Price and equipment
The X5 tested here is the xDrive40d Sport. xDrive is BMW’s rear-biased all-wheel drive system, 40d is the designation for the uprated twin-turbo 3.0-litre diesel straight six engine (previously referred to as the 35d and before that as the 3.0sd).
“Sport” means the 40d has sports suspension, 19-inch Y-spoke alloys and some minor styling flourishes as standard. The firmer suspension setting can be removed as a no-cost option.
Compared with the old 35d, pricing rises nearly $8000. It’s a big whack BMW justifies with the addition of the Sport package, the engine improvements and the installation of a new ZF eight-speed auto.
Standard 40d kit includes dual-zone climate control, leather trim, sat-nav, an 80-gigabyte hard disk for storing music, powered front seats, roof rails and foglights. As our test car was fitted with the optional third row seating, there was not even an emergency spare wheel. A “mobility kit” for the run-flat tyres would have to suffice.
Front, front-side and curtain airbags are standard, along with stability control and anti-lock brakes.
Parking sensors and a reversing camera are standard and passengers get a lap-sash seatbelt and an adjustable headrest. The X5 is awarded a five-star crash rating by NCAP.
The 40d has some interesting safety options including a head-up display, active cruise control and lane departure warning.
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