2009 BMW X5

Just taking a quick look around the busy Dubai streets will confirm the fact that the X5 is a big-seller here, with many a white 4.8i pushing its way down the main roads; the lesser cars cowering in its large shadow.

Drivers have taken to the X5 in a big way here, enjoying its saloon-like on-street driving dynamics and aggressive, forceful presence that opens up nicely on the road and opens-up the road nicely for you.

Big, boxy, loud and proud; the X5 is now in its second generation since launch and BMW have grown, redesigned and refined the their biggest SUV, making it near perfect in many people’s eyes, for its intended purpose of top-quality town and motorway cruising.

The trademark BMW face, made up of the famous double-kidney front grille and aggressive headlights leads the way, with wide, square arches at each corner over alloy wheels of up to 21 inces, from 18-inches. There’s that recognizable BMW shoulder-line crease right the way down the car, and that high roofline that offers such a large and airy interior space.

The X5 is however, rounder in general overall look than the previous generation; something that X5 fans may say has softened the car a little. Still, soft or not, the car is still a hulk that demands respect, and that’s why so many buyers pick this particular BMW. 

The fully redesigned interior features more overall space thanks to the larger-in-every-direction body shell, plus 10-way power adjustable front seats, new leather colour schemes to match your wardrobe and a bigger luggage area inside that bigger trunk. Options that can be specified include active steering, an automatic power tailgate that opens at a touch of a button on the key fob, additional stepping boards and a third row of seating for those with bigger families. The overall quality, fit and finish of the interior has however, remained unchanged – it’s as good, near perfect, as its always been; how much bling you put inside it is up to you.

Like the X3, the X5 is not meant to be powering through the desert on any given weekend, more cruising to the malls with a trunk-full of gear and packed out with children, but with the BMW xDrive 4×4 system on hand, some reasonable ground-clearance and some nicely torquey engines, you could get it a little dirty if you really wanted to.

The 4.8-litre, V8, petrol engine suits the big X5 perfectly, offering smooth wafts of torque and effortless acceleration – the performance figures of 350bhp and 475 Nm of torque speak for themselves, and that V8 grumble of is very X5.

There is an option of a 3-litre, straight-6, petrol engine that will also deliver on the performance front, but looking at most X6s on the road today will clearly show the 4.8i badge; a sign of wealth and status as much as proof that it is a great engine for the car.

This is a big, solid and safe-looking SUV that is well-packed with all the latest safety devices, and it’s this look and specification that gives drivers the feeling that they are above and away from the usual motorway dangers. They also don’t have to sacrifice too much in the way of saloon-like handling and performance; a winning combination for BMW.

Specification

Price Range (AED) 245,000-410,000