Externally it’s still a handsome beast, although we’re not
100 per cent sure that the Mineral white is its best hue – they tend to look
far more imposing in the darker colours. The M Sport styling does look good,
but we can’t help but feel that it’s a little over the top on a 25d model… it’s
just not that sporting. It also looks a little strange that the two ‘air
intakes’ at either end of the front bumper valance are nothing of the sort –
they’re covered by solid black plastic that’s been moulded to give the
impression of an air intake, and we have to say that the M badges on the front
wings do look rather naff, too. You can just about get away with them on a car
like the editorial M235i as it’s an M Performance machine but there really
isn’t any M DNA coursing though the sDrive25d’s veins!
X5 sDRIVE25dM Sport
Engine
Bar the minor nit-picking though the X5 makes a very good
case for itself on the showroom floor; handsome, plenty commodious enough and
fairly well-loaded with standard equipment… but are you really ready to shell
out the best part of $82835,75 on what is effectively a four-pot diesel? The
performance figures would suggest that it’ll be sprightly enough in a straight
line and after a short while behind the wheel you’d have to say that’s the
correct impression. It’s no ball of fire but the twin-turbo four doesn’t have a
problem with shifting the X5’s bulk at all, and with the windows up and without
extending the engine too much it’s pretty refined too. In extremis when really
wringing the engine out in each gear the slightly coarse nature of the
four-cylinder does come to the fore, but then again, if you wanted to travel
that fast you probably should have looked slightly further up the X5 range, but
we’ll come to that in a short while.
X5 sDRIVE25dM Sport
Tyre
For the most part though the 25d X5 is very pleasant to punt
around. The standard fit eight-speed auto works as well in this application as
it does in all the other models to which the ‘box is fitted and coupled with
the engine that does all of its best work between 1500 and 2500rpm it’ll rock
along at quite a decent pace without breaking into a sweat. Unlike all the
other M Sport X5s the 25d doesn’t come with the Adaptive M suspension but it’s
none the worse for missing out on this gadget and despite the 19-inch wheels it
still rides very well. This must have something to do with the tyres still
having fairly generous 50 (front) and 45 (rear) sidewall profiles.
The other item that distinguishes this sDrive X5 is the fact
that it’s the first X5 to be available without four-wheel drive. Let’s face it
the vast majority of X5s never venture off road so the introduction of a rear-
wheel drive example makes sense – if you want the all-wheel drive ability it’s
still available with the 25d engine, it’ll just cost you an additional $5086,12
on an M Sport (or $3818,73 on the SE trim level). One thing that can be said
for the rear-wheel drive X5 is that it’s steering is actually lighter than on a
four-wheel drive version, although our comparison was between a 30d xDrive and
this 25d sDrive but as they were equipped with the same wheel and tyre setup it
still seems like a valid comparison. Either way, the steering on the 25d isn’t
desperately feelsome but the lighter touch required would certainly make this
machine a better prospect around town. In terms of handling we weren’t going
for banzai lap times on our favourite stretch of back road but it corners
tidily enough although with perhaps more bodyroll than you’d experience on a
car with the Adaptive M suspension. It’s also not quite as economical as the
official stats would suggest, and just about the only way you’d get 50mpg out
of it would be to switch it off and push it down a hill. If you entered
ownership expecting high 30s you probably wouldn’t be disappointed, although if
you use all of the performance on offer expect considerably less than that.
X5 sDRIVE25dM Sport
On road
Ultimately we took quite a shine to this X5 which was a
surprise given we were somewhat skeptical prior to sampling it. The car’s Achilles
heel though is its $77666,80 price tag. For less than an additional $2319,40
you could have a xDrive30d SE parked on your drive, and while it might not have
quite the same M Sport styling it’s considerably quicker, more refined and not
that far behind in the economy stakes either. And while we’re on the subject of
rivals, don’t forget the rather excellent X3. If you can manage with slightly
less interior space you could have an SE trim X3 xDrive20d with the eight-speed
auto for $57537,71 or a 30d for $65870,99. Yes, you’d need to add nav to them
both and it wouldn’t have quite so much driveway kudos but the X3 is still an
excellent piece of kit. If you really do need the extra room then the X5
sDrive25d M Sport would still be an excellent choice and far better than you
might imagine.
