BMW X5 (2013-2018) review - bulky but very capable - BMW X5 design
Good to drive and practical, but the X5's ever-increasing size counts against it in a few areas
Design
While there’s nothing wrong per se with the ‘F15’ third-generation X5, you only have to see one alongside the original ‘E53’ car to see how much it has grown over the years. It is marginally lower than its immediate predecessor, the ‘E70’, but it is otherwise expanding with each iteration. It’s now close to five metres long and two metres wide, so although BMW has trimmed the weight compared to the second-gen car, almost all models weigh comfortably in excess of two tonnes.
Its size does mean the X5 can be a seven-seat SUV, something the original car was not. There’s a whole wealth of alloy wheel designs and colours on offer for customers too, as well as customisation options, while two styling packs (Pure Excellence Design and Pure Experience Design) can add anything from £1160 to £3655 to the bill.
