EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS: More of the 2007 BMW X5-Destined for greatness?

Sweet! Love the new X5.
Can't wait to get mine!!!

I like it. It's much sportier and nicer than the old one! Great !

The best vehicle in the class.

ML? No.
RX? No.
RR? No.
Q7? No.

And why is that?

ML: Doesn't try to be sports SUV. It's sporty and handles well but it is first and foremost a family car. The X5 will be better onroad, as usual, but it'll loose out to the ML when it comes to offroading.

RX: Reliable. That's it. As soon as it rains, the thing gets stuck. :p

RR: This once great car has now turned into an overweight luxury SUV pig and has lost some of its great offroading capabilities IMO and in my experience. Still a great LUXURY SUV though.

Q7: This might actually be the closest rival to the X5. Clearly the Q7 will be better offroad, but we'll have to wait for the reviews to see who will be better onroad.

But SPORTS in the SUV segment does not make the better SUV. To me, in this class, the Q7 and ML are contenders for BEST IN CLASS because they provide an enjoyable driving experience coupled with comfort and practicality. The X5 will probably be the sportiest, but least comfortable and in third place behind the Q7 and ML when it comes to offroading.

BTW, that wasn't an attack on you, Jacob, I was just curious to know why you'd rank the BMW X5 as best in class here. ;)

To me, the best "balanced" car should be voted best in class, and as much as I like the new X5, I have a feeling it'll still be sports biased (which BMW drivers want of course) and less offroad capable. To me, an SUV should be offroad capable and the Q7 and ML seem to strike that balance between offroad capability, luxury and sport. ;)

The reason i'm not considering the :
ML: To feminine. Not techy enough
RX: A chick car. Not even considered.
RR: Too expensive. Looks like a truck.
Q7: Too big. Styling isn't my taste, but it's good nonetheless.

What is the problem with "streering malfunction"? (one of the photos) Don't tell me it actually failed during testing...

On our test runs around a figure eight cones that were setup for us, we were grinding it and doing virtual donuts for about five minutes testing out the the active steering and dsg.

We beat this thing to death...

A simple restart of the car re-oriented it and it was fine.

So it was not a real issue.

001

Don't call it DSG, please!!!

BMW's SMG is so inferior to Audi's DSG!!!

The FIRST thing that popped into my mind when I read about all the active-steering and what-not is I hope it dosen't make my wheels lock up or anything when I'm trying to turn. I'm not ordering it anyways.
And please S4, he didn't mean DSG. The X5 dosen't even had SMG. He meant DSC.
Stability program.
BTW the 2000-2003 X5's also had trouble with electronic stability control.
I don't think this one should present a problem.

My head is way too small for my body, thus I am driven to make irrational, uneducated statements in order to successsfully garner controversy and, unsuccessfully, humor.

I say this again, and I will keep it saying it, this car does not appeal to me, I would much rather have an RR Sport or even an ML500 over this Bimmer..Its probably horrible offroad, uncomfortable, lousy interior (known in all BMW's) and definitly does not deliever the goods in terms of image and nice exterior..The only thing going for it is it is probably sportier than the rest..

The new X5 starts to become great when it spawns a variant that would compete in the 500+ hp club.

When would that be?

For now the ML63 AMG & Cayenne Turbo S rules the SUV super-sport category.

"theman" are you blind? With exception of the A8 the interior in this truck IMO is better than anything from Audi. The X5's appearance is sharper, elegant, & more aggressive compared to that of the Q7's.

Also who's really taking their 60 grand & up luxury SUV's off road...even if it is a more than capable Range Rover. My suggestion, buy a Jeep, Chevy, LR3, or even a cheaper Toureg (If you want some of the luxury featured on the more expensive offerings).

Wish I was blind, better blind than look at this POS for another 5 years..Bimmers are tasteless cars, along with Lexus..I find Audi/Mercedes different..

"who takes their 60K offroad?"

Many people do. About 2/3 of Land Rover Owners take theirs offroad.

See this RRS taking on Lion's Back at Moab. YOU WILL NEVER SEE AN X5 attempt this because it CANT!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=1eNxry8OgxU

oh plz........

Who cares, its just another SUV. What makes it so much different than the current one. If I saw it on the road I would not even notice the difference.

the new x5 has 4 zone climate control,
which lexus truck can claim that?

That's great for Susie Suburbanite and her book club companions on the way to William-Sonoma.

Wow...alot of X5/BMW haters on this post. Hey "theman", where do you think Mercedes is getting their current design direction from. If BMW hadn't started to be so different, Mercedes would have continued along with designs that appeal to old men.

This X5 outclasses your Audi Q7 in everything but space, & outclasses the Mercedes ML in virtually every aspect. The design is new, sharp, muscular, & elegant...But like the MB ML, stylistically it's not a far departure from the outgoing model.

I dont like the ML nor the Audi Q7, but eventhough, I would still have them over this X5...I personally love Range Rovers..

And why if Mercedes is following BMW's design direction, do we have so many appealing Merc cars versus the plain ugly Bimmer models..Even the 6 series which is the most acceptable of the BMW line up is no where near the CLS/SL/CL models...7 Series, ugly, 5 Series, ugly (I do like the M5 though for reasons other than exterior styling), X5, again ugly in comparision to RR..I see no relation between Mercs and Bimmers..

Hey theman, I guess you should take another look at the new S Class. Interior...inspired by the 7 series, dash....inspired by the 7 series, centralized controller and display inspired by iDrive on the 7 series, and finally the rear end design of the 7 series (Bangle Butt), which BMW got bashed for, now appears on the S class. Yes, I know each of these points are not exact copies of the 7, but if you can't see that they are (to put it mildly) inspired by the 7 series then you are fooling yourself. Even the BMW bashers in the car magazines have admitted that all these things on the S Class were copied from the 7 series.

The only thing taken from the 7 series is the "centralized controller", the dash is quiet different, and the "butt" is usually related to the S class's big brother the Maybach..