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If you had to guess which BMW's best-selling model, which one would you choose? Series 3? Nope. Series 5 or 7? Not those either. What about the M3 or the M5? Not even close. Although they are the first cars that come to mind when you think of BMW, they are far from the best.
If you guessed the X5, you'd be right, although BMW representatives say that the price of the best seller changes hands between the X3 and the X5. We have already seen and fell in love with the last X3. The all-new fourth-generation X5 then comes on the BMW launch list for the 2019 model year. We were fortunate to get our first impressions of BMW's latest sports activity vehicle in Atlanta recently.
With its starting price of $ 60,700, the X5 can be crossed with several alternatives. The traditional battle continues with the new Mercedes-Benz GLE and the higher levels of the Audi Q7. But this $ 3,000 increase over the outgoing X5 competes – the Acura MDX, the Land Rover Discovery, the Infiniti QX60, the Jaguar F-Pace, the Cadillac XT5, the Lexus RX, the Volvo XC90 and the Range Rover Velar. before.
Opt for the $ 75,750 V8, which is much more expensive, and you'll find yourself on the same battlefield as the Range Rover Sport, the Maserati Levante, the Porsche Cayenne and even the Mercedes-Benz GLS. You can not forget the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 or Trackhawk Edition if you are a performance SUV enthusiast.
Interior and technique
Immediately after entering the new X5, one is greeted by a much more luxurious and luxurious interior than that of the outgoing car. The overall design of the dashboard and interior represents a rather revolutionary evolution thanks to the driver-focused dashboard, which is a BMW interior design tradition.
The number of buttons is also kept to a surprising minimum, especially given the reputation of German manufacturers to have too many of them to offset all the technology. However, we want the HVAC temperature controls to always be dials because they are much easier to use than the rocker keys that replaced them. And the crystal shifter "Volvo copycat" screams a bit too loudly. These are minor issues for a well-designed interior. And with a car that sells as well as the X5, better not to repair what is not broken.
But that does not mean that the 2019 X5 is shy about technology, because that's not the case. All of the X5's gadgets and features are primarily managed by iDrive.
After entering the new X5, one is greeted by an interior much more luxurious and luxurious than that of the outgoing car.
The latest iteration is equipped with BMW's Live Cockpit Professional technology, which is a high-resolution 12.3-inch infotainment system and digital display of instruments. Unsurprisingly, it mimics the dual-screen system of Mercedes' competitors. It is controlled via the traditional dial dial with touch and touch controls and BMW's gesture control technology, which arrived on Series 5 and 7.
If you've known about BMW's iDrive system for a decade, the 2019 X5 will not make you feel like a distant land. On the contrary, he feels similar but more refined than in previous generations. There are still quirks: some menu options and some locations may be redundant and moved. And if you're a New Yorker / New Jersey guy who likes to talk with his hands, BMW's gesture control technology can actually get pretty boring. Ask us how we know.
With the new X5, BMW is also deploying its latest BMW Connected software, the company's suite of applications and connectivity-driven experience, which serves primarily as a hotel master. It can connect to Apple and Android devices through apps available in the App Store and features for pairing with Alexa and Google Home devices. When connected (no pun intended), the system performs neat functions, such as finding the best route for your morning commute to bypass the traffic. Ultimately, BMW hopes to deploy real-time parking information for dense metropolitan areas.
The 2019 X5 comes standard with a variety of driving aids, including blind spot detection, trajectory support, forward and reverse cross traffic alerts, and pedestrian detection with braking automatic. BMW groups these features under the name of Active Driving Assistant. Most competitors offer similar technology.
Driving experience
If you were expecting a disappointing review from another BMW that does not seem to drive as before, we are actually happy to report otherwise. Our tester came up with the beautiful 3.0-liter turbocharged straight six-cylinder engine bolted to an eight-speed automatic ZF source. The powertrain left us with no complaints in the performance department.
If you were expecting another disappointing review of a BMW, we are actually happy to report otherwise.
This time, all X5s come with an electronically controlled adaptive suspension and offer the option of a pneumatic installation as part of the off-road program – we'll get there in a moment. Like other models sporting the Roundel emblem, the X5 places above all the handling and the stability. While navigating the highway at highway speeds, you feel as if you only meet one iota of the potential of the X5.
BMW's intelligent navigation system with real-time traffic information has baffled us around Atlanta's terrible morning race. We found ourselves crossing the hills just south of the Chattahoochee National Forest. Once on the tracks, the X5 felt athletic and brutal with a lot of grunt before in straight lines. If the turbo-six is more than enough, we can not imagine how we would be smiling with the turbo-eight under the hood.
BMW has always introduced the X5 as a crossover SUV with a predilection for the road. This has been obvious over the years, as we tested the X5 under conditions normally suited to a Range Rover, where it often failed. When the X5 was designed, BMW owned Land Rover and feared to make its SUV more capable off-road would create an internal competition. This is no longer the case and the X5 is no longer confined to paved surfaces. The off-road package adds an air suspension that unlocks an adjustable ride height. In this configuration, the X5 displayed a level of off-road prowess that we just did not expect to get, especially considering its flat Pirelli tires, turned towards the road. Thanks to a very wooded off-road trail, better suited to a Jeep Wrangler, BMW's test drivers took us on a loop that involved a lot of uphill and downhill climbs in wet and somewhat muddy conditions.
It is unlikely that the owners of these sophisticated SUVs will drive such conditions. But it's comforting to know that the capacity is there, as is the ultimate driving experience.
guarantee
All BMWs have a four-year warranty and 50,000 miles for everything including the engine and transmission. BMW ranks eighth in the J.D. motor vehicle reliability study in 2018, above Toyota, with 127 problems per 100 new vehicles. It's a place less than last year.
BMWs in general have the reputation of being reliable and reliable under warranty and when they are treated punctually. If you plan to own and drive the vehicle after the warranty period, we advise you to extend the policy of the factory because the rates of labor of BMW stores and dealers are known for an average person.
How DT would configure this car
If money was not an object, we would probably be looking for the V8 model because, of course, that does not like a lot of power, especially in a BMW. Although just testing the basic six-cylinder model, it's more than enough, even for power enthusiasts, thanks to its superb tuning. Because of its proportions and its luxury crossover status, we take it with all the trumps because there is a lot of technology to appreciate in the X5.
If money was not an object, we would probably start from the V8 model.
Keep this in mind: the fully loaded and tested 2019 six-cylinder model in Atlanta costs $ 80,230. That's more than $ 5,000 more than the original V8 model, which means you'll have some tough decisions to make. Especially since we can not imagine that the V8 model is modestly equipped.
We could probably do without the X5 off-road package, unless we decided to go camping in the wilderness or live in an area where road maintenance is questionable. Although we had to try one without the air suspension car to be certain because the X5 already comes with an adaptive suspension. At this price point, however, if off-road driving is a priority, we suggest you examine the Range Rover Sport, Lexus' GX and LX, as well as the incredibly powerful Porsche Cayenne.
Conclusion
All car manufacturers competing on this segment have a solid foundation on which they can create a luxury crossover that establishes an excellent balance between versatility, functionality, comfort and performance. But with the latest version of BMW, the X5 proves that it can push the envelope even further and become one of the must-have luxury SUVs, especially for buyers who love performance and handling. Just be ready to part with an important part of the change.
Moreover, the X5 joins an increasingly important list of new BMWs that are back in force at the time of the manufacture of the ultimate driving machines. To that, we gave a little hat trick and we said "Bravo, BMW".
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