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Positives:
- Performance
- Safety and luxury
- Road comfort
Negatives:
- Feels heavy
- Tired dash styling
- Audio CD/Navigation conflict
Wishes:
- Separate rear pop-up window
- Lesser price
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Although
it's made in South Carolina for a mostly American
clientele, the 2006 BMW X5 4.4i certainly feels 100
percent German. Since its inception it has gathered
quite a few aficionados. With a base price of $50,000
you get a great, sporty road-holding utilitarian automobile
with a solid reputation. Then, there is the options
game, which propelled our tester to over $60,000. FYI:
the X5 3.0i with a V6 engine starts at $42,000.
It’s
hard to find anything not to like about the X5. It is
an SUV—or SAV as the Bavarian firm calls it—and
while not a crossover, it has good car feel. It comes
with so many of the usual idiosyncrasies associated
with that type of vehicles but manages to stay close
to our hearts. Electronics abound and elements of luxury,
comfort and safety touch all the proper areas.
The
X5 series has good composure, looks distinctively BMW
and drives outstandingly, albeit feeling a bit heavy
and tankish in city driving situations. We loved the
airy feel due to the all-glass roof and the clear rear
visibility. There were few blind spots compared to similar
vehicles.
A
Bosch Dynamic Stability Control system keeps you on
course in tough situations by electronically detecting
unusual conditions. It will automatically apply brakes
to individual wheels and reduce engine torque if necessary.
There is a hill descent control feature, power-heated
door mirrors, park distance control, automatic climate
control with micro-filter with air recirculation and
rear climatic control to name a few goodies. You can
even get a sliding load floor for $380.
Whatever
you do, wherever you go, you’ll be doing it safely
and in style, always arriving with a smile in this driving
machine. |
