OVER £45,000

SOME of the UK’S biggest towcars fought it out in our top price band. Land Rover, Mercedes and Volvo are all past winners, but after a 10-year absence from the competition BMW returned to steal the limelight with the X5.

Hooked up to the vast twin-axle, five-berth Bailey Pegasus Palermo, the xdrive40d M Sport didn’t disappoint, with its 309bhp 3.0-litre straight-six diesel engine making for effortless cruising around the two-mile high-speed bowl, despite strong crosswinds.

The X5 has a seamless, responsive eightspeed auto box. Yet the steering paddles are easy to use if you want to be more involved.

Acceleration is extremely strong even with the weight being hauled; the X5 was the best performer on test, covering 30-60mph in 7.7 seconds and 40-60mph in 5.7 seconds – not bad given it weighs over two tonnes on its own.

Round the hill route the BMW raced up the steep inclines with ease. Hill starts on a 17 per cent gradient with a caravan can take nerve, but the X5 pulled away easily. Tight turns and sharp hairpins were handled with gusto, the car maintaining its composure and proving surprisingly agile for such a big SUV.

As you’d expect, the X5 has a comfortable interior with seats that are well bolstered for support. It’s well designed and uses highquality materials throughout. But the boot isn’t as big as you’d expect; only with the load cover removed could it take all our equipment. As with the E-class, it’s fitted with run-flats; no need for a spare wheel.

The X5 xdrive40d M Sport isn’t as pricey as most rivals in this category, and residuals of 45 per cent make it a sound investment.

BMW X5 xdrive40d M Sport

Land Rover Discovery Landmark

Mercedes GLS 350d Designo Line

Range Rover TDV6 Autobiography

Range Rover Sport SDV6 Autobiography Dynamic

Toyota Land Cruiser Invincible

Volvo XC90 D5 Powerpulse AWD

“Hill starts with a caravan can take some nerve, but X5 pulled away easily”