Used 2014 BMW X5

BMW doesn’t call the X5 a sport utility vehicle (SUV), but rather a "sports activity vehicle" (SAV), a moniker the German luxury brand has been using since the vehicle’s introduction in 1999. The idea is to distinguish the vehicle as sportier than a traditional, rugged SUV. Marketing semantics or not, one drive in the X5 will make you a believer. The 2014 BMW X5 marks its third generation with a new design and more creature comforts, all while building on its reputation of combining BMW’s famed driving dynamics in a roomy package. The X5 won’t hop boulders like a Range Rover Sport, but it is far fonder of carving corners than an Audi Q7 or Mercedes-Benz M-Class.

The 2014 X5’s three engine choices provide varying degrees of power and efficiency. Even a "base" X5 with the turbocharged inline-6 is a quick beast, launching the midsize utility vehicle to 60 mph in the 6-second range. Choose the thunderous, thirsty V8 with its 445 horsepower and nearly $70,000 price, and you’re looking at sub-5 seconds. Our pick, however, is BMW’s turbodiesel 6-cylinder. It offers a fine balance of power and fuel economy, and only costs $1,500 more than a comparable gasoline-powered version. Whichever X5 you choose, you’ll be treated to a larger utility vehicle that feels more like a sports sedan. The X5 is one of the few SUVs that’s fun to fling around corners, though it’s less adept on tougher off-road trails. It can climb snow-covered roads without drama, but steep off-road inclines are not its forte, as we discovered after brushing its lower lip at a Canadian off-road track.

The latest BMW X5 has seating for five across two rows. A 3rd-row seat is optional and increases the passenger count by two, but room in that last row is very tight. Legroom is good in the first two rows, and the front seats are especially comfortable and spacious, even for adults with large frames. The 2nd-row seats fold in a 40/20/40 configuration, handy for fitting long items like skis down the middle. BMW’s latest iDrive with touchpad controller is easier to figure out, and the main controls for climate and audio are fairly intuitive. Poplar wood trim adds warmth to the cabin’s sleek lines.

When we saw the new BMW X5 SUV from a distance, we thought we were looking at its smaller brother, the X3. It turned out to be an illusion, and a good one. Though dimensionally the same size as the outgoing model, the 2014 X5’s fresh design makes it appear sleeker and less bloated. In front, BWM’s famed "kidney" grille design now flows into the headlight housings, while the X5’s rear is the first of the brand’s to feature "Aero Blades," which channel air for better aerodynamics. Pragmatically, the X5 comes with roof rails and a 2-section tailgate.

INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM
The 2014 X5’s blend of entertainment and information is splendid, and splendidly displayed on an elegant 10.2-inch screen. And while the rear-view camera costs extra on most models, its resolution is among the best we’ve seen.

STEERING FEEL
Those who view driving as something to adore rather than a chore have long admired how BMWs respond when turning, and the X5 is no exception. We can use words like "taut" and "responsive," but trying to fully relay the experience in words is akin to attempting to describe the taste of a perfectly grilled steak.

Spend the least on a 2014 BMW X5 sDrive35i, and you’ll find plenty to like, but a few things still missing for your roughly $54,000. Making the list are 10-way power and heated front seats, a panoramic moonroof, navigation with a 10.2-inch high-res screen, a power tailgate, a power-adjustable steering column, a 9-speaker audio system with HD Radio, and xenon adaptive headlights. Unexpectedly, leather seating and a rear-view camera cost extra. The top-line X5 xDrive50i models add the aforementioned leather and rear-view camera along with 19-inch wheels and luxurious, 20-way power front seats. All new X5s come with four years/50,000 miles of complimentary maintenance.

Whether you want a heated steering wheel and ventilated seats or a night-vision assist system, options and packages come in abundance for the 2014 X5. To start off the configuration process, BMW offers three optional "lines" – Luxury, xLine, and M Sport. The first two bundle aesthetic upgrades and 19-inch wheels, while the M Sport adds performance-oriented features such as steering-wheel-mounted gear shifters and launch control for high-speed takeoffs. Our ears were very pleased with the up-level harman/kardon 600-watt/16-speaker sound system. Those craving extreme sound can get it in a Bang & Olufsen system boasting 1,200 watts.

Three turbocharged engines are offered in the latest X5: A gasoline- or diesel-powered inline-6, and a V8 that, at 445 horsepower, boasts 45 more horsepower than the outgoing version. All are connected to a slick-shifting 8-speed automatic transmission. In an effort to be more fuel-efficient, X5 SUVs have a start/stop function that shuts down the engine at idle, such as at stoplights. The system is quick to restart the engine once you lift your foot off the brake pedal, but we found ourselves just as quickly disabling this functionality due to its intrusiveness when abruptly roaring the engine to life. Like other BMWs, X5 models with gasoline engines require premium-grade fuel.

3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 (sDrive35i and xDrive35i)
300 horsepower @ 5,800-6,000 rpm
295 lb-ft of torque @ 1,300-5,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 19/27 mpg (rear-wheel drive), 18/27 (all-wheel-drive)

3.0-liter turbocharged diesel inline-6 (xDrive35d)
255 horsepower @ 4,000 rpm
413 lb-ft of torque @ 1,500-3,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 23/31 mpg

4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 (xDrive50i)
445 horsepower @ 5,500-6,000 rpm
479 lb-ft of torque @ 2,000-4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 14/22 mpg