sport automatic - £53,550
• xDrive40d SE automatic - £51,510
• xDrive40d SE sport automatic - £51,815
• xDrive40d M Sport sport automatic - £56,210
• M50d automatic - £64,520
• xDrive50i SE automatic - £60,665
• xDrive50i M Sport automatic - £64,790
• X5M - from £90,170

Rivals

The X5's competitors are the Mercedes-Benz M-Class, Audi Q7, Land Rover Range Rover Sport and Porsche Cayenne.

My BMW X5

• xDrive30d M Sport - £53,550
• Alpine White paint - £53,550
• 20" Star spoke style 491 black alloy wheels - £54,750
• Black Dakota leather - £54,750
• Piano Black (BMW Individual) Interior trim - £55,245
• Harman/Kardon surround sound system - £56,140
• Model designation deletion (rear and side) - £56,140
• Soft close doors - £56,625
• Front seat ventilation - £57,320
• Front comfort seats - £57,795
• Rear seat heating - £58,120
• Four zone automatic air conditioning - £58,665
• 3rd row seating - £59,655
• Reversing Assist camera - £60,030
• Surround-view camera - £60,560