BMW X5 xDrive30d Sport Collection Edition review: no-catch 22s

You could mount a strong argument that the BMW X5 was the first luxury SUV with properly sporty car-like performance and handling. 

The Mercedes-Benz M-Class was launched two years before, in 1997, but it was a pretty rough-and-ready first effort; still quite truck-like underneath. Porsche really defined the genre with Cayenne (partly because it was a Porsche SUV), but that didn’t come along until 2002.

So if the fourth-generation X5 Sport Collection, riding on monstrous 22-inch alloy wheels and mixed-size tyres seems a little silly, let’s give it a chance.

The X5 Sport Collection package is just for the xDrive30d version, which has the 219kW/670Nm 3.0-litre turbo-diesel mild-hybrid straight-six engine.

The star piece of specification has to be those 22in wheels in “bi-colour” Jet Black (why are they bi-colour then?) with large 275/35 tyres at the front and enormous 315/30s at the rear. Having mixed-size tyres is something usually reserved for performance vehicles that take their handling abilities very seriously indeed; in fact, all X5s have ’em, but these are… just really big.

Diesel is a bit out of fashion, but it still makes sense for large SUVs. Especially when you’re talking about a company that’s rather good at them.

Sport Collection also brings the M Sport Pro package: M Sport brakes, sports exhaust (yes, on a diesel), lots of Shadowline trim, colourful M seatbelts and “fine wood” interior inserts.

So this is not some super-sporty model, like an X5 M; rather, it’s a regular version with a few choice options that sharpen up the dynamic package and add some luxury. Promising, because those are often the most satisfying machines.

You’d think there would be quite a bit of compromise in ride on those monster wheels, but aside from the odd thump over the worst ruts, the Sport Collection is commendably smooth.

So it proves. Diesel is a bit out of fashion, but it still makes sense for large SUVs. Especially when you’re talking about a company that’s rather good at them. The X5’s straight-six serves up a wave of torque virtually from idle (no doubt helped by the mild hybrid boost) and is staggeringly smooth and refined as it builds.

The Sport Collection gets a fruiter exhaust and there’s an urgently gruff soundtrack when you ask for everything from the 3.0-litre, but it’s never over-the-top. At a constant-speed cruise, you’d be hard pressed to tell it’s a diesel at all.

The driver-assists are fantastic. The adaptive cruise operates seamlessly and defaults to a traffic-assist mode at low speed, which is absolutely brilliant.

You’d think there would be quite a bit of compromise in ride on those monster wheels, but aside from the odd thump over the worst ruts, the Sport Collection is commendably smooth; still convincing as luxury transport, in other words.

And yet it handles. The X5 is still fun. The days of feelsome steering are long gone in these days of electric assistance and driver-assists, but the X5 can still be placed accurately in corners and if you’re not in the mood to be smooth, there’s an outrageous amount of grip from those big feet. It just feels rock solid and ready for anything.

The driver-assists are fantastic, too. The adaptive cruise operates seamlessly and defaults to a traffic-assist mode at low speed, which is absolutely brilliant. The alerts/warnings are well-calibrated and the alerts noticeable but still-subdued. They’re not incredibly annoying so you take more notice, in other words.

BMW’s idea of luxury circa-2025 is a lot of tech and a lot of bling. The tech it does really well: the curved widescreen displays are similar to those in its EVs; the company has a thing about not going overboard with size, and the whole setup is actually quite elegant.

The operating system, while quite complex looking, is actually quite intuitive and highly customisable.

But about that bling. There’s something about the Sport Collection’s fancy/shiny wood trim, satin-finish detailing and crystal-look gear selector that seem unnecessary in a car that’s so brilliantly functional in other ways.

The cabin reeks of handy features, like the heated/cooled cupholders, the tablet mounting points/USB-C outlets on the front seatbacks or even the signature-X5 split tailgate (with apologies to Range Rover). 

The illuminated “X5” graphic across the passenger-side dashboard sums it up, really: too much bling for such a practical car. Or are we just stuck in the past (it is quite nice there)?

In some respects, the X5 is quite a traditional BMW SUV; it’s one of the brand’s older models and will be replaced by an all-new range that we’ll see next year, or 2027 at the latest. That’ll no doubt move the game forward significantly, but it might also mean this is the last iteration with its roots truly traceable back to that groundbreaking original in 1999.

Shiny cabin aside, we rather like the relative simplicity of this SUV; it feels really well-sorted, no matter how big the wheels are.

How much is the BMW X5 xDrive30d Sport Collection Edition?

It's priced at $151,900, which is weirdly $4k less than BMW NZ lists the X5 M Sport Package with the same engine for.

What are the key statistics for the BMW X5 xDrive30d Sport Collection Edition?

It's powered by a mild hybrid version of BMW's 3.0-litre straight six turbo-diesel engine with 219kW/670Nm, driving through an 8-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.

Is the BMW X5 xDrive30d Sport Collection Edition efficient?

Diesels still do a pretty good job of hustling heavy SUVs along with good fuel economy, especially in motorway driving: the xDrive30d returns 8.1l/100km in NZ's 3P-WLTP cycle.

Is the BMW X5 xDrive30d Sport Collection Edition good to drive?

It's brilliant for a big SUV and what's more, those monster 22-inch wheels don't impact the ride in a negative way. It's sharp, but still feels luxurious.

Is the BMW X5 xDrive30d Sport Collection Edition practical?

It's a big, super-comfy luxury SUV that the family will love and it's full of surprise-and-delight features. The X5 doesn't have the biggest boot in this segment, but it's well-shaped and the split tailgate is a great feature for limiting the height of the open hatch and giving you a good loading platform. It's all powered, of course.

What do we like about the BMW X5 xDrive30d Sport Collection Edition?

It still looks great, in quite a traditional BMW-SUV kind of way. The straight-six engine is strong and full of character, while the chassis makes it a genuinely fun-to-drive machine. It's loaded with luxury equipment and the Sport Collection package serves up $8k of extras.

What don’t we like about the BMW X5 xDrive30d Sport Collection Edition?

If you're concerned about having the very latest, this generation of X5 is near the end of its model life. The interior is beautifully laid-out but goes big on the bling. It's not the most cargo-friendly SUV in this segment (but not bad either).

What kind of person would the BMW X5 xDrive30d Sport Collection Edition suit?

Somebody who understands and appreciates the X5's luxury heritage and value-for-money. Or somebody who really likes big wheels.