With plush interior, a smooth ride and plenty of space for golf clubs, BMW is luxury on wheels

Maggie Barry Mostly when you ask: “Everyone all right in the back?”, you get a polite “Yes” from adults or “No, Billy says he’s going to be sick,” from the kids.

Usual ly it ’ s nothing a bit of ventilation won’t remedy, but this year, with the mercury soaring, the back seat problem blossomed.

And that’s what I love about the new BMW X5. There are dedicated rear air vents that passengers in the back can control. There is also a wireless phone charger and piles of connectivity for all their devices. The kids won’t want to get out of the car.

Sitting in the front is not bad, either. The X5 in M Sport livery is a thing of beauty. The big black beast (Black Sapphire) I was driving came with individual ivory white merino leather seats and an aluminium tetragon trim – a kind of white carbon fibre look outlined in polished chrome.

The added luxury element is the BMW X5 M Sport 3.0-litre diesel 265PS 6.5 seconds 45.6 162g/km £61,020 “Crafted Clarity”– a crystal-like trim – on the gear knob, the start button and other parts of the inside, wafting you to another driving world.

I took the X5 for a spin to Mar Hall, near Glasgow. The M Sport package means you get a sport exhaust, 21ins alloys and sun protection glass, although this car also came with a fabulous panoramic roof and the M Sport aerodynamic body styling. The high drive position makes you feel very safe and buttons at the side of the seat offer a squad of comfort options, even allowing the seats to hug you close.

I threw the golf clubs into the boot, where there’s enough space for at least two sets, as well as any shopping should you stop along the way. But why would you? The drive in this car is a joy.

The 3.0-litre diesel engine with the eight-speed gearbox is a smooth and lean machine that slips effortlessly through the gears and offers the kind of power you have always wanted to get used to.

There are several driving modes, including comfort for cruising and sport for fun, but you can also tailor them to your own preferred options.

There are bags of safety equipment on board, including a reversing camera and an all-round 360 degree view. There is an M Sport braking system and Park Assistant Plus, which, along with the head- up display, is part of the technology package.

The infotainment system is easy to use, as is the sat nav, and the knobs and switches are all mirrored on the steering wheel for ease of use.

This new BMW X5 is much bigger and bolder than the previous model but, I think, even easier to drive.

Mar Hall, when we arrived, was at its glorious best in the sunshine and I was looking forward to putting in a quick nine holes.

The X5 is a car that leaves nothing to chance. But as I opened the automatic rear door, I realised there is one thing it couldn’t do – improve my handicap.