Stunning speed and carpool-duty comfort in one pricey package. Once you’ve driven a BMW X5 M, you just might have a hard time convincing yourself that any other SUV will suffice. Could the dry cleaning be dropped off, the kids picked up, and the five-inch puddle from the broken water main be forded in a regular X5 or a Mercedes-Benz GLE-class? Surely.
Pros Absurdly quick, credibly seats five, luxurious interior comes standard.
Cons Comparatively small cargo hold, too many drive modes, lack of active safety tech.
The 2018 BMW X5 M handles everyday SUV duty with comfort, style and refinement. It's also ridiculously fast and cuts winding roads like a knife. How fast? It dashes from zero to 60 mph in 4 seconds flat, a shade faster than BMW's iconic M4 sport coupe. Now wondering whether you need an SUV that makes more than 500 horsepower or reaches a top speed of 160 mph misses the point. It's best to just marvel at a machine that can take you for both a sedate run to Costco, or to county jail for excessive speed, with such ease.
PROS Outlandish acceleration and handling for an SUV Interior materials are impeccable Front seats are comfortable and supportive
CONS No option for a third-row seat Sporty suspension may feel too firm for some drivers, passengers Gas pedal sometimes responds slowly in low-speed driving
A backup camera is now standard, as are trapezoidal tailpipes for the 35i and 35d models.The high-performance X5 M is powered by a twin-turbo 4.4-liter V-8 engine that makes 567 hp and 553 pounds-feet of torque. The engine works with an eight-speed automatic transmission, and power is routed to all four wheels. BMW says the X5 M can hit 60 mph in just 4 seconds. As expected of a performance offshoot, the X5 M has unique bumpers, aggressive side sills and highly bolstered sport seats.
Pros Seat comfort Handling Cabin materials Diesel's estimated fuel economy iDrive control system
Cons Leather upholstery not standard Awkward liftgate and tailgate combo
The 2019 Audi e-tron is the way for families to go fully electric in a familiar and very luxurious package.
Pros Nicely proportioned exterior A back seat large enough for adults Very quiet, comfortable ride Speedy 150-kw fast charging capability
Cons Range doesn’t measure up to Tesla 150-kw chargers still few and far between Too much left to touchscreens Climate controls too low in the line of sight
As the floodgates on our new EV future open, Audi presents its offer in the form of the new e-tron electric SUV. Expect it here in the third quarter of 2019.
Pros Quality Performance Space Comfort
Cons Price Infrastructure development Range fluctuations Door mirror cameras
The Audi e-tron is an all-new vehicle.Part of the first e-tron generation introduced for 2019.The 2019 Audi e-tron comes with all wheel drive. Available transmissions include: 1-speed direct drive.
Pros Smooth and decisive acceleration Spacious and comfortable interior Lots of standard and available safety and tech features
Cons Infotainment operation can be distracting Slower acceleration than some EV rivals
