First Drive: New BMW X5

Since its arrival in 1999, the BMW X5 has had its fair share of critics. It was seen as forced, immature and by some even ugly. But that was the first generation of the X5 Sports Activity Vehicle or SAV or BMW likes to call it. It has since been one of the most successful model lines for the Bavarian company. It was one of the initial SUVs to combine luxury with a premium badge and throw in reasonable capability too. So this is not an SUV that is trying to best the Land Cruiser or the Range Rover. But the good news is that over the years it's also got better on the capability side.

The 3rd generation which made its global debut towards the end of 2013 sports the new bolder face with the kidney grille getting wider and bigger. But having said that the car doesn't look too heavy up front, because unlike the X3 where remember thinking the bumper looks too heavy, this one has been broken up a little bit. The air intake has been done in little bit of a plastic as well as on matte aluminium look, that's nice because it breaks up that monotony. You get the fog lamps, because remember on the SUV range from BMW it is not just 4 eyes, its 6 eyes! So the fog lamps inserts become crucial to that BMW SUV design story. When viewed from the side, you see a distinct shark nose up front which again adds to the agility in the design. The car does look big, but is proportionate and also looks more modern now.

BMW has worked hard to make the cabin seem more premium. This is a good thing, since its rivals were marching ahead in terms of being plusher and more attractive. It is a good mix of materials and colours, and yes in India it has got to be pretty fully loaded on gadgets, creature comforts and that panoramic sunroof which everyone seems to want despite the impracticality of it! Luckily the button to open the tailgate from the driver's seat also now allows you to lower and close it. So much more convenient!

I tested this car on high-speed motorways and also twisting, winding mountain roads. Compared to the outgoing 2nd generation I have to say the new X5 instantly feels agile, athletic and eager to perform. There is no sense of the bulk you're pulling along, and acceleration is also very responsive. The new paddle shift is also better tuned to driver needs, and so the response is better timed, making the drive more fun. The engineering team at BMW has very clearly focussed on one area - handling. The idea was to give this a more car-like and less SUV-like feel. I have to say that with the suspension setup and the actual drive dynamics - the way the car takes corners and lane changes for instance - is a huge step up from the previous car. I think this will gladden a number of Indian buyers who sit at the rear and let their chauffeurs drive! I did sit at the rear to check it out, and it's surprisingly comfortable given the ride height of the vehicle.

The massive 3 litre engine is available in two tuning variants. We are getting the xDrive 30d which has 258 bhp on tap. More interesting is that peak torque kicks in at as low as 1500 rpm, giving you a more satisfying response. Oh yeah that torque figure is a generous 560 Nm!

There is a more powerful 40d and even a 2 wheel drive 25d variant offered in other markets. We won't get to see those I suspect. The petrol lineup is impressive too, with 6 & 8 cylinder engine options. But in India we aren't gonna see either of those. The 380 horsepower monster, the X5 M though is likely to debut in India in 2015 to take on the ML63 AMG and the more powerful Range Rover Sport that arrives soon.

The X5 also has active steering and adaptive suspension, so you can get different driving dynamics like most premium sedans now have. Tweak the ride to suit your taste! Improved efficiency is also a highlight of this new generation and its not just the updated engines but also better aerodynamics that contribute.

The twinpower turbo diesel is responsive then, but to me it was also good to see how well it's been mated to the 8 speed gear box from ZF. The gearbox seems to bring everything to life. I've already talked about how I loved using the paddles, haven't I? And yes that gearbox is standard for India too!

When it comes to benchmarking and targeting the rivals, it's a very different kind of target than what I would have imagined, for the BMW engineers. I really had assumed the Range Rover Sport on the performance end, and the Porsche Cayenne or Audi Q7 on the luxury scale - would be the obvious targets they would try to best. But it is the Mercedes-Benz ML-Class instead that the development used as a benchmark! According to the BMW engineers I've spoken to, the sheer performance buyer isn't their most obvious target customer. So they want to look at gaining on both sides, but also ensure their car has the juice to take on the ML which does very well in Western European and American markets.

Oh and in case you are wondering, I did manage to get the X5 for a bit of an off-road section, splashing around in the slush, getting up some steep slopes, and driving across very uneven surfaces. I am happy to report it held its own there.