BMW X5 (07 on) - Review

The X5 offers excellent comfort in its roomy interior however the optional third row of seats are best used as occasional seats or for children as legroom is tight. The ride is impressive though and despite the standard run-flat tyres (which can be used for a limited time at reduced speed even when punctured), it feels smooth and comfortable. However the fairly stiff suspension can struggle over rough surfaces and bumps. The cabin is well insulated from outside noise sources though, while all engines are exceptionally refined, with little noise intrusion at constant speeds.

Roomier than the original model, the second-generation X5 also offers up to seven seats for the first time. The extra row will set you back more than £1300, but they do fold flat into the load area - however the seats are small, hard and cramped and with little legroom it's virtually impossible for adults to squeeze into them. Thankfully the middle row has enough space for three and folding tilting and sliding them forward is simple. A luggage capacity of 620 litres sounds good but it's less than rivals like the Audi Q7 and Range Rover Sport - fold all the seats down and that increases to 1,750 litres but this is still smaller than many rivals. However storage up front is good and the X5 can be fitted with a rear-view camera for reversing, which can also help with attaching a towbar to a trailer thanks to a specific 'docking line' guide that appears on screen.

The interior is more rounded and softer looking than in the original X5 - and feels even more sophisticated as a result with soft touch materials and an air of quality present throughout in all the controls and switches. The X5 has BMW's iDrive system which controls climate, entertainment, communication and navigation functions (displayed on a screen in the centre of the dashboard) via a dial mounted on the centre console. The driver's seat has partial electric adjustment as standard, and visibility is very good.