Overview

The 2011 BMW X5 M is a five-passenger ultrahigh-performance luxury crossover SUV. Big, tall and heavy the X5 M represents the every M car that has come before and is one of the best and masterfully created sport SUVs. It is a highly impressive and practical vehicle and has been priced less than the lavish Porsche Cayenne Turbo S.

Power and performance

The X5 M derives power from the first ever M Power 4.4-liter 32-valve V-8 Turbo engine good for 555 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque and comes fully equipped with M Dynamic Performance Control for impressive handling. It is equipped with a 6-speed M Sports automatic transmission with paddle shifters. The M Sports transmission offers three modes: Drive, Sport, and M Manual Shift. It sprints from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.7 seconds and tows up to 6,600 pounds when properly equipped -- a highly unusual pair of strengths, BMW claims. The mileage details stand at 12 mpg city/17 mpg highway and 14 mpg combined.

Body and styling

The 2011 BMW X5 M is a true BMW with a long list of standard equipment including 20-inch alloy wheels with summer performance tires, headlight washers, front and rear parking sensors, xenon headlamps, a panoramic sunroof and auto-dimming mirrors on the exterior. Inside, a fine leather upholstery, eight-way power heated front sport seats, a self-leveling electronically adjustable active suspension with M-specific sport tuning, a sport steering wheel, ambient interior lighting, dual-zone automatic climate control, Bluetooth, a 12-speaker CD/MP3 stereo, the latest version of iDrive and a hard-drive-based navigation system with real-time traffic deliver a new level of comfort and convenience. Ventilated "multicontour" seats, heated steering wheel and rear seats are among the majors options. Further, a six-DVD changer, an iPod/USB adapter, a 16-speaker premium sound system, a rearview camera, a head-up display, a highly comfortable four-zone climate control, an easy power liftgate, keyless entry/ignition, extended leather trim, a rear-seat entertainment system, satellite radio and towing preparation can also be installed depending upon the requirements.

Safety Features

Driver's and passenger's front airbag supplemental restraint system (SRS) with advanced technology: dual-threshold, dual-stage deployment; and front-passenger seat sensors, 3-point safety belts and head restraints at all seating positions, front- and rear-compartment Head Protection System (HPS) with front side-impact airbags and BMW Assist with Bluetooth wireless technology for hands-free calling (with Bluetooth enabled mobile phone), with phonebook downloading and speech recognition capabilities are among the major safety features.