2013 BMW X5 Review

Historically remembered as the first SUV that BMW ever produced, the 2013 X5 is a car that is not to be taken lightly.  As opposed to other SUV vehicles, the X5 is designed purely for an on-the-road experience.  The performance and handling are very abysmal when the car is taken for a drive off the beaten track, so if you’re looking for something more rugged, this is not it.  The vehicle is more luxury oriented and luxury lovers are sure to appreciate everything that the car has to offer.  The car has come a long way from its humble beginnings almost 14 years ago.  Since then, the seating arrangement has changed and the BMW X5 is now capable of seating more than five people thanks to its optional third row seat.  The great thing about it is that although the vehicle features a spacious interior, the outside of the vehicle does not make it look bulky.  The car is purely sleek and performance oriented on the outside with luxury features that families are sure to appreciate on the inside.

The BMW X5 engine comes in one of three different trims.  BMW has done their all-wheel-drive system xDrive.   This is but one inclusion in a package of features that are known as the all-weather driving experience that BMW promises to deliver in the X5.  Basically, BMW ensures that no matter what the terrain is, you’ll be able to handle the car with the same level of control.  One complaint that customers had is that the vehicle steering is somewhat heavy at lower speeds, making the car seem like it was designed for burly men.  Notched to speed up a bit though and the car handles very nimbly, surprisingly so for a vehicle of this size and height.

The lowest tier, the 35i, features a 3 L turbocharged in-line six cylinder engine that is capable of producing 300 hp and 300 foot-pounds of torque.  The middle tier, the 50i is capable of putting out 400 hp and 450 foot-pounds of torque with its powerful V-8 engine.  Both these vehicles feature an eight-speed automatic transmission.  The highest tier, the 35d, puts out 265 hp and 425 foot-pounds of torque with its six cylinder turbo diesel in-line engine.  This car comes in a six speed transmission rather than the eight speed one in the lower two tiers.  The car is capable of putting out 26 miles per gallon on the highway in the diesel version.

The materials and craftsmanship that go into the interior of the BMW X5 are particularly admirable.  You can really tell that German quality went into these cars.  The once-confusing iDrive system has finally been organized in such a way to make it easily understandable.  The camera system that the vehicle has makes parking a breeze.  Even people who previously had a bad experience with it were able to grasp the new interface fairly quickly.  With its adjustable stability and traction and numerous optional upgrades, the X5 is definitely still a strong contender in the US SUV market.