2011 BMW X5: Nip and Tuck

Are you sure about what you want from your next car? That may sound like a daft question, but unlike most other consumer goods, a car is a curious blend of image, functionality and cost. There are the lucky few who can choose whatever they want and hang the expense, but for us normal folk, we have some difficult decisions to make. Not surprisingly, the rise and rise of the SUV is down to its practicality, driving position and, yes, image.

BMW already has a few offerings in this camp although, as ever, a focus on keeping a high level of driving dynamics has led the German firm to label them SAV — Sports Activity Vehicle.

Now, the one that started it all has been given a new lease of life. The X5 was BMW's first take on the SUV, and its second-generation model — launched in 2007 — has sold more than 15,000 units in less than three years. And the newly-facelifted version is finally available, with even more to offer.

Visually, the emphasis is on the word ‘light'. Unless you're a real design nerd, you'll probably take one look and think it looks smarter somehow without being sure why. We'll spell it out for you then: there are new front and rear bumpers with bigger air intakes, more body colouring (where there was once matte black), as well as a larger choice of paint hues and tweaked LED light clusters front and rear.

Some might be miffed that it doesn't look significantly different, but this is a mid-life tweak that won't upset current owners or alienate potential buyers: after all, the X5 is as taut and handsome as it ever was.

That also means it's no bigger inside, but that's not an issue either. The generous footprint means space is a given, whether you choose a five or seven-seat version. Like comparable BMWs in this price bracket, luxury is the order of the day and leather seating all round comes as standard, adding to the cabin quality.

You can take the usual high-standard of fit and finish for granted: there's no penny pinching in here, and the X5 now gets access to all the electronic toys that have recently appeared elsewhere. The latest generation of the i-Drive controller already seen on the 5 Series is feature-packed, yet a cinch to use. There's also even smarter stuff like the brilliant Side View camera system that allows you to peek up the road from junctions, speed limit information automatically read by cameras, the Top View reversing camera and active cruise control, which now has a stop and go function. Effortless to use, it turns crawling traffic jams into an opportunity to sit back and relax.

Yet the real headline-grabber for the revised X5 is what's going on in the engine room. The four engine options, two of each fuel type, are either new to the X5 or heavily revised. The petrols, especially the xDrive50i, are a hoot to drive. The diesels are also improved, with the xDrive30d now boasting four per cent more power and torque, cutting its 0-100kph time by half a second, while offering 10 per cent better fuel consumption and emissions, as well as being EU5 compliant.

The petrol xDrive35i supersedes the 50i, and although this award-winner continues with its 3.0-litre capacity, it comes mated to an eight-speed auto (as do the other available powerplants). This is the engine to have then (since we can't get our hands on the 600Nm xDrive40d), due to its twin turbos which help to churn out 306bhp at 5,800rpm and 400Nm from a lowly 1,200rpm. This usable power propels the new X5 from 0-100kph in 6.8 seconds and on to a top speed of 235kph. So, a perfect all-rounder.

EfficientDynamics again play an important role in the Bimmer revision, as does its lighter weight which gives the new model a major boost over the outgoing version in the form of more power and more torque across the range, as well as higher economy and lower carbon emissions.

Functional driving requires very little effort from the driver: the automatic gearbox uses all eight ratios to keep engine revs low for economy and noise but also leaves it right in the middle of the torque band, so progress is smooth and unfussy. A more determined squeeze of the throttle brings a more vocal but not unpleasant sound from the engine room, while full-on performance can be controlled by activating Sport mode and taking manual control of the transmission.

It may be a sizeable and weighty vehicle (although it is lighter than virtually all of its rivals) but, at some point, you will want to press on and enjoy the sharp responses and impressive composure that the X5 has to offer.

Its suspension is not the softest, but it's more than capable of riding comfortably, and the pay off is the kind of sharpness that makes brisk driving a real pleasure. As a jack of all trades, the X5 ticks more boxes than you could reasonably expect: quick, comfortable, luxurious, responsive and efficient, wrapped up in a sophisticated but far from ostentatious package.

But the real bonus with the revised X5, which arrives here in a few weeks' time, is that it makes more economic sense than ever, allowing you to revel in its abilities while totting up the fuel savings. If only life was always this effortless.

Model 2011 X5

Engine 3.0-litre inline-six Transmission Eight-speed auto

Max power 306bhp @ 5,800rpm

Max torque 400Nm @ 1,200rpm

Top speed 235kph

0-100kph 6.8sec

Price TBC

Plus All-rounder with the top powerplants on offerin its segment

Minus Stiff ride quality