Sharper

Yup, the one thing we loved about the X5 was its dynamics, for a SUV that looked like a small elephant and weighed just as much, the X5 went around corners quicker than a mongoose after a snake. So to think that BMW could improve the X5 would certainly mean one of two things. Either it replaced all of its present characteristics with a set of brand new ones or BMW could add a few new ones. The latter thankfully is what has happened.

The new X5 to start with looks a bit different. There is no mistaking that it is still is the very same and very large SUV but just by slapping on new bumpers at both ends, it does look fresh. On the inside the X5 borrows the steering wheel from the new 5 Series and also gets the new iDrive module with a smaller centre console display unit.

What matters most though in the new X5 are not its engines; they are the same displacement petrol and diesel units powering the previous SUV. However remapping the fuelling characteristics and thermodynamic efficiencies to improve emissions has increased power and torque ratings slightly. In the case of the xDrive30D on our test, it now makes 243PS of max power with torque rated at 540Nm as opposed to 520Nm in previous tune. In 2010 however the new X5 gets an entirely new 8-speed tiptronic transmission whose sole intention is to improve performance, efficiency and emissions. But does it? Well, performance has improved, the marginal horsepower increase and the closer ratios do make it quicker. It now accelerates to 100kmph in 7.4 seconds, nearly a second quicker than before and is quicker past the kilometre mark by nearly a second and a half at 28.6 seconds. But what