BMW X5 2019, first release: the boss is back in force

In a sector obsessed with acronyms, you can give the BMW X5 the first sports car or after-sales service. In 1999, people scratched their heads to discern the differences between a VAS and an SUV. Today, the new BMW X5 2019 is still a service, but it has certainly grown now. Larger and more convenient, the promise can go up to seven seats of family comfort, without sacrificing the driving sensation for which the X5 has always been known.

You may be wondering what is the difference between a after sales service and an SUV or SUV? To understand this, you must remember that when the BMW X5 was launched twenty years ago – yes, it was so long – it did not pretend to be an off-roader. At the time, SUVs were heavy mechanical monstrosities, with a durable but barely refined scale frame construction. BMW considered the X5 to be more "Sport" than the "Utility" and so invented a new name to describe it.

It was also BMW's first attempt to create an SUV. Of course, it came with all-wheel drive and the choice between a manual or automatic transmission, but it was still built on a monocoque chassis similar to a sedan or wagon. This paid dividends for the way it drove, much more like a good sedan than anything else. Nowadays, we could even call it a crossover, even if luxury and sporty driving are its watchwords.

Bigger, bolder and brighter

The 2019 BMW X5 makes no compromises when it comes to luxury. Cultivated in length, height and width to offer more space than ever before, especially in the back quarters, it also presents a host of innovative features and equipment to make it more practical than the X5 outgoing.

The increase of about 1.1 inches in length and 1 inch in height is quite comparable to that of the course because the vehicles are usually from generation to generation. The biggest change is the width of the new X5. Increasing by 2.6 inches, this gives the BMW a more muscular and athletic stance. This is not something that the Germans could take with the risk either: the BMW X5 has a huge success, and this public demands something aggressive to park alongside top level competitors such as as the Audi Q7, Mercedes-Benz GLE, Volvo XC90, and the Acura MDX.

According to the designers, the new BMW X5 2019 is intended to inspire confidence and authority. I certainly agree with that, although I suspect that the grille could become polarized on some potential buyers. In my opinion, this is probably the most beautiful X5 to date, which is not a bad thing, since recent BMW vehicles have probably lost part of their old rocket. The shorter front overhang, similar to the recently announced Audi e-tron, helps, but the BMW is bigger and more efficient. Credit should also go to the long carved bonnet and slightly hexagonal wheel arches.

"The BMW X5 embodies the origins of the BMW X family and, in its fourth generation, sends its most powerful message in terms of presence and modernity," says Adrian van Hooydonk, Executive Vice President of BMW Group Design. . "It defines a new X design language – robust, clear and accurate."

The branded kidney grids are now oversized and framed with a one-piece surround. Adaptive LED headlights are standard, but you can opt for optional BMW headlights. Even in the daytime, you can spot them through an X-shaped blue border inside the lighthouse groups. Unfortunately, they are not powerful enough to reduce congestion in front of you, but they can project an intense, glare-free beam of light over distances of over 1,600 feet.

The taillights are also equipped with LEDs, while their shape follows the precise character line of the sides of the new X5. They go up to the back to accentuate the broad and muscular shoulders. The 19-inch alloy wheels wrapped in low-profile rubber are standard – recalling that this is really designed as a road car – while the M Sport trim gets larger 20-inch alloys. 21- and 22-inch wheels are available as an option throughout the range.

Striking all the high notes "Utility"

Inside, the new X5 is fully commercial. The dashboard is divided into horizontal lines, while the center console rises to the dashboard to facilitate access to standard cells, while enhancing the feeling of space. BMW has used elegant and metallic trim elements, and the whole effect is limited to luxury.

The comfort of the creatures is exactly what you expect. Four-zone climate control, panoramic glass roof now 30% larger than the old car and standard ambient lighting features a pleasant accent rug that illuminates entry areas when doors are unlocked. The Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround optional audio system, with 1500 watts of power across 20 speakers, is powerful enough and clean. A rear entertainment system with two 10.2-inch touch screens with USB ports, a DVD player and an HDMI jack is optional, and it is almost certain that children will stay busy on longer drives .

Some of the most useful changes for 2019 are of a practical nature. The two-part tailgate, for easy loading and unloading, is a real advantage. check the option box for the comfort access function, and you can open or close both sections of the liftgate without lifting your finger. Discard the optional luggage package and the loading area can even lower automatically into the ground. As standard, you have five seats, but if you choose seven seats, the third row also has an electric adjustment.

Under the hood

Power comes from a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder turbo engine built into the BMW X5 xDrive40i. It's good for 335 horsepower and 330 lb-ft of torque, which comes in between 1,500 and 5,200 rpm. As a result, the new X5 can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 5.3 seconds. For those looking for more power with their after-sales service, the BMW X5 xDrive50i switches to a 4.4-liter turbocharged V8, featuring 456 horsepower and a torque of 479 lb-ft. There is enough grunt to tow a big trailer or a medium sized boat, but when you do not hit heavy loads, you can do 0-60 mph in 4.6 seconds.

Anyway, you get a revised version of the Steptronic 8-speed transmission, now with wider reports and new electronics. The transmission is transmitted to all four wheels by the BMW xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive system. The new powertrain can effectively divide the amount of torque between the front and rear wheels, depending on which will offer the best stability and better grip. As you would expect for a BMW, the rear-biased xDrive system can also transfer all power to the rear wheels for more aggressive line driving.

BMW does not worry about safety features either. For the 2019 model year, the X5 comes with the BMW Personal CoPilot driving assistance system, which includes detection of blind spots, rear and front-end collisions, the exit warning of way,.

No compromise on the road – and a surprise

The new X5 proves that BMW is still very much in the game if you're looking for a high-end, sporty SUV. We started on the road, where maneuverability immediately improved compared to previous cars. There is strength and determination that allows you to have immediate confidence in the operation of the X5.

My other big point to take was how calm and smooth it is. Even with a relatively low profile rubber, the road noise is minimal, or even the wind noise, in the cabin. It's big, but it rolls a lot more like a small SUV; all this help, but the X5 never feels less agile.

Now, I have the authority that BMW's customers were not really asking for the X5's off-road capabilities to get a significant upgrade, but somehow we still found ourselves on an off-road course. road. There is no shortage of updates, mechanical and electronic, which contribute to making the 2019 X5 a surprisingly powerful mud plug-in, but suffice it to say that it's attacking a likely track to cause problems to Land Rover. The stiffer chassis and features such as hill descent control make it a truck that should not stop if you are on more difficult terrain.

Look, I'm not going to suggest that the X5 should be your first stop when planning your next Shackleton style expedition. However, what BMW has achieved here deserves praise. In particular, many of the improvements may have parallels in more urban environments. In general, the X5 is in. A single round of three points was required, in fact; I can see that this is just as valuable in the parking lot of the mall. For most SUVs in this class, climbing a steep and muddy hill while turning left could be a challenge. This was not the case here, and thank God; I really did not want to be "this guy" who needed rescue.

You can not say that the X5 does not warn you that mistakes can be made easily. The onboard camera system, for example, automatically loads into the dashboard display when the front or rear starts to approach an object. Useful, certainly, when navigating on mud-rich hills, but just as useful when you try to sneak into this last compact place. All in all, I think we've moved the X5 well beyond what most buyers will venture into, and ignored the situation without complaining.

Verdict

The X5 has come a long way since its beginnings defining acronyms. This is a perpetual bestseller for BMW, and this 2019 X5 should continue to sell a lot more considering the significant and remarkable improvements to cabin design and much more sporty exterior. Long-time BMW people should find a lot to their liking, but anyone looking for a full-size SUV that refuses to compromise on road refinement, while bringing the necessary talent to safeguard its appearance, should make sure 2019 X5 is on their short list.