FirstDrive/BMW X5:A route through the hills of Greece gave Michael McAleer, Motoring Editor, the chance to rate the new BMW X5
It's hardly surprising that BMW is pitting its SUV flagship as the driver's choice. Amid the raft of premium off-roaders hitting city streets these days, there's no real need to pitch your SUV entrant at the mountain-climbing motorists. They're unlikely to see a BMW as the answer to their needs. Instead, the new X5 is aimed specifically at those seeking to enjoy the benefits of high-set SUV motoring - and spaciousness - while not having to compromise on driving pleasure.
For anyone who has ever driven a traditional SUV on a winding country lane, two lasting impressions will come to mind: the high-set driving position and the bodyroll in corners. One is a boon, the other a burden.
Given that most owners never deviate from public roads, it's hardly surprising that an SUV which can counter the bodyroll issue and offer a decent driving ability will sell well.
Enter the BMW X5. We should never really have doubted that in a choice between creating an off-road behemoth that could conquer mountain treks or a high-set SUV that would corner like a regular car, this brand would always opt for the latter.
The previous X5 was a firm favourite for suburban mums and premiership footballers for its fashionable styling, but it was also extremely competent on the road. This latest X5 finds its niche within the increasingly crowded premium SUV market.
At one end, it offers the option of seven seats, taking on the likes of the Volvo XC90 and Audi Q7. At the other it sets out to regain the title of the best handling SUV on the market, a crown it lost with the arrival of the Range Rover Sport last year.
In terms of space, BMW has shied away from pursuing Audi down the behemoth route, and instead kept proportions within reason for the rest of the car.
The end result isn't so much a seven-seat option as a 5+2. The third row of seats is strictly only for children and when in place, bootspace is virtually non-existent. While the engineers claim it can still take 200 litres of luggage with all seats in use, only soft bags and a few shopping bags will really make it in.
Where the new model does benefit passengers is in the extra legroom in the second row. It can now accommodate a six-foot passenger behind a six-foot driver and it's eminently comfortably for five adults.
Just as it doesn't match the people-carrying segment of the SUV market, the BMW is also rather limited in its off-road ability. While it does feature hill descent control and xDrive four-wheel-drive, it will never match either the Land Rover Discovery or Range Rover when it comes to conquering those mountain ranges.
Those are the downsides. Where the BMW excels is in sticking to the company ethos: driving pleasure is what it's been about and just because they build an SUV, that shouldn't be ignored.
So what you have in the X5 is arguably the best handling off-roader on the market. The cornering is remarkable for such a high-set SUV. It's even better if fitted with BMW's optional adaptive drive system. This uses individual monitors on the front dampers to adjust ride quality depending on surfaces. In its first application since a consortium that included BMW and Mercedes developed the Flexray system, it's incredibly adept at smoothing out uneven surfaces.
The end result is an SUV that handles as sharply as a regular low-set saloon. To prove its point, BMW set us on a route through the hills of southern Greece and up gravel tracks, winding along the side of a sheer cliff face.
During our drive we even got the chance to complete a stage of the local Acropolis Rally the day before the official race. Pursued by eager Subaru Imprezas and madcap Greek motorcyclists out to pit their wits against the tight bends before the road closed for the actual race, the X5 was so confident in corners you felt duty bound to keep your right foot on the throttle throughout. The only competitor that comes close to this new BMW in terms of driving pleasure is the Range Rover Sport.
The downside of such sharp and stable cornering is that unless you opt for the adaptive drive system, you're going to find slow bumpy roads unsettling. At regular speeds the potholes and bumps are ironed out, but below 50km/h and in traffic there's a jarring feel as the tyres traverse the uneven terrain.
The comfort issue is not helped by the fact that BMW is now fitting run-flat tyres on the X5. This is the fourth generation of the tyre technology and the engineers say they are the most comfortable yet, but they are still not as comfortable as regular tyres.
In terms of appearance, the new X5 has a more chiselled look, in keeping with the new BMW policy being led by chief designer Chris Bangle, that cars should seem to be sculpted and body panels need not be left flat. In the new X5, sharp creases in the metal abound.
Inside, the fit and finish is akin to a 7-Series rather than a mid-level SUV. The Germans have strived to turn the X5 into a luxury people carrier and the interior lives up to that ambition.
Some nice new touches include an electronic park brake that's operated from a small button on the new sharply-styled gear lever. This controls the new silky smooth six-speed automatic gearbox that's fitted as standard.
While the 4.8-litre petrol engine offers all the deep-throated power you'd expect from such a beast, the 3-litre diesel is the one to opt for, and it's likely to be the one for Ireland.
BMW expects to sell 300 new X5s next year, due to the late launch in April, but that will rise to about 500 on an annual basis after that. The mix will predominantly be 3-litre diesel versions, expected to make up to 90 per cent of Irish sales, predicts BMW Ireland's managing director Sean Green.
As for the third row, the jury is still out on how popular that will be, though some estimates suggest it could make up to 20-30 per cent of sales.
FactFile
ENGINES:Two petrol - a 3-litre and 4.8-litre - on offer and a 3-litre diesel. Near future may see additional turbocharged 3-litre engines in petrol and diesel
PRICING:
Petrol: 3.0si SE - €78,750
4.8i SE - €102,950
Diesel: 3.0d SE - €79,400
Optional third row of seats:€2,120
Annual sales: 500