BMW X5 4.8i: Unrivalled

The BMW X5 4.8i is a swell car. And not because it’s built to refined standards or swathed in luxury. It’s expensive – (prices range between Dh355,000 and 410,000) and at 2,422kg, very heavy.

Yet such is the marvel of German engineering that despite its immense weight, the SUV drives like a rally car.

The responsive eight-cylinder V8 engine is smooth and accelerates with impressive authority. Even at stupid speeds, the car hustles effortlessly, absorbing the bumps and cornering with an accuracy and agility that you could expect only from a BMW.

As a sportier alternative to truck-based behemoths, the X5 has few parallels. And that explains why it has sold over 580,000 units worldwide.

The car’s interior is startlingly good, starting with a brilliantly-honed electronic shift knob and a smart console featuring a slew of electronic goodies.

The car can comfortably seat up to seven occupants. The X5 also has a panoramic moonroof with two-piece glass panel, power slide and lift control, wind deflector and electric interior sunshade. The engine uses a fair bit of petrol. But fuel economy will hardly be a stumbling block, if you want nothing but the best in high-end SUVs.

The lowdown

• Engine: V8 eight cylinder.
• Thumbs up: The X5 is the first SUV in the world with anti-roll stabilisation and adaptive dampers. It’s also the first car to feature the FlexRay technology – a high-speed data transmission system.
• Thumbs down: The engine uses a fair bit of petrol.
• Price Dh355,000-Dh410,000