BMW X5

BMW, the Munich based luxury motor brand, has been selling a fleet of luxurious SUVs and sedans in India. X5, being one of its much anticipated SUV, has been launched by the company in an all new avatar in a bid to entice more buyers and set its cash registers ringing at the Indian auto industry. Presenting the third generation of this SUV, BMW wheeled out X5 in form of a single variant - xDrive30d Design Pure. It is being offered at a price of Rs. 70.9 Lakhs, Ex. Showroom, India. There is an array of cosmetic changes being carried out in the SUV both inside and out. The German engineers haven't left any stone unturned in making it luxurious than ever and loading it with never-seen-before off-roading capabilities.

Being touted as world's most successful 'Sports Activity Vehicle', it is being manufactured locally at company's Chennai plant which has subsequently resulted in a lesser price. The company also announced that its deliveries would be commenced by June end across all the dealerships available in India. Being presented with company's Twinturbo V6 diesel motor, it has the requisite potential to non-nonchalantly outclass its contemporaries.

The third generation X5 has gone under the hammer extensively as the front facade appears entirely different from its predecessor. The SUV appears more belligerent now because of the tall stance. At the front fascia, there is a wider kidney grille with titanium finish. The adaptive LED headlamps with auto high beam assistance and cornering lights further grace the front of this SUV. The company's sophisticated aerodynamic system is upbeat and air flow is unmatchable. Positioned just above the aluminium cladded air dam, are the twin round shaped LED fog lamps. The company's logo lies just above the radiator grille and in the centre.

Going by the side profile, the SUV appears lustrous because of the black coloured protective cladding along with aluminium under guard. Then, there comes the 18" V-spoke alloys with the wheel arches in order to justify the sporty character of the SUV. The rear profile of the X5 is exciting as the company has incorporated LED lamps in the tail lamp cluster.
The dual toned rear bumper also goes well with the overall rear appearance. However, the rear windscreen is smaller in size but it is accompanied very well by the body coloured roof spoiler. Additionally, the body coloured door handles and outside rear view mirrors compliment the overall appearance exceptionally well. BMW X5 is available with 6 dynamic shades - Alpine White, Black Sapphire, Glacier Silver, Imperial Blue Brilliant Effect, Space Grey, and Sparkling Brown.

The X5 is more spacious, luxurious and comfortable inside the cabin. The extended wheelbase of 2933mm accounts for the larger space, leaving apart a gigantic boot space of 650-litres which is even further expandable to 1870 litres by reclining the 3rd row seats. The SUV gets a fine-wood interior trim with as many as 6 different choices for upholstery - Leather 'Dakota' Black |Black, Leather 'Dakota' Canberra Beige |Canberra Beige, Leather 'Dakota' Ivory White |Black, Leather 'Dakota' Ivory White |Ivory White, Leather 'Dakota' Mocha |Black, and Leather 'Dakota' Terra |Black. There is a automatic air conditioner with 4-zone control and extended rear air vents to accommodate second row seats. The front seats are electrically adjustable, even the driver's seat feature memory function. The front seats are also versed with seat lumbar support feature which is immensely helpful during long journeys.

The SUV's comfort features are not limited to first and second rows; instead it also have almost the same functions for the last row. The third row seats can be fully folded down into the luggage compartment floor and also comes with heating/ventilation console along with integrated cupholders. The SUV features a panoramic glass sunroof and leather wrapped steering wheel with multiple functions mounted on it. There is armrest with storage compartment for the front seats. Similarly, there is a centre armrest in rear with 2 cup holders. Additionally, several exquisite comfort features such as Floor mats in velour, Gear shift paddles, Smokers Package, Cruise control with braking function Sunglass holder, 12V power sockets further facilitate an occupant inside and minimize human efforts. As for infotainment, the centre console features a 10.5 inch iDrive touch control display with handwriting recognition, DVD Drive, and integrated hard drive for maps and audio files. It has Bluetooth connectivity with handsfree and USD connectivity. Additionally, it comes with extended Bluetooth along with audio streaming, voice control, audio functions and contact photo gallery. It is complimented incredibly well Harman Kardon Surround System of 600W with 16 loudspeakers. The infotainment system is also blessed with several BMW apps and professional Navigation system with 3D maps.

The company has gone for the state-of-the-art fuel injection technology in order to get rid of the lower mileage for the SUV. The X5 boasts a 3.0-litre Twinpower Turbo in-line diesel powertrain which lashes out a power output of 254.4bhp at 4000rpm and a peak torque of 560Nm at 1500 - 3000Nm. It is a 6-cylinder, 4-valve per cylinder (24-valve), 2993cc CRDI engine with VGT Turbocharger. The power is transferred to all the four wheels of the SUV via a 8-Speed steptronic sport automatic transmission. The SUV flaunts BMW xDrive - an intelligent all-wheel drive system which is impeccable.

This is an astute aspect of an SUV in which the X5, surprisingly, fares outstandingly well. The X5, despite carrying a 3.0-litre engine under the hood, returns an exceptional fuel economy of 15.35kmpl. The fuel economy is impressive and quite high as compared to the other luxurious SUVs available in this segment. It might get low to 11-12kmpl during heavy traffic conditions on overcrowded traffic roads but still it is acceptable.

BMW X5 comes loaded with innovative, sophisticated and most reliable electronic parking brakes with auto hold function. Apart from this primary braking system, there are multiple secondary braking systems like the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Brake Assist (BA), and Cornering Brake Control (CBC) who work in accordance with it to ensure safe braking. There are top-notch safety features incorporated in the SUV such as Airbags for driver and front passenger, Head airbags front and rear, Side airbags for front passenger and driver, Dynamic stability control (DSC) with Dynamic Traction Control (DTC), Active protection with attentiveness assist, Hill descent control, Three point seat belts at all seats etc. which eradicate every possibility of mishap during collisions.

On the other hand, there are first-grade security features installed in the SUV to get rid of the thieves and lock-pickers. It possesses Electronic vehicle immobilizer with automatic Start/Stop button. Furthermore, it comes loaded with Keyless Entry and a crash censor. The SUV gets immense protection from the unauthorized and unauthentic persons due to these special features.

BMW X5 consists of a leather wrapped 3-spoke Electric power steering wheel with Servotronic steering assist function. There is also an electrically adjustable steering column which further enhances the comfort and convenience factor. The maneuverability across narrow roads and congested places is decent. As for performance, the SUV is a winner and the 3.0L motor propels it to accomplish the 100kmph barrier from standstill in a mere 6.9 seconds while registering a top speed of 230kmph. The BMW driving experience control with ECO PRO Coasting helps it shine in this department and ensures amazing drivability with four driving modes - ECOPRO, Comfort, Sport, Sport+.

Off-roading comes with redefined luxury and striking appearance! That's how we can sum up the BMW X5 in a line. The German autogiant has strike the right chord by introducing it with several avant-garde features and performance oriented diesel motor. It has got all the functions and features that an individual tends to see in a high class SUV. Although, BMW's short dealership network, high cost of maintenance and a bit off track pricing may put a temporary halt in it sales but eventually it is a value for money product and comes out good on road.

BMW X5 has stiff competition in the Indian auto industry from its German counterparts, Audi Q7 and Mercedes-Benz GL Class . It has an edge in the performance and acceleration department when compared with the 3.0L variant of both GL Class & Q7. Dimensionally, it is smaller than both of these SUVs which also makes it more convenient in congested places. Although, it lacks behind in wheelbase, which ultimately stands for the inner cabin spaciousness, by both of its foes but by a mere margin of 100mm. Its pricing is alright but the best one stands out to be the Audi Q7 which costs a hefty 10 Lakhs lesser than both of these vehicle, Mercedes-Benz GL Class and BMW X5.