What a Car - UK - (2020-04)

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’