2013 BMW X5

Having said this, the X5 continues to be one of the best-looking and highly fun to drive cars in the class and gets some rivals such as the Audi Q7, Porsche Cayenne, and the Acura MDX. The 2013 BMW X5 boasts impressive build quality along with an extremely premium and comfortable cabin while the performance from all the powertrain options is great as well. With that being said, how good is the 2013 BMW X5? Let’s find out.

The 2013 BMW X5 is available with four different trim options – xDrive35i, xDrive35i Premium, xDrive35i Sport, and xDrive50i. The starting price of the 2013 X5 is $47,500 while the range-topping xDrive50i is priced from $64,200. The car also gets an additional M Package as an add-on for those who are looking to have a sporty touch in their vehicles. More details are mentioned below:

We Recommend

The 2013 BMW X5 xDrive35i Sport is one of the most value-for-money trims and comes with a long features list that makes it a strong contender in the market. The car is priced from $57,700 and offers a feature-loaded cabin in addition to sorted practicality for everyday usage as well.

The 2013 BMW X5 is powered by a 3.0L inline six-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine. This engine produces a maximum power output of 265 hp while the peak torque output stands at 425 lb-ft. As standard, this engine comes mated to a 6-speed automatic gearbox that channels the power to all four wheels. The six-speed automatic gearbox is smooth and fast with the shifts but does tend to struggle when driven hard. The engines on the other hand are extremely smooth and offer impressive performance and NVH levels. 

The X5 is one of the quickest to hit 60 MPH from a standstill when compared to the rivals but the heavy curb weight and a lethargic gearbox however do take a toll on the quarter-mile timings. The Audi Q7 is the only one to come with a supercharged V6 motor under its hood but disappoints with its lethargic acceleration times. Both the Acura MDX and the Porsche Cayenne share the same horsepower figures but it is the former that is quicker and takes 6.7 seconds to the 60mph mark. 

The 2013 BMW X5 gas mileage figures from the 3.0L inline six-cylinder engine are great and impressive for an SUV of its size and class. The SUV returns a claimed fuel economy of 19 MPG while the highway economy stands at 26 MPG. In addition to this, the fuel tank capacity of the SUV too is decent at 22.5 gallons and offers a decent combined range of 428 miles.

The Audi Q7 has a similar fuel economy figure for the city to the X5 while the highway mileage figure is slightly lower. The Porsche Cayenne has identical highway and combined mileage numbers to the X5 but offers 1mpg more within the city limits as compared to the X5. The Acura MDX also has almost similar fuel efficiency numbers to the rest of the rivals here too. Audi, on the other hand, has the highest combined range of 475 miles. 

Just like most BMW cars, the 2013BMW X5 interior is not only good-looking and elegant but also offers an extremely comfortable and luxurious experience as well. The seats at the front are adequately comfortable and supportive enough for grown-up adults. There is no dearth of space at the front and the electric adjustment for the front seats is a handy touch. The visibility from the front is decent if not the best and getting in and out of the vehicle too is not a difficult affair. The dashboard design feels premium and all the buttons and switchgear are well within the reach of the driver. 

The rear seat bench too is no different and offers great comfort and luxury.

Additionally, the 2013 BMW X5 also gets heated front seats and an electrically adjustable steering wheel which does make it significantly more practical for everyday usage. The rear seats do get dedicated AC vents along with a foldable armrest with cup holders. The car also comes with ambient lighting and a host of other features. 

The Q7 has the most spacious and comfortable cabin here but its trunk space takes a toll while the Cayenne gets a sporty yet comfortable cabin and has the best design among the rivals here. The MDX isn’t behind the rivals either and gets a comfy and plush cabin too. That said, the Bimmer’s cabin is the most elegant of all, of which some of the highlighting features are:

• Electrically-adjustable steering wheel
• Heated front seats
• Leatherette seat trim
• Rain sensing wipers
• Heated mirrors
• Driver and passenger lumbar support

How intuitive is the 2013 BMW X5’s infotainment unit?

The famous iDrive system is available with the 2013 BMW X5 as standard. While this system has begun to show its age now, it does offer a lot of control options to the driver in addition to a long list of information menus related to the vehicle. On the features front, it gets satellite radio, Bluetooth connectivity, HD Radio, etc. A 10 speaker audio system is available as standard with this system and did leave us impressed with its audio output. That said, some of the highlights of the infotainment system are:

• Satellite Radio
• Bluetooth Connectivity
• CD Player
• HD Radio
• AM/FM Stereo
• iPod Connectivity
• 10-speaker audio system

The BMW X5’s exterior design has always been one of the best in the class and the 2013 iteration of the vehicle is no different. The 2013 X5 exterior design retains its split headlamp design along with the BMW’s kidney grille in the center. The bumper is mounted up high and gives it a bold stance. The bulged-up hood and the overall front fascia do give a strong road presence to the vehicle. 

The side-profile however remains subtle and the large 20-inch alloy wheels look great. The rear does have an aggressive touch and looks appealing from a distance. The 2013 BMW X5 is also available with an all-new M Package that features a different body kit and a number of other changes to the exteriors that help the car to have an aggressive and sporty character. In all, the 2013 BMW X5 is a handsome-looking SUV and gives strong competition to the rivals when it comes to exterior design and looks.

The Q7 has a huge and muscular appearance from the outside while the Porsche Cayenne looks a bit sportier than the rest of the rivals here while the Acura MDX gets the most attractive front fascia. The exterior dimensions of the X5 are at par with the class standards but the vehicle does boast a strong design language that is not expected to age very fast with time. having said that, the exterior does have some highlighting cues like:

• 19-inch silver aluminum wheels
• Panoramic sunroof
• Powered tailgate
• Dual tip exhaust tips
• Rear boot-mounted spoiler

The 2013 BMW X5 not only comes with a long list of safety features and equipment but also passed the crash tests with flying colors. The NHTSA gave the vehicle a decent 4-star out of 5 while the IIHS didn’t test the vehicle completely. The car is claimed to have a reinforced body shell to keep the occupants safe during a crash. In addition to this, there are a number of active and passive safety features on offer too. In all, the 2013 X5 does score strong points in the safety department. These scores are backed up by some of the best engineered safety systems like: 

• Hill descent control
• Anti-theft Alarm System
• Six Airbags
• BMW Assist Emergency Communications System
• Automatic brake drying
• Traction control

The 2013 BMW X5 is one of the best SUVs in the class for anyone who is looking to buy a well-built, fun-to-drive, powerful, and reliable luxury SUV. The car boasts a strong build quality while the interiors too are comfortable and luxurious. The after-sales support from the brand has always been great and the driving dynamics are sorted as well. The suspension is tuned to deliver maximum comfort but does not compromise the handling and driving experience. In all, the 2013 BMW X5 fulfills almost all the requirements and gives strong competition to its rivals.