2011 BMW X5 xDrive35i Review by MotorTrend

The BMW X5 is a top seller Sports Activity Vehicle in the BMW fleet. MotorTrend now gives us a review of the mild facelift version for 2011.

Exterior design changes are subtle with its full LED corona rings/daylight runners, fog lamps placed on a new position perfect for off-road and dark conditions, rear taillights with two banks of LEDs, and L-Shaped as seen in the other models.

Under to hood is where it all happens. The 2011 BMW X5 is offered in a 300 horsepower twin-scroll turbocharged model or a 400 horsepower twin-turbo V8. Here’s an excerpt of MotorTrend’s review:

No matter how good BMW makes the X5-and, as we’ll explain in a second, the 2011 model is better than ever — some people will never be able to get past one little point. Wouldn’t you rather have a 5 Series wagon? The answer, as the market has born out, is a resounding Nein! Americans seem to want absolutely nothing to do with a proper station wagon.

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Like everyone’s always said about the X5, for such a big, heavy vehicle, the handling’s pretty great, and seems to just keep getting better as the years roll on. Braking from 60 mph takes place in a very good 113 feet, and it clobbered our 200-foot figure eight in 26.3 seconds. Back to the Cadillac for comparison: The SRX took a lengthy 128 feet to stop from 60 mph and nearly a full second longer to scoot around the figure eight. Again, the Cadillac’s a six-footer lighter.

So yeah, the X5 xDrive35i is quite the athlete. And while the more potent xDrive50i (with its 407 hp, 450 lb-ft of torque motor) might be faster in a straight line, the six-cylinder X5 feels more balanced, more finely tuned. It’s the variant to get (unless you crave the slower, fewer-trips-to-the-gas-station, though more-expensive, low-rpm thrills of the diesel xDrive35d). Remember, you also get a fair amount of passenger room and BMW’s elegant, if not a touch Scandinavian, take on modern luxury appointments. Not bad at all, especially considering you can’t have the wagon.

Source: MotorTrend