Yahoo Finance 5 things we liked about the BMW X5
The odometer is a great gauge of how much the Consumer Reports auto-testing team enjoys the cars we review. Most vehicles have about 12,000 miles on them at the end of our testing, though some less popular models end up with far fewer miles.
Judging from the more than 20,000 miles we logged in the 2014 BMW X5 over 13 months, we really liked this luxury SUV.
My last stint in the X5 was a delightful two-week trip around New England with my family. That journey illuminated to me how some cars rub you the wrong way while others ingratiate themselves over time. Here's my list of five X5 features that I appreciate and bet that the next owner will, too.
One-button wipers
Press the Auto button on the wiper stalk and the windshield wipers automatically adjust themselves for rain, snow, and sleet, speeding up or slowing down as conditions dictate. No more fumbling, flicking, or twisting to find the right wiper speed.
No second-guessing seat heaters
Some vehicles decide for you when you’ve had enough seat heat, ramping down or timing out without being told to. Not here. Not only do the BMW seat heaters warm you up almost instantly on frigid mornings, they stay on high until you ramp them down. Same goes for the steering wheel heater. And, if you park the car for a short time, it remembers to bring back those back toasters and hand warmers.
Always watching out
The Active Blind Spot Detection system illuminates an icon by the side mirrors whenever there is a car in your blind spot, not just when you signal a lane change. There is no alarmist audible chime, just a visual reminder to help your situational awareness. This is not unique to BMW, but it’s a good arrangement.
Check our complete BMW X5 road test.
Discrete nudge
The Lane Departure Warning vibrates the steering wheel any time you inadvertently cross a lane marking. I far prefer that to the indiscrete chimes in other cars that alert not just the driver but anyone else in earshot.
Heads up
The head-up display, or HUD, projects a small image at the bottom of the windshield, exposing key information. It works very well. Besides showing your speed, it allows you to scroll radio stations or advance songs on your connected iPod, and, when using the nav system, it shows next-turn directions. The HUD minimizes time with eyes off the road, lessening the challenge of adjusting focus between a center-dash display and the road ahead.
Good fuel economy was a bonus. In relaxed, leisurely cruising with the family I found that the Eco-Pro drive mode yielded 27 mpg.
Of course, some other BMW models also benefit from these smart details. And judging by the high miles we collectively logged in this X5, I’m clearly not the only one who came back for more.
—Gabe Shenhar
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