BMW X5 Diesel

Prestige brands like Mercedes-Benz and BMW foresaw a demand for upmarket SUVs, not so much for the well-heeled outback wanderer, but for all those urban needs. Hence the emergence in the late 1990s of the Mercedes-Benz M-class, followed in 2000 by the BMW X5.

BMW's success with X5 has been unstoppable since launching first with a 4.4lt petrol V8, followed a few months later by a keenly-priced 3.0lt six-cylinder model. Since then two more have joined the lineup: the high performance 4.6iS in February 2002 and the 3.0lt diesel in January 2003.

The X5 diesel may seem at first to be a strange combination of prestige and agricultural, but one drive of this new generation diesel engine and you'll understand how BMW can get away with it. Unlike just about every other diesel engine we've driven, the BMW 3.0lt inline six-cylinder engine (turbocharged and intercooled) produces its pulling power from the absolute doldrums of the rev range. There is a slight delay as the engine winds up in response to your throttle prodding, but acceleration is surprisingly aggressive right off idle. The engine cranks out 135kW of power at 4000rpm, but it’s the 390Nm of torque - on the go from 2000rpm - that's the real gem. Driving is effortless, acceleration is seamless and immediate. Caress the throttle and the turbo-diesel builds speed quickly, the gearbox dropping a cog smoothly and without fuss. BMW claims the X5d is capable of flying from rest to 100kmh in just 10.5 seconds.

The X5 we tested came with the optional five-speed automatic gearbox - with tiptronic manual selector - and it’s a gearbox perfectly in tune with this engine. Gear changes are imperceptibly smooth, even under full throttle, and only the subtle drop in engine note gives away the change points. Perfect for maintaining smooth, trailer-towing progress. Noise is usually another sore point with diesels and from outside the cabin it is a factor. Once behind the wheel the vehicle's sound-damping eliminates most of that telltale diesel clatter. The interior is a definite highlight of the X5; it feels at once cosy and airy. Cosy because all controls are barely an arm flex away from the driver, and airy because there's ample room in both rows of seats and even the luggage area. The polished aluminium highlights on the trim are another feature of this modern, comfortable cabin.

Trailer Boat put the X5 diesel through its paces over seven days, clocking up more than 600km - a fair few of those with a jetski and trailer on the back. The X5 returned a very impressive 10.9lt/100km over the distance, and we drove it hard - probably because we were addicted to the engine's punch. BMW claims 8lt/100km is achievable in real world driving, which means a Melbourne-Sydney trip on one 93lt tank is possible. The test car started life at $78,200 and comes with a load of standard equipment from remote central locking to six-stack CD player.

More than $20,000 worth of extras, including:

Competition for the BMW X5d includes the Mercedes-Benz ML270CDi and Land Rover Discovery. Mainstays like the Nissan Patrol and Toyota LandCruiser can't match the X5’s refinement or car-like performance, and while the Audi AllRoad TDi certainly can, it can’t equal the X5's towing capacity.