BMW X5 review

If you’ve considered buying a luxury SUV at any time since they burst onto the scene, the chances are the BMW X5 has been on your radar. It kicked off the craze for sportier SUVs that felt more like cars to drive – sacrificing a bit of ruggedness and rock-climbing ability in favour of better handling, improved ride comfort and a smarter interior.

Several challengers have also staked a claim on this territory since the X5 landed all those years ago. Firstly, the Volvo XC90 joined the crowd, bringing with it seven seats as standard, while the Range Rover Sport came along offering a halfway house between sportiness and proper off-roading abilities. Later, the Audi Q7 would impress with its blend of seven-seat versatility, remarkable comfort and a truly classy interior. Under pressure from such talented rivals, this fourth-generation version of the X5 has its work cut out if it’s to rise to the top of the class again.

There’s little doubt that the latest BMW X5 leans heavily on those key virtues that made it successful from the off: a suitably upmarket interior and tidy handling. Air suspension is standard, too, and promises a smooth and comfortable ride. But rather than standing still the model has also moved with the times, with ever more efficient engines including a plug-in hybrid model that produces seriously low CO2 emissions and has a great electric-only range.

Is all this enough to put the BMW X5 at the top of anybody’s luxury SUV shortlist? Read on to find out. And when you’re ready to buy, head over to our New Car Buying service, where you’ll find the best deals on whichever model you settle on.