Test drive BMW X5 E70 2007 - 2009 SUV

Formal reason

A little more than six months ago, the BMW company introduced a whole brood of new models in our market: the third convertible, the compartment of the same name and, of course, cult x5
But this was not limited to restyling and representatives of the first, fifth episodes, as well as the younger brother of an off -road flagship X3, were also subjected to this. However, the Germans conducted the facelifting of the latter in their best traditions, turning it into a simple formality.
In a word, as in the case of a restyled penny, to look for external differences in an updated SUV business. The same recognizable profile, the same glamorous muscles around the perimeter, the same stylistics ... But only the grown bumers are now partially painted in the body color, headlights have noticeably changed, and the layout of the rear lights became different. The lion's share of innovation here, however, is hidden from the observer's eyes with a layer of metal.
In particular, X3 acquired new 6-speed mechanical and automatic boxes. Engineers also worked on the brakes, introducing into them systems for increasing the efficiency of work during overheating, as well as the function of automatic drying of the disks when moisture hit. Nevertheless, the most important change in the Germans, the new line of in -line gasoline engines from the point of view of marketing. Their working volume remained the same 2.5 and 3 liters, but the powerful and moment characteristics have increased, so now they give out 218 and 272 hp. respectively. Under the hood of a test car, however, there was not one of the newcomers, but a 3-liter turbodiesel. And it is worth admitting that in tandem with a new automaton it acts very well.
However, the first thing you immediately celebrate, moving, silence. This is not to say that the rumbling of the motor in the cabin is not heard at all, but associations with tractor analogues on honest SUVs do not arise.
By the way, this engine is also distinguished by good painfulness. With a completely open throttle, the tires break into the slip, even despite the hard collar of the stabilizing system. True, the matter does not reach the drift, and X3, bite with all four wheels to the surface, starts from the place. Suffice it to say that this turbodiesel gives its 500 nm in the range of 17502750 revolutions, and at the maximum power (218 hp) it is already at 4000 rpm. In a word, a hundred of the SUV equipped with him is only two tenths slower than his gasoline analogue and is ahead of the gasoline X3 2.5 2.5 power to it for almost a second.
The steering wheel and pendants work, as usual, without problems and complaints, as, in fact, is supposed to all representatives of this brand. A clearly expressed zero of the steering wheel is excellently informative, while the car goes like rails, does not fall, but at the same time pleases with acceptable smoothness of the course. There are no complaints about the work of a new machine. The box switches almost without delay, both in the usual and in sports mode.
Naturally, the driver can practice transmission management and independently, however, given its settings, there is no special need for this. But where such skills can really come in handy is off -road. The congress from the asphalt and voyage on the tractor rut is quite possible. The absence of hard locks here is compensated by another innovation of German engineers. The XDRive proprietary system in this case is combined into one network with a DSC stabilization system and an electronic engine control unit. In practice, this triumvirate allows the machine to quite confidently cope with slippery and loose surfaces like blurry clay, sand or snow. In general, the X3 can easily run along the beach or on the snowy virgin land.
Although, of course, it is difficult to imagine this car forced a forgotten forest clearing or climbing glass into a swamp slurry is a patrimony of more brutal crooks.
That's probably all.
Otherwise, the updated X3 completely copies its predecessor. This is a real BMW: convenient, fast, obedient and safe. Its only drawback of the price is that, however, for the Bavarians is no less traditional.
Vladimir Zhidkov
Author photo: Yan Segal
 

Source: Mkobil magazine [January/2008]