Review of the new BMW X5 xDrive 4.0d

If the budget won't quite stretch to a power-packed V8 petrol model, the next best thing in the BMW X5 range is the xDrive40d. It's hardly anaemic, as the power and torque outputs confirm, but it promises running costs that will be far easier on the old bank balance than those of the barnstorming range-toppers.

These days, the X5 sits at the head of a comprehensive range of BMW 4x4 vehicles which opens with the X1, progresses to the X3 and takes an unusual diversion with the X6 - an imposing 4x4 coupe. The X5 remains the king pin though, going head to head with the leaders of the luxury 4x4 pack including the Range Rover, Audi's Q7 and the Porsche Cayenne. In its latest guise, the styling has been moderately enhanced and developments in the engine bay go some way towards subduing the luxury 4x4's environmentalist critics while also improving performance. The xDrive40d is at the centre of this move and could even be the pick of the X5 range.

Don't be foxed by the xDrive40d branding. This is a 3.0-litre six-cylinder diesel engine in the mould of the unit that powers the entry-level xDrive30d. Twin turbochargers help it to a hefty 302bhp and as low as 1,500rpm, this engine is producing its maximum 600Nm of torque. The X5 is a big vehicle, tipping the scales at 2,185kg without occupants or their accompanying baggage, but the xDrive40d model can still haul itself through the 62mph barrier in 6.6s. Is going faster than that really necessary in a luxury 4x4?

".a typically formidable piece of engineering from BMW"

One thing that BMW is keen not to alter in the latest models is the X5's reputation as being the best driver's car in its class. When the car first appeared, the German company invented a new classification for it, steering away from the lumbering Sports Utility Vehicles and dubbing the X5 a Sports Activity Vehicle, marketing doublespeak for the fact that this car was aimed at on-road performance rather than off-road ruggedness. BMW's intent is obvious when examining the finer engineering beneath the X5. Instead of a high-mounted engine that stays clear of water, much as you'd get in most serious 4x4s, BMW went the opposite way, mounting the engine and gearbox as low and as far back as possible for optimum balance and an aggressive centre of gravity to help spirited cornering.

The X5 is about more than just road-going performance and imposing looks. It has a particularly roomy and practical cabin, the big decision facing buyers being whether to go for five or seven seats. In both guises, space for the front five occupants is very generous, while the seven-seater adds two extra chairs in the boot that are fine for shorter adults. BMW says that between 10 and 15 percent of X5 customers take the seven-seat option. With only five seats in use, there's an enormous boot capable of holding 620 litres of cargo.

BMW uses high quality materials throughout the X5 cabin, managing to keep a minimalist look to the controls despite all the underlying complexity. The downside of the clean design is that the iDrive menu control system that marshals all the ancillary functions still takes time to master, despite being much improved in its latest guise. There's a huge array of adjustment in the driving position and the seat is extremely comfortable. The small silver joystick of a gearlever looks unusual but works perfectly well in practice.

Standard fit on the latest X5 models is an eight-speed automatic gearbox but there is a choice between SE and M Sport trim levels. Leather trim is standard, as is speed-sensitive steering but the M Sport versions pile on quite a bit more visual drama. They sit close to the road thanks to the combination of sports suspension and the M Aerodynamic body styling package. Elsewhere, there are 19-inch V-spoke M alloy wheels, a matt aluminium trim for the side windows and Shadowline roof rails. The interior features the trademark M Sport anthracite head lining, an M leather-finished steering wheel and sports seats. It's predicted that most customers will also opt for the bigger 20-inch alloy rims at the risk of scuppering the X5's ride quality.

The xDrive40d has an extra 61bhp compared to the entry-level xDrive30d and a big performance advantage as a result but there isn't much to split the two on fuel economy. The more powerful engine only gives around 1mpg away to the lesser unit with its 37.7mpg combined cycle economy and emissions of 198g/km are also similar. It's a good argument for upgrading to an xDrive40d but the £2,300 price differential might be more of an obstacle.

For most UK buyers, diesel makes a lot more sense than petrol in a luxury 4x4 and the situation is amplified when the diesel engine in question is as adept as the one in the X5 xDrive40d. With a big power boost over the entry-level unit which shares similar architecture but barely any increase in running costs, it's a typically formidable piece of engineering from BMW.

TOP 5 X5 DEALS

The results below show the top X5 deals on buyacar

BMW X5 xDrive40d M Sport 5dr Auto [7 Seat] diesel estate
Price £46,167 Read X5 Reviews	Save £7,088
BMW X5 xDrive30d SE 5dr Auto diesel estate
Price £39,303 Read X5 Reviews	Save £5,732
BMW X5 xDrive30d SE 5dr Auto [7 Seat] diesel estate
Price £40,480 Read X5 Reviews	Save £5,965
BMW X5 xDrive40d M Sport 5dr Auto diesel estate
Price £44,989 Read X5 Reviews	Save £6,856
BMW X5 xDrive30d M Sport 5dr Auto diesel estate
Price £42,998 Read X5 Reviews	Save £6,462
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