Editors' Notes


2008 BMW X5
The 2008 BMW X5 spent a year in Consumer Guide's extended-use test fleet.

Damon Bell: Trying to make a lightning-reflexed sports car out of a 5,000-pound SUV seems like an exercise in futility to me, and this X5 does little to change my view. If you're into hardcore corner-carving, I'd recommend something lighter, with a lower center of gravity. However, if you simply must have a brawny SUV visage and tall seating position with your performance vehicle, be prepared to pay for it in the form of a stiff, nervous ride; overly sensitive steering, brakes, and throttle pedal; and fat tires that like to follow every imperfection in the road.

Don Sikora: The X5 has some sport, but there seem to be too many compromises so it doesn't have all that much utility. The X5 is roughly the same size as a Chevrolet TrailBlazer (and nearly 500 pounds heavier), but the X5's interior is noticeably smaller than that in the body-on-frame-construction Chevy. In particular, the X5 isn't comfortable for more than two adults, which seems incredible in a vehicle this size. Beyond the wonderfully strong but very thirsty engine, it didn't feel that sporty to me either.

Ed Piotrowski: I've always had a thing for fast SUVs, and the X5 4.8i fits the bill quite nicely. This BMW has the added bonus of having more subtlety than a Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 or Porsche Cayenne. It's not cheap, either in terms of its MSRP or its need for premium gas, but X5 delivers the performance, luxury, and versatility one can expect of a high-end hot-rod wagon.

Jennifer Geiger: Yes, X5 4.8i is pin-you-in-your-seat fast, but it's also burn-a-hole-in-your-pocket thirsty. I also just can't get past its overall fussiness. iDrive takes some getting used to, but is impossible to operate while focusing on the road. The overly annoying and distracting park assist function is easy to shut off, but comes back each time you put X5 in reverse. Stop second-guessing me, BMW! Those issues, coupled with too-touchy brakes and too-stiff steering make me want to take my $64,070 and shop elsewhere for a premium midsize SUV--or save $20,000+ and get a loaded Hyundai Veracruz instead.

John Biel: The X5 can't seem to decide if it wants to be an SUV or a sport wagon. Fully committed to the former, it might have better second- and third-row seating. Fully committed to the latter, it probably wouldn’t weigh nearly 5,000 pounds. Fully committed to either, it could be worth its price.