Alright speed, new style, I guess prestige but it really is new, M3 and M5 now these are true to life real bad beemers that have been around ever since BMW hit the scene

Really small trunk space, glitches in electronic system, not proven since it's really new. Too car like, not enough off road manners, should've got some ideas since they used to own Land Rover. Gee, wonder why X5's look a lot like Range Rovers. They took a few cues from it and just added their engine with their suspension, and called it an SAV.

Droppin fifty plus K on a vehicle like this. Really not worth it. I'm just riding this one out until I pick up an M3 later this year. Now this is a real true beemer. Not something that decided to jump on what everyone else is doing like creating an SUV. Save your hard earned money and buy what BMW was really meant to be. Not a tall station wagon that doesn't even have any off road manners and even with the X5M HP, how ridiculous is this idea. It's like the ML55. Anyone who ones one, just wait and try to take a thirty mile per hour curve at over eighty. Good luck!!! You'll need it.
So think about what your actually buying from the auto manufacturer.
if you want real pure driving exhiliration without wondering whether or not you SAV will tip over, save another twenty grand and buy a real Beemer like the M3 or if you really want to fly with four extra people in your ride, save an additional ten grand and get the M5,
It doesn't take a genius to figure out that vehicles that are high can only take sharp turns and curves to a limit before they finally tip over. It's only a matter of time, no matter how many inches or tires, rims, whatever you put on them. For pete's sake, if you really want speed which everyone seems to like, Go buy if you really can afford it, a Porsche Carrera Turbo all wheel drive and really be able to fly off the line. Otherwise, just stick to what these SUV's are really made for like hauling people, things, and occasionally back wilderness adventures. You do the math!!!!!

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M3 and M5 in classes of their own compared to the X5. Cmon even the X5M version can't hang or out turn the M5, if you actually know physics it's really impossible, so save your dough, and buy something that really represents the Manufacturer. Porsche has an SUV coming out, but let's get real, it won't handle the track or turns like original Porsches do. It's made to compete with other SUV's but personally it too is a waste of technology and time to even get one.

WOW this thing can move!!! The sport package suspension allows the car to remain extremely stable at high speeds. Compared to my ML320 it is better in almost every way except cargo room. It is faster, a tad bit safer, handles much better, and is ten times more fun to drive. Both are excellent vehicles, but the X5 is in a class of its own in terms of performance and driving pleasure. It stops and goes like a sports car. The nav system is easy to figure out, and the stereo sounds great.

Cargo room is very small, but that's not what the X5 was built for. If you're looking for a luxury cargo mover, look to the ML430. The X5 is very pricey as well.

THIS CAR ROCKS!!! It is safe, fun to drive, and looks great. The X5 is not really an SUV, but it still provides AWD for the New England winters. The 19" wheels provide for a harsh ride, but that's the tradeoff for awesome handling. The 4.4L engine is awesome, and is more than adequate to move this vehicle. 282hp and 324 lb-ft of torque = F-U-N. Ours is brand new so we have not had any problems with it yet. Even if I do, as long as they're normal wear and tear items I will not mind due to the strong performance of the vehicle. The X5 is expensive but worth it!

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Mercedes ML 320- The X5 is faster, looks more expensive, handles better, yet lacks cargo space. The ML 320 is still fun to drive and looks great.
Land Rover Discovery- My Land Rover is amazing off road, but on the road you have to be careful and anticipate stops. A fun car to drive, but not very practical and the handling is that of a truck.

Looks, solid construction, interior quality, handling, safety. Love the Xenon headlights and road feel and the interior is very nicely finished (with the Premium package).

Cargo space somewhat limited, one rattle coming from the back. Pricey and should have more standard equipment (CD player is $200 extra??!??!).

Nothing else fit my requirements - luxurious, strong performance, safe, handsome, all wheel drive (for Seattle winters).

No regrets and I would make the same purchase decision again.

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MDX - looks like a minivan - period
RX300 - felt flimsy and cheap and engine was struggling. Nav was terrible.

This car handles like a sports car, much roomier like an average SUV, and it goes anywhere you point it. As a land developer and custom home builder, I drive it on rough rocky roads and hazard infested cosntruction driveways, and have yet to rip one of those nice wide "street" tires. It goes well in 4WD situations, but lets face it, even I only need the 4WD part 1% of the time I drive it, and the the other 99% is pure joy to drive on the road. Handles like the best sports cars I have driven, truly a lot of fun to drive. Careful though, 3 speeding tickets the first month! Hardly knew it was going 90+ when I got zapped. Felt like only going the 50MPH speed limit allowed!

For only a little more than a dog SUV you can have a real pleasure to drive.

A couple of bugs but the dealer will take care of them. Mine sputters a little and am taking it in, should be simple. Also, dies at slow speed and in reverse, probably just an idle adjustment. Going to dealer next week.

I drove the X5 4.4 and the 3.0 and ordered the 4.4, but when there was a wait, I took the 3.0 that came in that week in WHITE. It is not lacking in power and speed. It is even about 6 to 8k cheaper, all told. The only reason I wanted the 4.4 was the MPG were only 1 MPG worse than the 3.0.

Best vehicle on the market in this category. If you need more space, just get a luggage rack for those odd times and trips. We took it skiing last month and the rack helped out.

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JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LTD - Have had three of these, a '93, '94, and recently bought a '00. Nice cars for the money, bought the old ones as a bang around vehicle that still looks good, and they held their used values well, but the 2000 LTD just does not compare to the X5 in any manner. Looks, handling, feel (the JEEP LTD is wheel heavy and oversteers), VS the agile feel of the X5. I may keep the X5 for quite a while. If you can pay the extra 15k out the door vs the Jeep LTD, then you will never have buyer's remorse. I always hate buying something and then saying, I wish I spent the extra X dollars and got the top of the line version.

The ride and handling in this vehicle are typical BMW. I think the interior and exterior styling is excellent. All the driver ergonomics are excellent. Acceleration is excellent for a six cylinder as well as gas milage. I get up to 23 mpg. on the road.

I have a vibration problem when idling at stop. Also the gas pedal is too light to the touch - causes a lurching effect until you are used to it. Lastly, the windshield wipers are a bit too close to the hood (when in off position) and can scratch the hood paint if you have ice buildup on them (keep them clear in winter weather). These are my only complaints.

If my vehicle's idle was smooth (like my 528i) I would rate this a 5 value and 5 overall. It is the best SUV/SAV type of vehicle on the road today (off-road I would recommend another vehicle). You should test drive the 3.0 model to make sure the vibration issue does not exist for you.

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I previously owned a ML430 '00. This vehicle is head and shoulders above the ML (except for the rough idle). It has better ride, handling, gas mileage, driver ergonomics, etc. The ML only shined in utility.

I was going to buy a Merc M series until I took the X5 for a test drive. I also own a 750iL and 540i BMW and this little beast drives every bit as well as these higher-priced sedans. I was blown away. I am 6'6" tall and most vehicles make me feel cramped - I can sit tall in the X5 without having the seatback reclined. It's got heaps of power for the mountains where I live, steep winding slopes...no problem, just point the car where you want it to go and it does what it's told. It looks great (I've got a mahogany red one) with a nicely styled hood. In Australia the X5 only comes with a 4.4 litre motor (at this stage) and has 10 airbags standard. The integrated car phone is fantastic as is the digital audio processing sound system. I have only had to stand on the brakes once since I have owned it and it STOPPED in no distance. It is so quiet inside except for that subtle V8 hum when you push the pedal hard. The elevated seat position gives you fantastic road vision. My wife and I each have a coded car key that not only operates the central locking but sets up the electronically memorised seating position and steering column position. I like the way you start the car by just turning the ignition key without having to hold the key in the start position; the electronics crank the starter and then release it automatically when the motor turns over.

The rear seating only allows 3 passengers, so when you have more than 3 kids it creates some problems. Small cargo space, although you can stack up a fair bit with the cargo net that comes standard. The options added about 20% to the base price of the car. It sucks up premiun gas. I was disappointed about the limited colour choices available in Australia - the BMW website in Germany suggests a greater array of exterior and interior colour combinations. The X5 isn't a serious offroad vehicle but it handles the muddy dirt roads around where I live a lot better than a sedan.

City (not off-road) all-wheel drive vehicle with great vision from the elevated seat position. One of the safest vehicles ever built with multiple electronic drive assists, monocoque steel passenger shell, lots of airbags, great brakes, unique seatbelt tensioning system, antisubmarining seat design and serious BMW handling. Coded car keys automatically set up the electronic seating for each driver before you even get into the car. Parking distance sensors make it easy to avoid nudging other vehicles when parking. Rain sensors take care of the window wipers. The headlight washers keep the Xenon beam really bright, even on muddy roads. The integrated hands-free car phone is top quality (Motorola)and the dashboard display and steering wheel phone controls are incredibly convenient to use. The sound system is excellent and you have the choice of the 6-stack CD or cassette. The sunroof doesn't detract from the generous headroom but the electronically retractable side mirrors are a bit of a gimmick. The dashboard TV is handy to kill time while you're waiting in the car (obviously is inactivated whilst driving) and the optional rear DVD player and screen keeps the kids occupied on longer trips. I didn't get the SatNav system but it's available and affordable. It accelerates and handles like a sports car and rides like a 7-series BMW luxury sedan.
It's the best vehicle I have ever owned and will probably hold onto it for many years (and it will probably still drive like new as have other BMW's I have owned). Main drawbacks are V8 gas consumption and limited rear seating design (maximum of 5 persons in the vehicle).

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Comparing the ride of the X5 with the M series Mercedes is like comparing my 7 series with a skateboard. The Mercedes drives like a truck and rolls like a ship. The Mercedes does have the option of additional seating in the back and can carry more passengers (just like a lot of other vans). The comparable RangeRover has a bigger motor but with less power and torque and is another $US10,000 dearer in Australia. The RangeRover still has the legacy of the poor reputation of British made vehicles such as earlier Jaguars etc. However, the RangeRover is a true offroad vehicle, as is the Lexus. The Lexus is about the same price as the RangeRover and has many items as standard that are optional extras on the X5. The Lexus has an outstanding reputation for service and reliability.

Good acceleration and sporty handling for a SUV. Solid build. Good ride quality. Tasteful and well-trimmed interior. Nice exterior design. Feature-packed.

Very limited cargo space for a SUV. Heavy doors. Inflated sticker--need a lot of options which are standard in other luxury SUV's. Low gas mileage for a six-cylinder.

After having owned a Lexus RX300 for a couple years, I wanted a more sporty ride and found it in the X5. Even though, the X5 is about 8-10 grand more than a comparable RX300, it's acceleration and handling is far superior (compared to the "boring" ride on the RX300). I just wished the cargo space was a little bigger (seems about the same as a BMW 5 series--which I owned a few years back) and the mileage could be better (the RX300 had little better mileage). Also, things like leather seats, CD-changer, automatic climate control, and automatic transmission should be standard on a $42,000+ vehicle. But all-in-all, the X5 is a great SUV for someone looking for a sporty ride, fine handling and the panache of a BMW all-in-one.

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Lexus RX300

Good acceleration and sporty handling for a SUV. Solid build. Good ride quality. Tasteful and well-trimmed interior. Nice exterior design. Feature-packed.

Very limited cargo space for a SUV. Heavy doors. Inflated sticker--need a lot of options which are standard in other luxury SUV's. Low gas mileage for a six-cylinder.

After having owned a Lexus RX300 for a couple years, I wanted a more sporty ride and found it in the X5. Even though, the X5 is about 8-10 grand more than a comparable RX300, it's acceleration and handling is far superior (compared to the "boring" ride on the RX300). I just wished the cargo space was a little bigger (seems about the same as a BMW 5 series--which I owned a few years back) and the mileage could be better (the RX300 had little better mileage). Also, things like leather seats, CD-changer, automatic climate control, and automatic transmission should be standard on a $42,000+ vehicle. But all-in-all, the X5 is a great SUV for someone looking for a sporty ride, fine handling and the panache of a BMW all-in-one.

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Lexus RX300

Good acceleration and sporty handling for a SUV. Solid build. Good ride quality. Tasteful and well-trimmed interior. Nice exterior design. Feature-packed.

Very limited cargo space for a SUV. Heavy doors. Inflated sticker--need a lot of options which are standard in other luxury SUV's. Low gas mileage for a six-cylinder.

After having owned a Lexus RX300 for a couple years, I wanted a more sporty ride and found it in the X5. Even though, the X5 is about 8-10 grand more than a comparable RX300, it's acceleration and handling is far superior (compared to the "boring" ride on the RX300). I just wished the cargo space was a little bigger (seems about the same as a BMW 5 series--which I owned a few years back) and the mileage could be better (the RX300 had little better mileage). Also, things like leather seats, CD-changer, automatic climate control, and automatic transmission should be standard on a $42,000+ vehicle. But all-in-all, the X5 is a great SUV for someone looking for a sporty ride, fine handling and the panache of a BMW all-in-one.

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Lexus RX300

Powerful engine, safety features and good looks. BMW is known for their power and handling while keeping the passengers fairly comfortable and safe. Bring on the speed racers in their Hondas.

Too many bugs. Extra cost for a Lumbar support on seat. Back seats are not adjustable. The power window button is in the wrong place. Too many extra features that you have to take car to dealer to have put in place (For example, if you want Daytime running lights, auto locking doors etc).

I would recommend this vehicle to anyone with the cash to get it. I wanted the V8 but we are "ballers on a buget" so we settled for the six. Let me tell you, the thing runs like a scalded dog. We actually got a show vehicle with 1800 miles on it at a Buick Dealer in the Bay Area. We have Silver with Premium and Activity. The MDX and the X5 are all in short supply. My girl and I drove them both, the X5 was the one that made her say, "Lets get this thing now". Happy car hunting.

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Ford Exploder-not even in the same class. Anyone want to buy a used 96 EB.
Acura MDX- A better value, but its not a BMW.
Nissan Pathfinder- Underpowered...the one I had was.
Lincoln Navigator- Nice, but still a Found On Road Dead. Sticker was 57Gs.
Cadillac Escalade- Truck with a Caddy Badge.