By VroomGirls – a new car website for women that helps her make an intelligent car-buying decision. Petrina Gentile tells us why the 2012 BMW X5 is “perfect for any busy, stylish mom who works part-time as a carpool jockey with children and cargo always in tow. Here is the 2012 BMW X5 review”
THE BIG PICTURE
Some say big SUVs are falling out of fashion — replaced by smaller SUVs and trendier compact crossover utility vehicles. But the reality is some families still want full-sized vehicles with serious cargo room for kids, Fido, and all the gear needed to get to hockey practice, dance recitals, and school. The BMW X5 delivers on all fronts — it’s safe, spacious, and stylish.
INTERIOR
The BMW X5 has room for five, but you can get an optional third row to expand the seating to seven. At $1,700, the seats are a bit pricey, and, frankly, a little tight and not designed for adults. Kids, however, will love them — my nieces and nephews screamed shot gun for the 3rd row instead of the front passenger seat. Seems tiny people don’t feel trapped back there. A huge panoramic roof makes the cabin feel airy and light. If it gets too much, you can draw the shade and raise the side sunshades to block out the rays. The front seats are comfortable and supportive and sit high enough for a great view of the road ahead. Supple leather and 10-way power front seats with memory are nice touches. Once you find your favorite seating position, you can store it along with the side mirror and steering wheel positions via a memory button. It’s a great feature for a two-driver family — every time you switch drivers you can easily return to your preferred position with the push of one button.
When all three rows are in use, cargo space is nearly non-existent. So if you don’t need the third row, you might want to fold down the seats. The double opening hatch makes it easy to throw items in the cargo area fast without opening up the entire back. A sliding cover hides all your goodies from curious eyes.
FAMILY-FRIENDLINESS
The BMW X5 is built for large families. You can add extras to keep kids busy; such as a rear-seat entertainment system costs $1,700 and is a must-have on long road trips.
SAFETY
As expected for a vehicle in this price range, the BMW X5 comes with a long list of safety features such as airbags all round, stability control, traction control, hill descent control, and anti-whiplash front headrests. But the safety item that tops my list is the run-flat tires. If you get a flat far from town, you can still drive on it at slow speeds for up to 150 miles. No need to stop in some shady area to change a tire or wait for roadside assistance.
All X5s are equipped with all-wheel-drive. This feature provides excellent traction on wet, icy and even dry pavement.
GIZMOS AND TECH
Gizmos galore adorn the X5. One of the cool features is the head-up display; it projects information such as your cruising speed and directions from the navigation system directly onto the windshield so you don’t have to take your eyes off the road — it’s always in your direct line of sight.
DRIVING EXPERIENCE
I love the ride and handling of a Bimmer. But this one feels big and bulky to drive — it takes time to get used to. It’s also difficult to park. In crowded shopping malls where the spots seem to be getting smaller it takes maneuvering to squeeze this large SAV into a parking spot. Still, despite its heavy weight and tall body, the X5 has minimal body lean when cornering. It also soaks up bumps in the road beautifully and there’s no wind or engine noise seeping into the cabin.
FINAL THOUGHTS
You’ll love this German luxury SAV, especially if you’re a designer-donning, on-the-go mom. And families that enjoy outdoor adventure will appreciate the X5’s rugged capabilities off-road.
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This BMW X5 review was originally published at VroomGirls.
