64 April 2020 whatcar.com
COMPARISON
thumpthroughtoyourbackside,
theX5positivelyfloatsovermost
imperfections,provingespecially
supplewhencruisingonthe
motorway.Wesuspectit’dbeeven
betteronthe20inwheelsthatare
standardwithMSporttrim.
R-DesignXC90scomewith20in
wheelsandregularsuspension
that’snoticeablystiffer.The
upsideisthattheXC90controls
itsbodymovementsprettywell,
withouttoomuchpitchingand
heavingalongunevenroads.The
downsideisthatthecarfidgets
morethantheX5oversurface
imperfectionsatallspeedsand
dealswithsharpbumpsfarmore
abruptly.Youwouldn’tquite
callituncomfortable,butit
certainlyisn’tascossetingas
theX5.Adaptiveairsuspension
isa£2150optionontheXC90,
butitdoesn’timprovematters
enoughtowarrantspending
theextramoney.We’dcertainly
avoidtheoptional21inor22in
wheels,becausethesemakethe
rideevenworse.
ThecombinationoftheXC90’s
stiffersuspensionandlower
weightmeansitfeelsmoreagile
incornersthantheX5.Itnotonly
leansoverlessbutalsochanges
directioninasnappierfashion.
EvenifyouflicktheX5intoits
Sportmode,whichfirmsupthe
suspensionandlowersthebody
closertotheground,itstillsways
aroundmore.
Mindyou,theX5hasmore
naturallyweightedsteeringthat
getsheavierascorneringforces
andspeedincrease–justasit
should.It’salsoveryprecise.The
XC90’ssteeringfeelslikethefront
wheelsarehalf-buriedinmud
whenyoufirstturnthewheel,
thenthereisn’tenoughweight
build-uptogiveyouconfidence
duringcornering.
HOWTHEYFAREASTOWCARS
£995
2400kg
100kg 100kg
2700kg
140kg
Optional
tow bar cost
Maximum
towing weight
(unbraked)
Maximum
towing weight
(braked)
Maximum
tow ball
weight
Maximum
roof load
750kg 750kg
BMW X5 Volvo XC90
£1075
110kg
BMW X5
We’ve long said that BMW’s
infotainment system is the best
in the business, and the X5
doesn’t change our mind one
bit. It’s controlled by a rotary dial
between the seats or via the
12.3in touchscreen and comes
with sat-nav, DAB and wireless
Apple CarPlay smartphone
mirroring, but not Android Auto.
The menus are easy to navigate,
the graphics are crisp and it
responds promptly to inputs.
INFOTAINMENT
2 Digitalinstrument
panelcanshowa greater
varietyof information
thantheXC90’s
3 Switchable ambient
lighting is standard,
with six different colours
to choose from
1
3
2
1 Temperature controls
are easier to use than
a touchscreen, but we’d
prefer knobs to buttons
990mm
695mm
1470mm
1045-1835mm
1115-1255mm
405-760mm
X5 has useful 40/20/40 split-
folding rear seats, but there’s no
option to slide or recline them.
Nearly at rear oor is good for
three in the back, while there’s
room under the boot oor for
yourchargingcables
995mm
1080mm
1530mm
Boot 500-1720 litres
Suitcases 9
‘A more supple ride and lower noise
levels make the X5 a better cruiser’