BMW X5 F15

2014 BMW X5

The BMW X5 is the forefather of the luxury brand's Sport Activity Vehicle segment and even though this is just nothing but a marketing ploy, the X5 tries to be the German equivalent of our favorite SUV, the Range Rover. Now that the Range Rover's fully updated for today's generation, it seems that the BMW X5 wants to play hide and seek because there is now a new version.

The brand new third-generation BMW X5 truly states that instead of starting over from scratch, they want to make some big changes around here and overwrite it to keep it updated for today's generations. However, there's something peculiar about the new model and that is from the way it looks. What you can expect here is a design that is as weird as Richard Armitage reading bedtime stories on Cbeebies and just like the 3-Series, one end of the headlamp is stuck to the edge of the kidney grille. That doesn't seem right to me, more like west of weird even though the X5 was imported from America like its rival, the Mercedes-Benz M-Class. And then because this is as big as the Palace of Westminster, I was expecting for the ride to be more...Vanessa Feltz-ish but not made for fooling everyone. So, what else?

Although it maybe more of a torpedo belly fired from a belly button, the new X5 features different suspension settings to choose from such as the Comfort, the Dynamic, and the all-of-the-above Professional which allows the driver to make it comfortable or sportier thanks to its adaptive suspension package. If you opt for the M Sport package, the suspension settings will be much more sportier than the standard model but if you have a member of the Parliament riding at your back, chances are he may fire you because you're going to mess up his coffee break.

2014 BMW X5

Most models do come with BMW xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive (except on the BMW X5 sDrive25d) system which makes this full-size SUV not just capable on most roads but also on rough roads but for the first time, there is now a rear-wheel drive version of the new model, meaning you can opt for a four-pot, 2.0-litre diesel with RWD. Sadly, however, because its heavy, drifting in one of these is highly impossible because if you do that, you may end up getting rolled out unexpectedly and when its raining or snowing, this RWD X5 is a no-no and it might be best to stick to the X5 with the xDrive feature because that's the way the cookie crumbles, apparently.

Engine choices, the new X5 is offered with the N57D30 3.0L straight-six diesel engine which generates 258PS of power, does 0 to 100kph in 6.9 seconds, and fuel economy of 14.5km/L, and the high-performance N63B44 V8 petrol engine which generates 450PS of power, 0-100kph of 5 seconds and fuel economy of 9.6km/L. In terms of power, the V8 model is the top pick but when it's fuel economy you're after, then it's the diesel model but be warned though, because most of the engines are Euro 6 compliant, set to be implemented in 2015, we can't have it in the Philippines because we're a Euro 2 country set to be Euro 4 in 2016 and most of our fuels are still dirty and still in the case of manganese, which remains harmful to the engines, theoretically.

2014 BMW X5 M50d

If you want a balance between performance and fuel economy, there's the new M50d model courtesy of BMW M Performance. The N57D30S1 3.0L diesel engine generates 381PS of power, 0-100kph time of 5.3 seconds, top speed normally limited to 250kph, and fuel economy of 14.9km/L. Although this is worth of a balance, the M50d model is one heck of an impolite feat because why would they make slightly high-performance diesel SUV that delivers the same power output of a V8 with the fuel economy of a compact car? That maybe morally incorrect but the M50d feels like English Mustard to me. It maybe on the same spicy level as wasabi and Tabasco but when these two spit out and cry like a baby, it truly is the last one standing. The only thing worse than that is a certain kids song currently stuck on your head. Shake it up real hard with these and you're in a yanking menace to forget it.

2014 BMW X5 interior

2014 BMW X5 interior

Apart from the way the new X5 F15 behaves, it's still a flagship SUV in its own right. It even has bigger space inside. The rear sets split 40:20:40 for added capacity and there's even dual TV screens on the back so when they got bored, they can watch movies on the go. That sounds posh but as for now the X5 is available only in 5-seater while a 7-seater model is still a possibility. Despite that, the interior is more comfortable and quieter. It feels like a 7-Series bimmer in Richard Armitage's facial expressions.

2014 BMW X5 

With prices start at around 62,700 Euros, the new X5 is almost 10K more than its rival MB M-Class but it's still the one to buy if you're looking for something that puts a new spin in the Sports Activity Vehicle genre. Even though it's more expensive than the M-Class, it's still more hushed, plush and smooth no matter where the new X5 takes and because of the quality, comfort, and refinement upgraded for the third-generation model, I should be saving some cash to buy one of these unless its Vatalihootsit Day.

Photo: BMW AG