FACTFILE
FACTFILE:BMWX5xDrive30d
BODYTYPE:LargeSUV
ENGINECAPACITY:
3.0-litreturbodiesel
POWEROUTPUT:195kWTORQUE:620Nm
TRANSMISSION:
8-speedautomatic
CLAIMEDFUELCONSUMPTION:- 0Ɛ/100km
PRICE:R1 194296
braked automatically for me when a pedestrian stepped into the road
without warning. As you’d expect, a five-star rating for safety has been
awarded by Euro NCAP.
BMW knows how to make a car feel luxurious, but every now and
again they miss the mark and go over the top. My test car was fitted with
a gearlever that I suspect aimed to appear to be cut glass, or even crystal
‘jewel’, but it actually looked cheap and out of place in the sumptuous
interior. It also didn’t feel great in the hand. Then there’s the key, which
has a little screen on it like a smartphone, and allows you to switch onthe
climate control remotely before you leave on a trip. You can also checkif
you locked your car, closed the windows, or how much fuel is left inthe
tank, all with a few swipes of your finger. It’s incredible, but I wouldhate
to replace it if lost.
The offroad package that I mentioned earlier is available for the first
time on an X5, and it increases the breadth of the X5’s abilities. The
tyres make a huge difference, but there is also a rear diff-lock and some
skid plates to keep the mechanicals safe. It all combined to impress my
friends, who were travelling with us and driving a Toyota Prado and
a Land Rover Discovery. Ground clearance is 214mm, although it looks
less to the naked eye, and that’s enough to tackle really rough roads and
even venture further afield, into fields.
The right car can make a trip as easily as the wrong car can end
one, and the BMW surprised me by how right it felt for our adventure,
where bakkies and Land Cruisers were more at home. And we need
to remember that usually you only need ‘offroad’ ability for a tiny
percentage of your holiday, while the rest is tar and even highway. For
this sort of mix, the BMW X5 is outstanding, providing you stumped
up the extra for the offroad tyres.
Brace yourself though. This impressive vehicle comes at the heady
price of R1 194 296, without any optional extras. That said, the standard
car has everything you need anyway, although if I bought an X5 it would
definitely come with the offroad-package box ticked (at a premium of
R60 000). The other model in the range is the X5 M50d, and that’s afew
hundred kay more expensive, at R1 493 600. All new BMWs come with
a 5-year/100 000km motorplan and warranty. ■
WHEELSPIN
AAKinseyReportis out
Everyyeara kindly
gentlemanbythename
ofMalcolmKinseydoes
aninordinateamountof
researchintothepriceof
carsparesforservicingand
repairs,andthensharesthe
resultswiththepublicin
a bidfortransparencyand
awareness.Thisyearthe
AutomobileAssociationof
SouthAfrica(AASA)got
behindhim,sponsoringhis
work,andthe 2019 report
(aswellaseveryKinsey
Reportfrom 2008 onwards)
is nowavailableonthewww.aa.co.zawebsite.TheKinseyreportis a greattool
forprospective,vehiclebuyersasit helpsyoutomakea wise,financialdecision,
andunderstandtheoverallimplicationsofvehicleownership.NewHondaCivicunveiled
Hondahasreleasedthe 2019 Civic,whichmeansa mid-lifeupdateforthepopular
andstylishsedan.Thecoupéestylingofthesedanhasreceiveda redesignedfront
grille,a bolder,three-dimensionalbumperandnewstylingdetails,alldesignedto
furtheremphasisetheCivic’suniquefusionofsportinessandrefinement.Theuse
oftechnologyhasalwaysbeenapparentin theCivic,andtherangenowoffers
thingslikeadaptivecruisecontrol,autobrakingsystem,lanewatchandallsorts
ofotherpertinentsafetysystems.Twoengines,bothpetrol,areusedin theCivic- a 1.8anda turbocharged1.5.Therecommendedretailpriceis fromR364 500
toR507600,andincludesa five-year/200000kmwarranty,a five-year/90000km
serviceplan.
LEFT: It may seem a small change,
but the offroad tyres markedly
increase the breadth of the X5’s
ability. BELOW: Don’t underestimate
the X5’s ability to get over that last
rough patch of the journey.http://www.countrylife.co.za 091 September 2019Wheels