2018 BMW X5 India Review: 5 Reason To Buy One!

2018 BMW X5 India Review: Is the flagship BMW X5 still worth it? With discounts, iconic straight 6 punchy diesel engine and X-Drive, it does hold the candle rather well or does it?

Enchanting –

• Intimidating design and stance
• Superlative chassis, brakes, engine
• High on safety and fuel efficiency
• Priced comeptitvely

Unsatisfying –

• No 7-Seats

BMW took a bold step with the introduction of the X5 SUV. Back then it was unclear why a brand like BMW would step into a not-so-sporty segment. The X5’s good dynamic capabilities and its futuristic construction meant it was well received by the critics. Built with the aim to be the sportiest SUV, BMW used a monocoque construction which was both lighter and more flexible. Till date it is lauded as one of the best driver focussed SUV’s on the market. It’s the third generation was launched in India back in the late 2015. This new version promises the same driving experience in a more refined and plusher form. We spent some time with the machine to give you a impression of the same.

The Price: – We know this point should be at the end, but there’s a reason why it has made to the top. BMW hit a homerun by assembling the new X5 here in India. The result was an impressive starting price of INR 70 lacs (ex-showroom). The prices of each variant also went down by 8-9 lacs which is simply amazing. What’s all the more appealing is the price of the X5 M Sport version which we tested as it retails at INR 80.1 lacs (ex-showroom).

2: Features – The new X5 is bestowed with segment-leading features. The list includes BMW’s safety package, top drawer Harmann Kardon sound system and the list is below:

Exterior:

▸ Adaptive LED headlights with four LED DRL light rings and accent lights including auto high beam assistance and cornering lights withLED fog lights
▸Aerodynamic package including Air Breathers, Air Curtains and Aero Blades
▸M Sport Package – M Aerodynamics Kit – M specific vehicle key -M badge on front wings – Door sill strip with M designation – tailpipe cover in high-gloss chrome
▸Automatic operation of tailgate
▸Two part tailgate
▸Adaptive M Suspension
▸BMW Individual roof rails high-gloss Shadow Line
▸Rain sensor and automatic driving lights
▸Visible Trapezoidal exhaust pipe
▸Soft-Close function for side doors
▸48.26 cm (19 inches) M light alloy wheels Double-spoke style 467 M with mixed tyres (Front: 9 J x 19/tyres 255/50 R19, Rear: 10 J x 19 /tyres 285/45 R19)

Interior:

▸ Automatic air conditioning with 4-zone control and extended rear air vents in second row seats
▸ Front armrest with storage compartment
▸ Leather seats in Canberra Beige, Ivory White & Terra colours
▸ Electric Seat Lumbar support for driver and front passenger
▸ Comfort seats front, electrically adjustable
▸ Comfort seats in 2nd row with comfort optimised upholstery, 80 mm fore and aft movement and 10 degree adjustment of backrest
▸ Lights package with nine ambient lighting designs in three-colour

LEDs
▸ Multifunction information display
▸ Multifunction M Leather Steering Wheel with gearshift paddles
▸ Panorama glass sunroof
▸ BMW Individual Roof Lining Anthracite
▸ Harman Kardon surround system (600 W, 16 loudspeakers)
▸ iDrive touch with handwriting recognition with 26 cm colour display

DVD drive and integrated hard drive (20GB) for maps and audio files
▸ Navigation system Professional with 3D maps and touch screen
▸ BMW Head-Up Display
▸ Rear View Camera

3: Practicality – Yes, it is practical. It can comfortably seat 5 people and a gets a boot that can swallow the entire luggage required for those impromptu weekend outings. And with its high ground clearance and off-road capabilities, you sure can take the roads not trodden. We didn’t get to sample the X-Drive in our short test drive.

4: The Value – With more refined interiors and polished exteriors the BMW is a fantastic value. Its got a great pair of engine options of which the diesel is both frugal and powerful. Its practical and fun to drive and now is a little less on the wallet too. An all-rounder then, the X5 is the car you can put your money down on.

2018 BMW X5 India Review, Drive Impressions

BMW was kind enough to send us a car for this story and we have real-life drive impressions. The BMW TwinPower Turbo inline 6-cylinder engine is a bomb! There is much power and torque throughout the rev range that there is tonnes of driveability for daily basis and ample performance for spirited runs and fast highway commutes. The numbers are 258 PS and 560 Nm to be precise. 8-Speed automatic gearbox is a charmer as always.

The car rode on 19-inch wheels but we miss the 20-inch wheels offered in the past which made the X5 roll a bit when driven hard and fast. The engine has another highlight and that is the fuel economy. The car can return 11 km/l which is really good given our driving condition had a mix of highway and city. Steering lacked the feedback, but the precision was far more superior and still is segmented best by a good margin in both regards aforementioned. The brakes as always were good enough to stop this mammoth in a straight line at any given speed.

2018 BMW X5 India Review, Verdict

As of now, the X5 does feel dated in the way the interior has been put and the lack of 7-seats in this competitive segment makes it a hard choice to consider. However, fun to drive and solid BMW charm is what the blue propeller has in spades and that is why you can consider it even today. A tip: Choose the right color and right wheels will keep you happy for a long time!