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| 2005 Bmw X5 Review | |||
| Whether you're about to spend $40K on a brand new car, or half that on a used car, it is always important to learn as much as you can about the used car. Read these car reviews to learn about all aspects of the vehicle. Each of the usedcar reviews cover interior and exterior features, options, road tests, and more. | |||
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Introduction
| Road Test
| Inside & Out
| Other Thoughts
| Last Word
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| Inside & Out | |||
No matter your take on the styling, the artists did a pretty amazing job of creating something that looks both 100% BMW and 100% SUV, wouldn’t you say?The interior shares just the BMW part. It means business, and not business casual. BMW's idea of luxury has always been different: the leather's a bit rougher, some surfaces are purposefully hard (i.e. the door grips), and the acres of black would make a Goth girl proud. This can't just be a German thing, knowing how warm and inviting Audis can be. But none of this is to say that BMW's materials aren't of expensive quality. They are. The instrument cluster is simple and effective with lots of character; the steering wheel controls make good sense. Otherwise, I wasn't a fan of the interior. It starts with the vague, stiff ignition switch. Unintuitive hieroglyphs are still used on too many functions, as if to say "Don't know what this button does? Go look it up in the manual, chum." Is that any way to treat your six-figure clientele? The climate controls are overcomplicated, call for a high frequency of repetitive button-mashing, and turn themselves on every time the X5 is started. The screen housing the radio and navigation systems entails constant switching through its myriad modes. You can't even scroll around the nav system's map since there's no equivalent of a mouse, and the radio sometimes takes six seconds to find a preset station with very clear reception. At least sound quality is improved over past BMW stereos - all the better to play those analog cassettes (the navigation system puts a ban on CDs) - and the X5 remains one of the few BMWs that remains unscathed by the wrath of iDrive. The very tall may run out of legroom, but the driver's seat is otherwise excellent, as is the one next to it. Endless flexibility, a power tilt/telescope wheel, and adjustable seat belts do the trick every time, and the memory system stores three positions. Storage space abounds up here, and the back row has the occasional surprise like power recliner buttons mounted on the pillars and in the cargo area. People might mind the low, flat cushion but should be pleased with the space, which will improve further with the 2007 X5's larger dimensions. The flat floor and all-the-way-down windows keep three-man seating more agreeable, and rear-seat riders get to control their own air temperature to a slight degree. All passengers get the benefit of curtain airbags and everyone gets a good view out of the enormous sunroof that stretches the length of the cabin. Press "Unlock" on the remote and watch all windows obediently bow down. To load cargo, you first open the power tailgate (via a dashboard button or the keyless remote), then painlessly fold down the load floor if needed. There are two handy power outlets back there, and with the 70/30 split rear seats folded, maximum capacity is a family-friendly 54.4 cubic feet, though that's a pretty skimpy number in a field that stretches through the Infiniti's 64.5, all the way up to the Land Rover's 90.3. |
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