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BMW's first four-cylinder X5
New 25d models also introduce rear-wheel drive to the worthy X5 rangeBMW has boldly priced its new four-cylinder diesel X5 – in rear-wheel drive form – higher than its closest competitor, which drives through a constant four-wheel drive system.
It's an indication of the prestige brand's confidence in the new product, and the Australian market's fascination with prestige SUVs... whether or not they can actually go off-road.
BMW has never before offered local buyers a four-cylinder engine in the X5, which is the mainstay of the importer's SUV range in Australia. Only the 3 Series outsells the X5 here. And nor has BMW offered X5 in rear-wheel drive form before, cementing the view of many that the public buy SUVs to tow boats and caravans, but not necessarily to visit remote and inaccessible parts of the country.
"[The demographic for the new variants] is going to be similar to the X5, but previously people who probably couldn't afford to step up to the X5 – the middle class. So we potentially might get a little bit of migration from the smaller SUVs – the Q3, X3-style cars," said Scott Croaker, Product Communications Manager during the launch of the new variants yesterday.
"[X5] sDrive25d is a little bit more urban, rather than extra-urban... your city dwellers that need the additional room. And probably, given the car itself, it would almost be the perfect 'soccer mum' car, because it's got the space, the riding height, the additional safety – in terms of awareness. But you don't have the xDrive [four-wheel drive] so you're not paying for the xDrive [since] you don't need it, because you're only going up on kerbs and that sort of stuff.
"The sDrive pushes towards a very active, younger, but inner-urban family."
BMW has already released variants additional to the X5 range since the car's original launch in Australia late last year. When the new (F15 series) X5 arrived here, it was only available with 50i 4.4-litre petrol V8 and 30d and M50d 3.0-litre diesel six-cylinder variants. From early this year 35i turbo-petrol six and 40d 3.0-litre diesel six variants have been added to the range for Australia.
The four-cylinder X5 models are the X5 sDrive25d (rear-wheel drive, priced at $82,900) and the X5 xDrive25d (four-wheel drive, priced at $87,900). Prices and specifications for the full X5 range were already published by motoring.com.au in November last year, but just to refresh, the four-cylinder diesel is rated at 160kW and 450Nm, for a 0-100km/h time of 8.2 seconds.
Fuel consumption in combined-cycle testing is either 5.8L/100km (sDrive25d RWD) or 6.0L/100km (xDrive25d 4WD), meaning that all the diesel variants in BMW's X5 range are now sub-7.0L/100km and, accordingly, the green car dispensation from the Luxury Car Tax applies. The engine features twin turbochargers in a sequential set-up, with variable geometry for the smaller turbo. Both variants drive through an eight-speed automatic transmission and save fuel through an auto-stop/start system. BMW engineers have configured the xDrive25 variant for a 35:65 torque split (front/rear) in normal operation. The all-wheel drive system bumps up the weight of the X5 by 45kg and the four-cylinder engine weighs 70kg less than the 3.0-litre diesel six. Kerb weights are 2070kg (sDrive25d) or 2115kg (xDrive25d).
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Written byKen Gratton
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Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
If the price does not contain the notation that it is "Drive Away", the price may not include additional costs, such as stamp duty and other government charges.
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