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2019 BMW X5 xDrive40i Review By John Heilig


2019 BMW X5 xDrive40i  (select to view enlarged photo)
2019 BMW X5 xDrive40i

THE AUTO PAGE
By John Heilig
Senior Editor and Bureau Chief
Mid-Atlantic Bureau
The Auto Channel


REVIEWED MODEL: 2019 BMW X5 xDrive40i
ENGINE: 3.0-liter twin turbo I-6
TRANSMISSION: 8-speed automatic with sport-manual shift modes
HORSEPOWER/TORQUE: 335 hp @ 5,500-6,500 rpm/330 lb.-ft. @ 1,500-5,200 rpm
WHEELBASE: 117.1 in.
LENGTH X WIDTH X HEIGHT: 194.3 x 78.9 x 69.0 in.
TIRES: 275/45R20
CARGO CAPACITY: 33.9/72.3 cu. ft. (rear seats up/down)
ECONOMY: 20 mpg city/26 mpg highway/17.5 mpg test
FUEL TANK CAPACITY: 21.9 gal.
CURB WEIGHT: 4,813 lbs.
TOWING CAPACITY: 6,600 lbs.
COMPETITIVE CLASS: Acura MDX, Cadillac XT5, Infiniti QX60
STICKER: $73,980 (includes $995 delivery, $12,055 options)
BOTTOM LINE:LINE: It’s pricey, yes, but the BMW X5 is a solid luxury Sport Activity Vehicle with enough features to keep any technophile happy.

BMW offers a wide variety of vehicles, not including vans or trucks. The Big Momma of them all is the X5 Sport Activity Vehicle (as opposed to a Sport Utility Vehicle) that is assembled in Spartanburg, S.C. And it’s a beauty.

First, the X5 is one of the quietest running vehicles of any ilk I have driven lately. In the X5’s defense, I have driven some pretty noisy vehicles of late. But the X5 has absolutely silent operation at all speeds. It’s worthy of the company’s 7-Series sedans.

To go with the quiet ride is comfort. The front seats offer power adjustments to find the ideal comfort level. Rear passengers also enjoy excellent legroom and a flat floor to accommodate a middle passenger. Those rear passengers have their own HVAC controls as well as pull-down sun shades on the windows.

The 3.0-liter twin turbo six offers excellent power, even though the X5 weighs in at 4,813 pounds. Horsepower is rated at 335 over a wide range of engine speeds, and torque checks in at 330 lb.-ft. All this power reaches the wheels through an 8-speed Steptronic automatic transmission with paddle shifters if you’re interested in a manual mode. The X5 xDrive 40i can go from 0-60 mph in 5.3 seconds. Not bad for a sport ute.

The X5 also wears BMW’s latest generation of xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive, which can split torque between the front and rear wheels with even greater precision than before.  As is to be expected from a vehicle whose sticker is nearly $74,000, the X5 offers BMW luxury along with everything else. Inside there are tasteful dark brown seating surfaces and door trim that work well with the black dash, etc. 

Instrumentation is clear, although the array is different from most cars with the speedometer on the left and tachometer on the right. The tach is replaced with economy information when the EcoPro ride option is chosen. Other options are sport, comfort and adaptive. The infotainment screen is clear and wide. There’s a large controller on the console that aids in navigating the screen, along with six buttons.

The wheel is busy with the normal array of options. However, I couldn’t find the on/off switch for the cruise control.

You want luxury? How about a pair of cupholders that can be heated or cooled?

Along with the start/stop button that is located on the center console rather than the dash, the shift pattern is different, and this is good. You don’t shift robotically, but you have to think. For example, Park is a button on  the shifter, and you push forward for reverse, and rearward for drive. Again, it forces thinking. 

The clamshell tailgate is practical. One owner told me that the shorter bottom part of the tailgate provides an ideal seat for him to put on his golf shoes. It also is convenient of you have longer objects to carry. The cargo area is large enough for several golf bags. The rear seat back releases are in the cargo area. There’s a hidden storage area under the cargo floor for objects you’d like to keep from prying eyes.

Outside mirrors fold when you lock or unlock the X5. They also fold and unfold every time you walk near the vehicle with the keys in your pocket. 

It has a couple of quirks, but the BMW X5 xDrive 40i is a near-perfect luxury Sport Activity Vehicle with a healthy sticker price to go along with its many features.

(c) 2019 The Auto Page Syndicate