The 2017 BMW X5 remains one of the top picks in the very competitive midsize luxury SUV class. Strong performance, a luxurious cabin and an efficient diesel engine option help distinguish it from its accomplished rivals.
Pros Strong performance from every model Luxurious and comfortable cabin that lives up to its price tag Optional diesel engine is as potent as it is efficient A long list of optional features allows for a wide range of customization.
Cons Less legroom in the second row compared to some of its competitors Optional third-row seats are tight even for children.
The 2017 BMW X5 boasts a solid set of powertrains and features that move the sedan toward the top of any list of luxury SUVs. BMW's charge into every SUV segment hasn't watered down the one that started it all. The 2017 BMW X5 is a benchmark for luxury SUVs and the bar by which many are compared. Its off-road ability is eclipsed only by its on-road manners, and its interior style and comfort make this SUV a must-see for shoppers.
Pros Bright and stunning interior cabin Very advanced safety features available Strong powertrains, top to bottom Comfortable and quick
Cons Exterior is languishing, a bit Very small third row Price can balloon up to six figures (!) now Hybrid isn't very fuel efficient either.
Visually, this hybrid X5 is differentiated only by minor details, such as the door on the front fender that houses the charge port and the model-specific badging inside and out. In this way, this X5 mostly hides the fact that it's electrified; you can even opt for 19- or 20-inch wheels or an M Sport package, further obscuring the fact that it’s designed to save energy, not waste it M-style. One of the hybrid’s disadvantages is its smaller cargo hold, which shrinks significantly in order to make room for the lithium-ion batteries. And in a prototype that we drove last year, the switch between electric and gasoline-fueled travel was discernible, although we expect that issue to be ironed out by the time of launch. Taking into consideration the considerable extra heft and the expected higher cost, drivers of all stripes—eco-minded, performance-minded, and everyone in between—might conclude that they’re better off with a nonhybrid gasoline or diesel X5. But as we know, it’s government regulations that are providing the impetus behind automakers’ rush to plug-ins, not consumer demand—at least not yet.
The 2019 Cullinan breaks a lot of new ground for Rolls-Royce. It is the first Rolls to have all-wheel drive, the first with a hatchback, and—in a more modest step forward—the first to use touchscreens for its infotainment system. Yet all that fades into insignificance next to the most obvious difference between this and every other vehicle Rolls has made throughout its 112-year history: This is the company’s first SUV. The production version is keeping its development code name, Cullinan being the largest gem-quality rough diamond ever found. With V-12 power and a price that we’re told will eclipse all its obvious rivals’, that model name seems appropriate. In what we can only assume is a knowing reference to Get Shorty, company CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös says it is the “Rolls-Royce of SUVs.”
The 2019 Cullinan is Rolls-Royce's first foray into the premium luxury SUV class.Part of the first Cullinan generation introduced for 2019.
Pros Unmistakable Rolls-Royce presence Interior craftsmanship is unparalleled An abundance of power from a turbocharged V12 Endless customization options
Cons Prohibitively expensive, even for the class Styling is awkward and bulky from many angles
