Topic: Test Drive: 2018 BMW X5 xDrive35i

[AutoTrader.ca]

Entry-level X5
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[OliverD]

Crazy how expensive these things have become. $95,580 as tested. Meanwhile, in 2010, an X5 M could be had for $101,895. Even fully loaded it didn't break $115k.

[ChaosphereIX]

 

$95k. For what!?

Guess what else is $95k. A 505hp Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio (comes loaded no optional packages) that can out-drag and out-handle just about any other baby stroller out there. It also has styling, comfy seats, and a much better powertrain than the BMW. A cramped third row...why bother? It kills the luggage space, and is torture for anyone to sit there. If you need three rows, buy a van - they are good at that.

This segment has lost its mind with the pricing, and people will still buy them. For what? I dunno.

[lebowski]

$95k. For what!?

Guess what else is $95k. A 505hp Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio (comes loaded no optional packages) that can out-drag and out-handle just about any other baby stroller out there. It also has styling, comfy seats, and a much better powertrain than the BMW. A cramped third row...why bother? It kills the luggage space, and is torture for anyone to sit there. If you need three rows, buy a van - they are good at that.

This segment has lost its mind with the pricing, and people will still buy them. For what? I dunno.

Stelvio is one size smaller than x5. Upcoming X3M a more apt comparison.

[OliverD]

Irrelevant comparison is irrelevant.

[ChaosphereIX]

$95k. For what!?

Guess what else is $95k. A 505hp Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio (comes loaded no optional packages) that can out-drag and out-handle just about any other baby stroller out there. It also has styling, comfy seats, and a much better powertrain than the BMW. A cramped third row...why bother? It kills the luggage space, and is torture for anyone to sit there. If you need three rows, buy a van - they are good at that.

This segment has lost its mind with the pricing, and people will still buy them. For what? I dunno.

Stelvio is one size smaller than x5. Upcoming X3M a more apt comparison.

...but if it has a useless third row, then they are fairly similar in mission and capability...and price...so yeah I can make that comparison

not comparing a Trax to a Pathfinder here...they are very similar

[OliverD]

The X5 has nearly double the cargo volume behind the second row. It's significantly larger.

[ChaosphereIX]

The X5 has nearly double the cargo volume behind the second row. It's significantly larger.

yes, yes it is - and the extra cargo room is a feather in its cap, if you use it...which nearly everyone wont judging from my observations in my neighborhood

lets not forget they are buying the BMW for the style, the comfort, the luxury, the performance...not as a work truck - I bet most buyers, beyond making sure the golf clubs or the baby stroller fits in the back, do not care at all about the cm3 cargo capacity

still not worth $95k IMO, despite all the Lego blocks you can stuff in behind the second seat

[mlin32]

Of all the BMWs in the lineup, the X5 is the most underwhelming to me. No surprise it lost the last comparison test. I've driven and ridden in the outgoing F15 generation and it was underwhelming; not much to distinguish it from other full-size SUVs on the market. And the options packaging and pricing for Canada is ludicrous, as pointed out by the others. It is time for the new-gen version to step in for sure. Well, here in Europe it already has 

I still don't understand the complaints about the electronic shifter. It made sense to me from day 1.

In a manual transmission, you push forward to engage reverse. Ok, left, then forward. You're *pushing* away from something to go into reverse. But everyone has different logic I guess. (For example, I find it logical that a central lock button is located centrally on the dash, but anyway...)

[Fobroader]

$95k hahahhahaha....thats hilarious. That way too close to a trackhawk for something that has absolutely nothing that stands out about it as superior. Thats Lexus LX570/Escalade money, both of which are heads and shoulders better than this. Stop with the "premium" brand crap, its a BMW, not a Bentley.

[lebowski]

The X5 has nearly double the cargo volume behind the second row. It's significantly larger.

yes, yes it is - and the extra cargo room is a feather in its cap, if you use it...which nearly everyone wont judging from my observations in my neighborhood

lets not forget they are buying the BMW for the style, the comfort, the luxury, the performance...not as a work truck - I bet most buyers, beyond making sure the golf clubs or the baby stroller fits in the back, do not care at all about the cm3 cargo capacity

still not worth $95k IMO, despite all the Lego blocks you can stuff in behind the second seat

Insisting on comparing trucks from two different size classes is a strange hill to die on, but knock yourself out. STELVIO ALL THE THINGS

Some people see value where others see waste. I have a buddy who is leasing a current gen. X5 50i. married with no kids, one dog. They love the damn thing. He and his wife are both very tall and thus appreciate the mid/full-size proportions of the Bimmer. They also recently bought a house so they're constantly picking up random stuff for it, and the big hatch and wagon-y space is of course great for that. Previous vehicle was a Grand Cherokee V8, which he liked, but views the X5 as just a better, faster, subjectively nicer-looking version of that. He had looked at the SRT version but preferred the looks and feel of the X5. I've ridden in both and would also choose the X5 50i if I had the means.

[Fobroader]

Yeah I don’t get the hate either. It’s a beautiful truck. One of my best friends has the V8 sport package (not the M) and it’s a sweet ride man. Basically neck and neck with a Cayenne GTS n terms of performance. The interior is also lovely.

Now the Cayenne, thats proper.

[OliverD]

Yeah I don’t get the hate either. It’s a beautiful truck. One of my best friends has the V8 sport package (not the M) and it’s a sweet ride man. Basically neck and neck with a Cayenne GTS n terms of performance. The interior is also lovely.

Now the Cayenne, thats proper.

And another $40k for a similarly equipped model.

[lebowski]

Yeah I don’t get the hate either. It’s a beautiful truck. One of my best friends has the V8 sport package (not the M) and it’s a sweet ride man. Basically neck and neck with a Cayenne GTS n terms of performance. The interior is also lovely.

Nice - yeah, his also has either the Sport or M-sport pack, not sure, but it's a beauty for sure, and the power is something else.

[Fobroader]

Yeah I don’t get the hate either. It’s a beautiful truck. One of my best friends has the V8 sport package (not the M) and it’s a sweet ride man. Basically neck and neck with a Cayenne GTS n terms of performance. The interior is also lovely.

Now the Cayenne, thats proper.

And another $40k for a similarly equipped model.

Yup, but you get a Porsche Cayenne....not a BMW Highlander.

[ChaosphereIX]

but $95k nice truck? If it is near $100k, I fully expect any BMW to have a M badge on it...otherwise way overpriced.

[Fobroader]

but $95k nice truck? If it is near $100k, I fully expect any BMW to have a M badge on it...otherwise way overpriced.

Lets see...7 seats...hmm...also the Durango SRT comes to mind.

[Fobroader]

Nice does cost money, this is not it.....at the $100k mark there should be a V8 under the hood and an M badge on the...everything.

[ChaosphereIX]

Nearly-new or new big SUVs in the price bracket after 30 seconds on Autotrader:

X5M
GLE AMG 63 S
GLS 550
Cayenne
LX570
G55 AMG
Range Rover Supercharged SVR
SRT Jeep

[OliverD]

Nearly-new or new big SUVs in the price bracket after 30 seconds on Autotrader:

X5M
GLE AMG 63 S
GLS 550
Cayenne
LX570
G55 AMG
Range Rover Supercharged SVR
SRT Jeep

G55 has been out of production for years. Most of those options are much more expensive than this X5 when similarly equipped.