Simply AMAZING REVIEWS! NO ONE ELSE gives this much Detail. I feel I know more about this car by spending 20 minutes with Alex then if I traveled to a dealer and spent hours there being confused. Thanks Alex!
I've just bought a X5 Xdrive 30D this morning, I would have felt much more confident in decision making if I watched your video last night. Great video, and I was simply amazed by the way you demonstrated the car (you kept talking non-stop)! Thumb up :)
Just picked up a new (2017) X5 xDrive50i. Very happy so far. Wonderfully solid and a blast to drive. Alex, thanks for your comprehensive review. Gave me a lot of useful info.
Solid review, covered this vehicle very well. Just got into a 2014 with 20000KM on it, nice chunk of depreciation that I didn't have to suffer. Overall this vehicle is both relatively practical for many purposes, good for brutal winter climates like the one I live in and handles very nicely with a composed ride, as a daily driver I am extremely pleased with my purchase. That said as an additional point on the two segment rear hatch doors, the bottom segment makes for a great landing pad for my large athelic hunting dog that springs into his large tall carrier that fits in the 32 inch + high rear compartment...that landing pad saves the damage that would otherwise happen if there was bumper exposure. Also appreciated is the 4 zone climate control so the big guy gets to cool down well after a hard run. Great vehicle.
Hi Alex, I take it you liked the X5. Nice job with the charts (size and price). Now I absolutely want an X5. It is also nice how you showed the different front end trim levels. You must have put a lot of time and efforts in this video. Thank you very much.
Best review out there. I just want put my two cents here that I didn't quite agree with the comparison you gave, the ML 350, Audi Q7. I you look carefully this car is competing with ML 350 and the VW Toureg. Their measurements, engine capacity, interior room and fuel mileage is very close to each other and so is the price.
One thing to note is that the X5 has a wider turning radius than most mid-to-full size SUVs, both the Mercedes ML & Range Rover Sport have noticeably smaller turning radius, which makes parking lot maneuver and U-turns easier. Even the 2015 Yukon/Tahoe have smaller turning circle than X5! But the main thing I don't like about the X5 is its split tailgate design, because it actually makes loading/unloading more of a stretch! For the regular/single tailgate, you stand closer to the rear bumper, which is definitely easier to load your groceries, luggage, etc.
Your expansions and demonstrations is very well done you are like a teacher in a class am impressed and looking forward to getting one in my local country Nairobi kenya once again am grateful indeed Obrien Wejuli
Waw Fantastic intro! I like how you explained what the x drive 35i meant and also how you broke down the size of the vehicle in such a way that newbies like myself can understand exactly what we're looking at. No one else has explained it quite like that. Thank you and keep up the good work.
Like all AWD vehicles it depends largely on your tire selection. The AWD system is excellent but if you don't have snow tires you're in for some trouble.
The 3.0-liter engine uses BMW’s TwinPower Turbo technology-with two inlets on a single turbo for more responsive turbo boost-and is rated at 255 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque, the latter spread over 1,500 to 3,000 rpm.
Fantastic review. Very thorough and informative. Thank you for your hard work. Question: Did your test car have the full Dynamic Handling Package ($4,500) or the "Adaptive M-Suspension + Rear Axle Air Suspension" ($900)?
Very cool review again Alex. I agreed. The B&O just seems little too much to me. Also too much of the price tag too. Love the Head-Up Display on the X5. I know not everyone like it. But I the Head-Up Display. I like the color white with third row of course since I have two kids😎. But Q7 does have a better third row space than the X5. But the new Q7 is coming soon. I will pick X5 over Range Rover Sports. I mean. Come on. You can't beat BMW 4 years free service! Right! I agree RES does feel better finished in the material choice . But I think X5 has more technologies choices. Also RR Sports seems bite too much look alike the Evoque to me... Not quite sure is that a good thing to new Range Rover Sports owners? Thanks
I'm a new subscriber love the review. I don't like how the X5 has tons of options that some should've been standard like the keyless entry. Even Hyundai vehicles made that standard like many other vehicles..
BMW (as well as your review) says 23 cf behind second row, while the number for X3 is 27 cf? How could this be possible? 23cf is as much as Tiguan has space!! The measuring system in EU is different and I think they forgot to translate the number.
Alex it would be great edition to all of your upcoming and future reviews that you toot the horn for fun so people know what to expect when they use the horn because I have heard some horrendous ones plus you can be even more different!
Hey Alex, appreciate all the great reviews. I know it was a while ago but did this tester have the DHP package (called ZDH on the option sheet)? In sport mode is the F15 disconnected feeling and soft compared to the 12/13 X5M/X6M? Any insight regarding differences in the driving characteristics between this gen and the E70/71 Ms would be greatly appreciated.
Very good reviews, best out there. Detailed, thoughtful, and from a layman's perspective (which is great). I'm sick of drag races and lateral Gs which mean absolutely nothing from a daily driver's perspective. I have one observation tho: you never seem to give a 5 or lower score to any of the cars you're testing, which makes the 1 to 10 scale meaningless. If the worst car gets a 6 and the best a 10, what's the 1 to 5 reserved for? Lada or Moskvitch? One answer might be that you don't want to alienate manufacturers/dealers so your "6" actually means "1". If that's true, but you cannot talk about it, please wink in your next review, at 1 minute mark lol :)
Really enjoy your detailed reviews, Alex. Your depth of knowledge and intelligence separate you from the rest of the pack. I particularly enjoy scrolling through the comments and seeing you interact with your subscribers. Any plans to review the '14 Range Rover Sport? I'm deciding among the RRS V8, X5 x50i, and Cayenne GTS. Planning to buy, not lease, so reliability is a concern.
It's good to know that the replies are noticed. :-) I do hope to have a RRS at some point soon but I don't have any specifics as of yet. Reliability is obviously a worry and Land Rover is usually low on the totem pole where that is concerned, but having owner unreliable cars in the past I think the part that matters is how much you like the rest of the car. If you really like your unreliable car then the reliability isn't as much of a concern.
J High, thanks for bringing this to my attention. Sometimes I may post things that are inadvertently offensive, which was definitely not my intent. I sought Alex for his advice on a vehicle, which a) many other people do on his channel without your criticism, and to which b) he actually responded (thanks again Alex!). Ultimately, my wife and I decided on a 3 row SUV that better suited our expanding family's needs -- helped in no small part by another of Alex's videos (Infiniti qx60). Point of my reply: Alex, thanks for your hard work, and J High, I wish you success so that one day, you won't feel a need to criticize another man's success.
Sean Cheng No offense was taken. Nothing wrong with being a prosperous man either. I'm just amused how some folks subtly reference their income tax bracket on a RU-vid car review video. The Infiniti QX60/Overly pimped out Pathfinder is a slight step down from the "I'm Lord of the country club" SUV'S you previously considered. I guess practicality trumps prosperity these days.
Alex on Autos : Thanks for another great review! Question: What vehicles do you currently own and can you please do a full review of the 2015 Subaru Forester 2.0 XT Touring with EyeSight? It won Motor Trend's 2014 SUV of the year and is currently the IIHS' only "Good" rated small CUV for all crash tests, including the latest "Small Overlap Frontal" test. Thanks again!
Very late to this review, but contemplating a 2016 Acura MDX and a 2015 BMW X5. I have 3 teenage daughters that are not in the car that often at the same time, but should I go with a 3-row car like the MDX for those limited occasions? My wife and I like the X5 better, but I don't want to listen to a few hours of whining on a road trip!
Alex, I am 63 and have back pain. Does the X5 have the most comfortable front seats of any in this class or is there a SUV that you would recommend. Basically what front seats are the best for support and length? Please answer.
+Bob Henningsen IMO Lexus RX or GX would suit you better in that situation. RX and GX has great seats, comfortable/smooth ride and of course that Lexus top notch reliability. X5 is more sporty, better handling and quicker. BMW X5 have bad reliability and a bit more expensive. Go to truedelta.com for apples-to-apples reliability comparisons. Check out Alex's videos on RX and GX for more info.
decent review as always. Still, this is one of the most bought vehicles in the segment, so the following facts could.. well, or should perhaps, be mentioned: you seem not to get on the technical details all too much, but on SUVs and/or X-overs the awd systems earn a place to be mentioned. I believe this one is part-time clutch-engaged system, which, no matter the marketing and advertising slogans, is different from full time awd, like the quatrro -not the quattro ultra, though - on Audis. This is especially true for states with winter weather during the ... well, winter. Another fact that is interesting, is that the first X5 was based heavily on bimmer's E39 5-series, altghough you mention in the beginning this has parts in common with "bmw's sedans", what you probably meant with BMW sedans is BMW's 5-series, and this especially reminds of the Touring version. Anyway, as said - decent and comprehensive review nonetheless, and a nice car for that matter.
Hey Alex, have you ever tried an X5 with the (rather expensive) Dynamic Handling Package? It adds adaptive dampers and other suspension tweaks. Some owners claim it completely transforms the driving character of the vehicle, but it's super hard to find on a dealer lot because of the high price. Just curious. Thanks.
Thanks for the review. its not that easy to find excellent review on particular brand with particular model. Currently in the process of getting the 2015 X5 x35i M Sport Package and cant wait for the papers to be finalised. Do u recommend for the window tint to be darker as for all windows, or make it darker at the back seat and rear, with about 50% for the driver's row? I cant decide. the car will be Sapphire black metallic.
I like your reviews. However, I like to add a couple of things that I found with the X5 to be annoying enough to NOT purchase it again. I had 2 of those already and in daily use you notice that the built quality does not match the price tag. My both X5s made noises : squeaking and rumbles here and there even without moving the vehicle, just when the sun came out and the cabin heated up in the sunlight, plastic cladding started to expand and get loud. Another issue is the shifter. On manual - is up and + is down. Why did BMW want to reinvent what any other manufacturer does already right? I did never got it. 3rd on the list is the lack of storage space. I could never find a place where to put a cellphone or my wallet. Cup holders became anything holder. Even worse with my wife's purse. Finally the suspension: even on the latest model it is too stiff and bumpy. The front row is OK but the rest of the family in the 2nd row will complain on any road trip and I mean on any! It is just uncomfortable! I don't even mention the 3rd row because it is ridiculousy cramped and not even children want to sit there for more than 20 minutes. I have a Porsche Cayenne now. It has the same "where to put my wallet and cellphone problem" but overall is the more solid car and me and my family are happy with it.
Can't get over how little space there is in Porsches to put your stuff. Drives me crazy when the wife is along, as I can't toss things on the passenger seat.
Based on dimensions, leg room and cargo space, the Mercedes ML is similar in size or even bigger than X5. How come you stated in your review that ML is smaller than X5.
How reliable are is the diesel engine? I was thinking of getting an X5 diesel but not sure about reliability and dont want a bunch of problem$.. Thanks
10/10 on cargo is pretty overrated for the class, with just 66 cu ft with seats flat. That's Volvo XC60 numbers. The below-floor storage brings it up a point, but I'd say 8 or 9 /10, with true three rows it competes with doing better there. The XC90 two row version, for example, is much bigger back there.
People creating distinctions where there are none. Crossovers are SUVs. Crossover means a vehicle that crosses the line between an SUV and a regular car. Basically an SUV built on a unibody car chassis.
What about steering weight, anyone? The E70 is very heavy, which is good for feel but not as comfortable for parking lots, and 90 degree turns in city driving. You have to muscle it a little.
The X5 is 8 inches longer and that essentially all goes to the third row. If however you don't get the 3rd row then the interior differences are largely width, and luxury options.
