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 2018 Land Rover Discovery ranked #11 in Luxury Midsize SUVs. Currently the Land Rover Discovery has a score of 8.4 out of 10 which is based on our evaluation of 10 pieces of research and data elements using various sources.
Pros Exceptional off-road capabilities Potent powertrains Turbodiesel models get excellent fuel economy High-end, feature-filled, roomy cabin
Cons Subpar gas mileage with base engine
The 2018 Land Rover Discovery is a spacious three-row crossover with more capability than anything that doesn’t ride on tank tracks.
Pros Incredible capability Strong engines Impressive 8-speed automatics Spacious interior
Cons Contemporary shape on a classic name Tangled options that add up Lagging infotainment system No Apple CarPlay/Android Auto support
For 2018, the Land Rover Discovery comes standard with frontal collision mitigation with automatic emergency braking. Additionally, the Td6 diesel engine is now available on all three trim levels.The Land Rover Discovery has a relatively simple lineup of three trim levels, and we recommend the midlevel HSE.
PROS Smooth driving manners on the road Above-average capabilities off-road Interior is luxurious with excellent materials Clever features in terms of utility and technology
CONS Diesel engine option has little advantage over standard gas engine Touchscreen interface can be slow and difficult to operate
