BMW X5 xDrive30d 2011 Review

Price guide (recommended price before statutory and delivery charges): $92,100
Options fitted to test car (not included in above price): Innovations Package (auto tailgate; anti-dazzle exterior mirrors with fold-in and parking functions; full electric seat and steering column adjustment; control display with 8.8-inch monitor, satnav upgrade with TV tuner; reversing camera; bi-xenon headlamps with washers; high-beam assist and USB audio) $12,000; 19-inch star spoke alloys $2500; aluminium running board $700; extended mobile phone connectivity $220; keyless access and start $2400; chrome line exterior trim $700; panorama glass sunroof $3700; adaptive headlights $1000; voice control $700; metallic paint $2000
Crash rating: Five-stars (NCAP)
Fuel: Diesel
Claimed fuel economy (L/100km): 7.4
CO2 emissions (g/km): 195
Also consider: Audi Q7 3.0 TDI; Mercedes-Benz ML 300 CDI; Volkswagen Touareg; Lexus RX 400 h

Quicker, smoother, more economical and cleaner, despite its near-six-figure the new base X5 represents one of the value buys on the market.

Though it takes a trainspotter to quickly pick the latest version of BMW's biggest softroader, underneath there's plenty different. At entry level, for instance, gone is the 3.0-litre petrol engine, replaced by a 3.0-litre turbodiesel married to ZF's new eight-speed auto transmission that is now standard across the X5 range.

When BMW launched the E70 X5 lineup mid-year, its execs told press of expectations that diesels (the base xDrive30d tested here and the hotter xDrive40d) would account for about 80 per cent of Australian X5 sales. At the time of writing, five months into the new model's life, that's been the case, with the 40d on 24 per cent and the 30d on a whopping 54 per cent. This is unusual for the prestige sector, where buyers are easily persuaded upmarket. It's a pointer to how well the base model fulfils consumer expectations.

The 30d starts at $92,100 plus on-roads – a hike of more than $3500 on the model it supersedes. For that you get a 3.0-litre single-turbocharged diesel six delivering 180kW (up seven) pouring 540Nm of torque (up 20) from 2000 rpm – and, by the feel of it, most of that from a fair bit lower down the rev range. It has all the muscle most SUV buyers would ever need to tote its 2150 kg (plus people and stuff), evidenced by its 0-100km/h sprint time of 7.6 seconds.

It's a have-your-cake-and-eat-it engine – as quiet, free-spinning, flexible and frugal as it is muscular. With help from the new eight-speed Steptronic auto, fuel consumption is down 1.3L/100km from its predecessor to a class-leading 7.4. It's a silky smooth combination, with a cog for every occasion and the mapping to serve up the right one every time.

On the handling front, there's good news too -- it's business as usual for the chassis that raised the bar in the SUV sector.

We didn't take it off the road – while reasonable off-road performance lies within the power of an appropriately attired X5, our vehicle's $2500 19-inch alloys and low-pro tyres were more for Darling Point than Darling Downs. On the tar, however, no SUV at this sub-$100K level matches it in dispensing with that unwieldy top-heaviness so inherent to big high-riders.

Some find BMW's suspension formulae skew too far towards handling, with an over-firm ride. I don't, even in smaller models like 1 and 3 Series and certainly not here. The steering feels a bit vague at low speeds, but sharpens up and gains tactile appeal once you're off.

The double-wishboned front end and multilink rear deliver a ride that soaks up the micro-topography while keeping the X5 flat and composed through even vigorous cornering. It's well insulated from road and wind noise, too.

Today's X5 is a palpably larger vehicle than the first generation launched a decade ago. It's tall and broad and cavernous inside. Having spent time in 1 and 3 Series models with black-on-black interiors, I found it very pleasant climbing into our test X5's mercifully light interior with cream leather and sunroof lining.

Our test vehicle was loaded to the gunwales with options – $25,920 worth, to be precise. Most of that money goes towards luxing it up.

BMW says more than 80 per cent of X5 buyers opt in to one or more of the bundled option packages, of which the $12,000 Innovations Pack on our vehicle is the most expensive. There is much in it I could without, although the bi-xenon lights with the high-beam assist (which automatically dips to low beam when it detects oncoming traffic) are a good thing. But paying extra for a reversing camera on a vehicle of this calibre is not on.

Otherwise, the X5 xDrive30d is, even in its entry level form, offers a comfortable, well equipped means of getting around. With its a top-notch fundamentals, it comes close to pitch perfect.

Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at the carsales mobile site