By: Jesse Adams
Johannesburg - Ten years ago this would have been hilarious. A 2-litre four-cylinder in a big-body SUV like an X5. But then, ten years ago it wasn’t possible to wring 170kW and 500Nm from such a small capacity engine. Well, maybe it was, but definitely not in series-production turbodiesel form.
This is the first time in the X5’s 17-year history that it’s been powered by a motor with such small displacement. Only 1 995cc to be exact. Obviously downsizing for fuel efficiency’s sake is a trend not even larney German sport utilities can escape but it’s also, in a way, BMW showing off what big things it can do with small packages.
This is a lot of power for a 2-litre turbodiesel, and it’s only possible because BMW’s been up late studying fancy new engine technologies.
In this particular X5, labelled xDrive25d, there are two turbocharger units – one for high-pressure boost and one for low – working sequentially. They’re also both of variable geometry type, meaning their impeller vanes can move like flaps on an airplane’s wing, in turn altering boost independently from engine speed.
Sound complicated? It gets better. New magnetic valve injectors squirt diesel directly into the four cylinders at up to 2 500 bar. Without getting buried too deep in complex discussions about air-fuel mixtures and combustion processes, just know that this phenomenally high injector pressure makes for better, and more easily controlled, explosions at the start of each cycle.
How does it handle the real world?
Boring technical lesson over, promise. This is all great in theory, but what about practice? Is a 2-litre X5 underpowered, even with all these fancy mechanical innards? Nope, not at all. I drove the xDrive25d for a week in many environments, from suburban traffic drudgery to free-flowing Sunday morning highway jaunts, and it proved excellent in all situations.
Turbolag is almost a non issue here, with torque starting to swell at just over 1 000rpm. From there it revs sweetly up toward redline, delivering nice, linear boost across each of the transmission’s eight forward gears. Yes, an X5 M50d and its triple-turbo straight-six will leave this one for dead, but this four-cylinder model felt as if it packed more punch than its engine size lets on. It’s perhaps a little too clattery at idle (some blame can go to those angry diesel injectors), but once up and cruising the excessive rattle settles into a reasonably subtle hum.
We didn’t get a chance to put the X5 up against the clock, but BMW claims 0-100km/h in a believable 7.7 seconds – an impressive figure for an SUV weighing in at 2.1 tons.
Impressive consumption
Also impressive was an average diesel consumption of around 8.5 litres per 100km, even if BMW claims an ambitious 5.6.
Overseas there’s a cheaper sDrive rear-wheel-drive version of this same car, but here we get the all-wheel-driven xDrive only. Still, it’s the most entry-level of seven X5 variants in our market, and with a base price of R889 964 the 25d comes in around 80 grand cheaper than the next X5 model up, the xDrive30d.
It’s also bound to be easiest on the pocket at the pumps, even though BMW would argue the recently launched plug-in hybrid is more efficient. At the hybrid’s media launch we averaged over 10 litres of petrol per 100km – so in the real world it’s actually not.
Though our test unit was specced with around R130 000 worth of optional extras, it was refreshing to see a relatively small set of 19-inch alloys fitted to it. Even smaller 18-inchers actually come standard, but most buyers will probably pay the 13 grand for better looking 19s. Thankfully BMW SA resisted the urge to max out wheel size (as it usually does with test cars), because it gave us a chance to feel how comfortable an X5 can be when given some reasonable rubber sidewall cushioning.
And it was very comfortable as it turns out. Most X5 buyers, especially in the 25d range, won’t be as concerned with lateral grip and steering feedback as they will with pure ride quality.
And on these 19s the quality is very plush indeed. The whole experience is very easy-going, with a hushed cabin, light steering and a custard-smooth eight-speed gearbox seeing to it that the engine’s kept at a happy rpm.
VERDICT
Call it entry-level. Call it an X5 starter pack. It might be the least expensive X5 but it’s not short on performance. It’s also open to all the same optional extras as any other X5 variant, so it can be specced with comfort and convenience features to your heart’s content.
FACTS
BMW X5 xDrive25d
Engine: 2-litre, 4-cylinder turbodiesel
Gearbox: 8-speed automatic
Power: 170kW @ 4400rpm
Torque: 500Nm @ 1500-3000rpm
0-100km/h (claimed): 7.7 seconds
Top speed (claimed): 220km/h
Price: R889 964
Warranty: 2-year / unlimited km
Maintenance plan: 5-year / 100 000km
ALTERNATIVES
Mercedes GLE 250d - 150kW/500Nm - R927 504