Car review of the 2013 BMW X5, 2013 BMW X5 photos and pics
2013 BMW X5

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The luxury crossover market is getting extremely competitive, and with new entries like the 2013 BMW X5 xDrive35i Sport Activity, things will only get tougher for those who want to hold onto market share. BMW came out swinging hard with this X5 that combines superior power with a muscular stance that plenty of sports cars can only dream about. Yes, this is one upscale tough cookie that’s not afraid to go off-road and 0 to 60 in the blink of an eye!

Exterior

From our introduction, it’s no secret that we admire the look of the 2013 BMW X5 xDrive35i Sport Activity, and with the 20-inch alloy double spoke wheels, statements are made without even firing up the engine. Our alpine white test model looked elegant and strong with the M Sport package that included the thick 20-inch wheels, aluminum roof rack, shadow line exterior trim and body color exterior parts. The X5 just seems to be the right size for a SAV (Sport Activity Vehicle), and we weren’t the only ones who commented on that particular subject. The front end is typical BMW with xenon adaptive headlights with auto leveling, retractable headlight washers, halogen free form fog lights with LED corona headlight rings and adaptive break lights. The X5 is BMW’s flagship SAV (crossover), and we can see why so much has been invested in this winner. For looks alone, many will choose the X5.

Interior

Although there aren’t major changes in the interior of the 2013 BMW X5 xDrive35i Sport Activity, this luxury machine still is one of the best on the road. BMW walked a fine line between sports sedan and crossover with the interior of the X5 and we feel they totally nailed it. First and foremost, the steering wheel is somewhat iconic in its own right, and the thick and sturdy steering column of the X5 puts the driver in complete control. The black “Nevada” leather multi-contour seating combined with the dark burl walnut wood trim puts all passengers in a good place for travel.

Our trim package was full of features including keyless entry, rearview camera with a totally incredible top view, rear manual side window shades, interior mirror with compass, 4-zone climate control, navigation system, voice command, real time traffic information, heated rear seats, anthracite headliner, premium sound package with satellite radio and hi-fi system, side view camera and heads-up display. The 2013 BMW X5 xDrive35i Sport Activity pretty much has just about everything one could want from a vehicle and more when you enter the cabin. The interior isn’t without some engine noise and this isn’t the floating quiet crossover, especially when you get on the gas pedal, but we actually thought that noise was more like music to our ears.

2013 BMW X5

Performance

I could start and finish with incredible here, but there’s more! I can say with confidence that you won’t be fooled by the aggressive stance and appearance of the 2013 BMW X5 xDrive35i Sport Activity, because the performance surely lives up to the hype. The 3.0 liter dual overhead cam (DOHC) 24-valve inline V6 cylinder engine with TwinPower Turbo technology, valvetronic and piezo direct fuel injection combine for a most powerful driving experience. The 8-speed automatic transmission is smooth but also serious in pursuit of speed without the head jerking of transmissions of the past. The sport suspension reminds you that you are driving a BMW and not some trumped up wannabe that doesn’t perform as advertised. The 2013 BMW X5 xDrive35i Sport Activity is also versatile with all-wheel drive and serious off-road capability. When you feel the 400 horsepower engine growl and the twin turbo kick in, get ready for a thrill that again has you forgetting that this is a crossover and not a sports sedan. Another positive is that fuel economy is respectable at 16mpg in the city and 23mpg in highway driving, so you can have your cake and eat it too!

Overview

For those who demand the finest things in life, there is no doubt that the 2013 BMW X5 xDrive35i Sport Activity needs to be added to your list. At a sticker price of $70,895, not everyone will be able to purchase this awesome machine, but BMW knows their market well and build autos just as good. As we stated earlier, this isn’t a new vehicle or major redesign for 2013, but BMW took a great vehicle with tremendous character and made it even better.

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