BMW Buying Guide

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BMW X5 Overview

BMW has long been ahead of the game with its first Sport Activity Vehicle, the formidable X5. 2011 puts a mild styling refresh on the entry-level xDrive35i, the clean diesel xDrive35d, the V8-equipped xDrive50i, and the terribly fast X5 M. The new single-turbo 6-cylinder offers more power and better fuel mileage, while the xDrive50i shares its twin-turbo, 400-hp engine with the flagship 7 Series. All models, save the diesel, now get an 8-speed automatic transmission and the iDrive screen is now a bit larger for ease of viewing. Like past versions, the X5 trades an amount of practicality and utility for class-leading performance and handling, but you'd be hard pressed to find an owner that loses sleep over that fact.

MSRP: $45,850 - $85,500
Base Engine: 3.0-liter turbocharged inline 6-cylinder with 300 hp
Base EPA mpg: 17 city/25 hwy/20 cmb
Competition: Mercedes-Benz M-Class, Porsche Cayenne, Infiniti FX, Acura MDX

555-hp X5 M is fast, cheap and totally in control
Diesel X5 gets 26 highway mpg, still strong performance
X5 can have heavier steering at low speeds
5-star NHTSA side-impact crash test scores