Facelifted BMW X5 has Corolla-like consumption

BMW Australia has released the updated version of its X5 luxury soft-roader -- and its most affordable and most popular model uses the same amount of fuel as a Toyota Corolla.

According to federal government fuel consumption data, the new BMW X5 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo-diesel uses a combined average of 7.4L/100km -- the same rating as for a 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol-powered Corolla hatch.

This is despite the fact that the BMW X5 weighs almost 50 per cent more than a Corolla -- an extra 600kg.

However, there is a catch. The price of such frugality eclipses $100,000 by the time on-road costs are included. For that, you could buy five Corollas.

Indeed, BMW has ramped up the price of all four models in the new X5 range -- but it has also ramped up the power, added a heap more equipment including an eight-speed auto across all models, and cut or maintained fuel consumption.

BMW says the luxury four-wheel-drive market is strong enough to handle the price rises. And it would know. The BMW X5 has been Australia's top-selling luxury SUV for the past seven years in a row.

The luxury sedan market, which includes models such as the BMW 5 Series, Mercedes-Benz E Class and Audi A6, accounts for about 2000 sales each year in Australia.

The luxury four-wheel-drive market, which includes models such as the BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz M Class and Audi Q7, accounts for 10,000 sales each year in Australia -- five times bigger than the luxury sedan market of the same price range.

"One of the reasons luxury SUVs are so popular and so resilient is because they're so practical," says BMW Australia product planner Toni Andreevski. "The financial crisis slowed sales of luxury SUVs a little, but not by as much as other luxury segments. And as soon as the economy recovered, sales of luxury SUVs picked up again. Customers just held on to their cars a little longer before updating."

The mid-life facelift of the BMW X5 must keep the model fresh for another two-and-a-half years before an all-new model arrives.

The exterior has been changed to make the vehicle look more car-like (the paint extends further down into the bumper, there's less grey plastic) and the engines and transmissions of every model have been replaced.

BMW says more than 80 per cent of X5 sales in recent times have been the base model diesel -- but most customers spend between $5000 and $10,000 on options.

A new twin turbo diesel -- that is almost as quick as the just-superseded 4.8-litre V8 petrol model but is more frugal -- is likely to increase the diesel mix even further.

The new X5 models begin arriving in dealerships this month.

Price check on BMW X5
BMW X5 xDrive30d LCI 3.0 turbo diesel $92,100 (up $3560)
BMW X5 xDrive35i LCI 3.0 turbo petrol $103,900 (up $17,265)
BMW X5 xDrive40d Sport LCI 3.0 twin-turbo diesel $113,900 (up $6000)
BMW X5 xDrive50i Sport LCI 4.4 twin-turbo petrol $133,400 (up $10,000)

*prices do not include registration fees and dealer charges.

Key to pics: White car X5 xDrive40d Sport, brown car X5 xDrive50i Sport

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