This massive SUV is luxury with a capital ‘L’

IT’S difficult to know where to begin with this week’s test car, the luxurious BMW X5.

Straight away let me say that this massive SUV is luxury with a capital

‘L.’

I will start with the cream leather seats, which give the interior a massive lift. It would be difficult keeping those seats clean if the driver is wearing mucky wellingtons and operating in a rural environment. But if the driver lives and works in an urban area then the issue of keeping the seats clean would not be as big a problem.

I drove a black sapphire-coloured model and it looked awesome. So many people I met last week wanted to know more about the car; it really had that effect on people. Naturally many said they would buy one, if they won the Lotto.

This is the third generation of BMW’s popular X5, which was first introduced in 1999. It’s much the same design as your regular BMW 5-series. At the front the new style headlamps occupy more space and the lights are divided by BMW’s famous kidney-style grille. Inside everything is very well laid out and I really liked the radio display where you can choose your radio station by scrolling through a decent-sized display on the dash.

I drove an automatic version with stop-start technology and it was such a pleasure to travel in; it just seemed to glide along the road. All my family loved the views from the high driving position. There is plenty of power and you will be the envy of all your neighbours if you can afford an X5.

I really liked the unusual reversing camera which gives you an overhead view. When you are finished reversing, the camera holds the picture for a few seconds as you pull away and you can see that you haven’t done any damage while reversing. The boot is huge and no spare wheel, but then BMW has run-flat tyres. And you can let down the tailgate at the back, which makes it easier to place heavy items in the boot.

You don’t need to purchase all of the extras available, but some are more beneficial than others. For example the panoramic sunroof will cost you an extra e2,100 and while the aluminum running boards looked impressive, they will cost you an extra

?¬640.

Prices for the 30D version I drove starts at

?¬79,080 and if you are rich enough to opt for all of the extras available you won’t have much change out of

?¬100k. There is an old saying that if you have to ask the price of something, then you probably cannot afford it. I think that’s definitely true with the X5.

When a new car is launched the manufacturers rarely mention the brand of tyres fitted. Coincidentally the day I picked up the X5 I also attended a media briefing by Continental Tyres on recent trends in tyre sales and we were warned of the dangers of buying part-worn tyres. My BWW was fitted with Continental’s Conti Sport tyres and like the car they were also impressive.