The BMW X5 sport-utility vehicle has evolved into a highly desired yuppie SUV that never goes off the concrete. It does everything well, and looks good doing it, with a bold grille, sharp-looking rims and attractive lines. The X5 we tested had a twin-turbo V8 engine. While tremendously fast, it was also horribly inefficient; I achieved 16 mpg in mixed driving. For an SUV of this size, I would choose the diesel engine for better fuel efficiency. The X5 also was difficult to get in and out of. The optional side rail helped, but it was still awkward. Of course, the X5 is plush inside, with generous helpings of leather and wood. Optioned out at $72K, this is still the SUV that most yuppies would drive to keep up with the Joneses. –Joe Chulick
The BMW X5 is the original luxury SUV, and the first to thoroughly emphasize the "sport" in sport utility. It's always been solid, with stable handling and good passenger space, even if the cargo area isn't as big as it could be. This X5 continues that pace-setting tradition. It's seriously quick — quicker than the luxury sports coupe I drove during the same week — with good brakes and suspension that belie its high center of gravity. As always, the X5 delivers fuel mileage that is embarrassing, even in a recovering economy, but that's hard to avoid in a performance SUV. It shouldn't be hard to forget the horrible iDrive secondary controls and the relatively low fuel efficiency if you concentrate on the driving experience. –Paul Hagger
After heading down a less popular design road, BMW is starting to make better-looking cars again. The X5 is a good example, with its fresh styling and clean lines — a nice improvement over the outgoing version. Inside is typical BMW. As expected, premium materials are used and the seats are firm but comfortable. The rear seat is roomy and can fold flat to create a large cargo space. The tailgate is a convenient feature. Our X5 was equipped with running boards, which look nice but are too narrow. We drove the X5 550i, which is equipped with a powerful V8 engine that produces a wonderful throaty roar on strong acceleration. With a suspension tuned to match the power, the X5 is easily one of the best-handling SUVs on the market. But you pay for that big power in fuel economy; I averaged about 14 mpg in mixed city/highway driving. That power also doesn't come cheap; our tester topped $70K. Yes, it's a BMW, but that seems like a hefty bit of cash for a 5-passenger crossover. –Perry Stern