2009 BMW X5 diesel
Consumer Guide logged over 1,100 miles behind the wheel of BMW's X5 diesel.

Model: 2009 BMW X5 xDrive35d; turbodiesel 265-horsepower 3.0-liter I6 and 6-speed automatic transmission

Base Price: $51,200

Options: Cold Weather Package (heated steering wheel, ski bag, heated front seats, heated rear seats, retractable headlight washers), Premium Package (automatic tailgate operation, universal garage door opener, digital compass mirror, auto-dimming mirrors, lumbar support, BMW Assist), Premium Sound Package (premium hi-fi system, 6-disc DVD changer), Technology Package (rearview camera, Park Distance Control, navigation system), Comfort Access System, running boards, dark burl walnut trim, comfort seats with lumbar support, automatic air conditioning, iPod and USB adapter, head-up display, and satellite radio w/ one-year subscription

Price as Tested: $65,620

Total Miles Tested: 1,143 miles

Fuel Economy: 23.9 mpg

Editors' Comments
Tom Appel: Sporty SUV drivers celebrate! Your guilt-free ride has arrived. This diesel pulls with most of the gusto of the available V8, but breaks 20 mpg in vigorous around-town motoring. If I had the coin, I'd buy this thing.
David Hall: For an SUV, it's great at imitating a sports car. It corners well, is solidly built, and has many creature comforts, once you can figure out how to work some of them via iDrive. The diesel is great, and low-end torque is useful in everyday driving.
Ed Piotrowski: This sucker for V8-powered, sport-leaning SUVs is mighty impressed with this BMW diesel. Naturally, the vehicle tested here comes with the usual array of frivolous BMW add-ons. Shoppers can eliminate most of them to get this vehicle comfortably under $60,000. At that price, this X5 is a compelling combination of stump-pulling torque and fuel economy that's more miserly than Scrooge McDuck and C. Montgomery Burns during an audit.
Don Sikora: The xDrive 35d is the best version of the X5, if you ask me. The diesel engine is a bit loud at idle, but otherwise is quite smooth and powerful. The best part is how frugal it is--nearly 26.5 mpg in my mostly highway test.

05.08.2009