Go! Drive & Camp – September 2019

http://www.weg.co.za go! Drive & Camp^ September 2019 |^87

SPECIFICATIONS

Model...........................................................................................X5xDrive30d

Engine.......................................................................6-cylinderturbodiesel

Power................................................................................. 195 kW

Torque............................................... 620 Nm@2 000- 2 500rpm

Transmission.................................................................8-speedautomatic

Drive.....................................................................................................Allwheel

Tank................................................................................................................ 80 ℓ

Fuelconsumptionwithcaravan..........12,2ℓ/100km(8,2km/ℓ)

Drivingdistancewithcaravan.................................................... 656 km

Tareweight.......................................................................2 050kg

GVM........................................................................................................2 860kg

GCM........................................................................................................6 360kg

Towingcapacity...............................................................................2 700kg

Maximumtowbarweight...............................................3 500kg

Maximumverticalweightoftowbar............................... 140 kg

Isthetowbarremovable?.......................................................................No

Isthereroomfora dropplate?...............................................No

Standardprice..............................................................................R1 186200

Priceastested........................................R1 522646

From the competitors

(standard prices)

R1 229 700 VW Touareg Executive^600 Nm

R1 094 000 Audi Q7 TDI quattro^600 Nm

Mercedes-Benz GLE 300d^500 Nm

4Matic

R1 215 687

1 911 km 2 184 km 2 457 km 2 730 km 2863 km

Johannesburg

Ermelo

Kosi Bay

Pongola

1 000m

1 500m

1 957m

500 m

0 m

if you encounter roadworks and a yellow

sign recommending 60 km/h, the computer

slavishly follows that regardless whether

there is any actual construction going on.

When you’re past the roadworks and there

is no sign showing you may drive 120 km/h

again, the computer still insists that the

speed limit is 60 km/h.

But the computer isn’t dumb, though. If

you drive 120 km/h on a highway and a road

sign shows vehicles of 3,5 tonnes should

drive 80 km/h, the computer ignores it.

With cruise control activated, the X5 is in

its element, even with a caravan – up and

down hills. Weirdly, the speed-reading eye

won’t interfere with cruise control even if it is

set to exceed the speed limit.

Not so fast!

Without a caravan in tow, the X5’s lane assist

feature is overeager – it catches you off

guard if you’re not used to it.

The steering wheel vibrates slightly when

you start driving over a line, but then the

computer takes over and “forces” the X5 back

into the lane.

You need to properly grip the steering

wheel if you still want to change lanes. The

onlywaytoeffortlesslychangelanesisby

usingtheindicators.(Whichmaybeanovelty

for some BMW drivers... – Ed)

With a caravan hitched, the X5 pretty

much leaves you alone and only warns you

through vibrations on the steering wheel

that you’re drifting, but it doesn’t intervene.

go! Drive & Camp says According

to the X5’s GVM and GCM figures,

this car can tow a load of up to

3,5 tonnes, but BMW recommends

a maximum weight of 2,7 tonnes

for a braked caravan on roads with

a slope of up to 12% (6,84°).