BMW X5 buyer’s guide

How great-driving Mk3 SUV can be yours used for £22k

UNTIL the original BMW X5 arrived in 1999, SUVS were ponderous. But when BMW’S first 4x4 appeared it changed the rules: driving an SUV no longer meant corners were your enemy.

The even-better X5 Mk2 brought a third row of seats, so expectations were high when the Mk3 made its debut in 2013. Nobody was disappointed. Here was a full-sized SUV that was even better to drive than before, with all of the latest technology and some of the more efficient engines in the segment.

A Mk4 X5 is on sale now, but you’ll still need deep pockets to buy and run a Mk3. However, if you can stretch to it, you’ll love every minute of ownership. History

THE X5 Mk3 hit UK roads in November 2013, with buyers offered xdrive50i (444bhp 4.4 V8 petrol), xdrive30d (254bhp 3.0 turbodiesel) and M50d (376bhp 3.0 three-stage turbodiesel) options, the diesels having six cylinders.

There was a choice of SE and M Sport trims, while Pure Experience interior and exterior design packages were available, at £1,895 and £1,760 respectively.

Two months later, 215bhp sdrive25d and xdrive25d models with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine joined the range, along with an xdrive40d (309bhp 3.0 twin-turbodiesel). The 567bhp twinturbo 4.4 V8 X5 M reached showrooms in April 2015, six months before the 309bhp hybrid X5 xdrive40e, which combined a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor.

Which one?

AFTER the 30d, the best sellers in the X5 range are the 40d, 25d and M50d; M Sport is by far the most popular trim. All models come with an eight-speed auto box; there’s no manual option.

None of the engines is a poor choice, because even the entrylevel 25d is perky enough; the 30d and 40d make the most sense overall, though, especially if you’re towing.

Base SE spec brings 18-inch alloy wheels, Bluetooth, DAB radio, leather trim, metallic paint, all-round parking sensors, xenon headlights, auto lights and nav. M Sport adds 19-inch wheels, adaptive suspension (not sdrive25d), electrically adjustable sport front seats and sporty design details inside and out.

Alternatives

THE X5’s main rival is the road-biased Audi Q7, which offers most of the BMW’S qualities, including excellent engines, luxurious interiors, high purchase and running costs, plus a third row of seats that’s a bit cramped

for adults. All of those traits are shared by the Mercedes GL, too, but if you need a proper seven-seater then only the Land Rover Discovery will do; it can also cope with off-roading and is a brilliant tow car. If only it were a bit more reliable.

More dynamically engaging are the Range Rover Sport and Porsche Cayenne, both of which are luxurious, fast and great to drive, although the Cayenne is restricted to five seats only.

Verdict

WHILE you’ll need to remain on the road to get the best out of an X5, if you spend time behind the wheel you’ll see you can have your cake and eat it. You’ll enjoy a lofty seating position with the advantages of forward visibility that brings, but there’s no real dynamic penalty to pay.

These are sought-after cars, though, so the X5 is costly to buy on the used market, while running costs tend to be steep, too (get an insurance quote before buying). Still, relatively frugal engines mean road tax and fuel costs aren’t as high as with some rivals.