BMW prefers to call the 2013 X5 a “Sport Activity Vehicle” rather than a “Sport Utility Vehicle,” but regardless of whether you prefer to refer to the X5 as an SAV or an SUV, this BMW is capable of carrying up to seven people or as much as 75.2 cubic-feet of cargo across more rugged or snowbound terrain than a typical passenger car can. Thanks to its xDrive all-wheel-drive system and nearly 8.75 inches of ground clearance, the BMW X5 is a more capable off-roader than the typical crossover suv, but can’t quite tackle the same types of terrain as a Jeep or Land Rover.
We spent a week driving the 2013 BMW X5 xDrive35i Sport Activity model, sticking to freeways, suburban streets, and twisty mountain roads over the course of 500 miles.