The 2007 X5 is a 4-door, up to 7-passenger luxury sport-utility, available in two trims, the 3.0si Sports Activity Vehicle and the 4.8i Sports Activity Vehicle. Upon introduction, the 3.0si Sports Activity Vehicle is equipped with a standard 3.0-liter, I6, 260-horsepower engine that achieves 17-mpg in the city and 23-mpg on the highway. The 4.8i Sports Activity Vehicle is equipped with a standard 4.8-liter, V8, 350-horsepower engine that achieves 15-mpg in the city and 21-mpg on the highway. A 6-speed automatic transmission with overdrive

The X5 is taller than a Jeep Grand Cherokee and weighs nearly as much as a Chevy Tahoe, but BMW buyers still want a vehicle that drives like a BMW. The X5 has always had some of the sprightliest footwork of the luxo-utes, and BMW claims to have stepped it up big time with the new model. The new suspension configuration reads like a spec sheet for a proper sports car: Unequal-length control arms in front, and a multilink independent rear, with optional active damping (Electronic Damping Control) and variable rate roll stiffness (Active Roll Stabilization) on Sport Package–equipped vehicles. This layout is obviously better equipped for switchbacks than the Rubicon, but the last time we saw an X5 or Cayenne off-pavement was at a fruit stand.

Like the outgoing X5, the new model will offer both a 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine and a 4.8-liter V8. But X5 buyers might be a little confused by BMW’s promise, in a recent statement, that the new model’s engines will have “more power and greater efficiency.” While the base engine is indeed more powerful — horsepower is up to 260 hp from 225 hp — the outgoing 4.8-liter V8 has five more units of hp than the new one, 355 hp vs. 350 hp.
This leads us to believe that BMW is planning to equip the X5 with something even more powerful than the 4.8-liter V8. The company needs something dramatic, since Porsche has raised the bar with its new 520-hp Cayenne Turbo S.

Behind the wheel, the changes from the previous iteration are more apparent. An i-Drive controller, which BMW claims manages a simplified interface, now resides on the center console next to a new electronic gear shifter that is similar in function, albeit not placement, to the unit in the 7 Series. The instrument panel, specifically the gauge cluster, looks especially fresh, resembling that of a 5 Series. In addition to a roomier front row that offers 2.0 inches of extra shoulder room and nearly an inch of additional legroom, the driver and front passenger also get treated to more comfortable 10-way power seats and an upgraded CD/MP3 12-speaker audio system.

Second-row shoulder room and legroom are up as well, with the latter gaining 1.2 inches. As a consequence of the X5’s larger dimensions and lack of a spare tire (all X5s now feature run-flat rubber), the optional third row can be folded flat into the floor.|

Compared with the Mercedes-Benz M-class–its chief rival that is built around the corner in Alabama–the new X5 is still a little firmer, edgier, and more aggressive in the way it translates driver inputs. The four-wheel air suspension offered on the previous model has been dropped due to low demand, but air-sprung rear wheels are standard with the V-8-equipped 4.8i and available on the six-cylinder X5 3.0si. As always, BMW’s active steering is an acquired taste. It makes maneuvering the X5 nearly effortless, but expect a learning curve before you’re able to dial in precisely the appropriate amount of lock at any given speed. While the active antiroll bars do their thing all by themselves, the driver can stiffen the damper setting by hitting the Sport button.

2007 BMW X5 Models:
2007 BMW X5 3.0si Sports Activity Vehicle
2007 BMW X5 4.8i Sports Activity Vehicle