Track Testing the 2015 BMW X5M: A Premium SUV with Incredible Performance

The 2015 BMW X5M is a premium SUV that features a 4.4L V8 engine producing 567 horsepower. As we began testing this vehicle, it was clear that its performance capabilities were among its strongest suits. With its potent engine, the X5M delivered incredible acceleration, reaching 0-64 seconds in a remarkably short time.

One of the standout features of the X5M's performance is its neutral handling, which allows for little fuss and plenty of confidence on the track. The vehicle stays planted and composed, with very little body roll or understeer, even at higher speeds. This makes it an absolute blast to drive, especially when compared to other luxury SUVs in its class.

Another aspect of the X5M's performance that deserves mention is its incredible stopping power. Despite being a heavy vehicle, the X5M comes to a stop remarkably quickly, with minimal ABS intervention required even at high speeds. This is a testament to the vehicle's exceptional handling and braking capabilities.

While the X5M's performance is undoubtedly one of its strongest suits, it also has some drawbacks that are worth noting. One of the most significant of these is its poor fuel economy, which comes in at a disappointing 16 MPG combined rating. Given its potent engine and premium status, this is likely to be a concern for many potential buyers.

Despite its high price tag, which exceeds $116,000, the X5M also has some notable advantages over its competitors. For example, it offers more cargo space, leg room, and head room in both the front and back seats than many of its rivals. Additionally, it is significantly lighter than the BMW X6M, despite producing similar levels of performance.

One of the most interesting aspects of the X5M's design is its twin-scroll turbochargers, which provide a wide range of torque across a very broad RPM range. This results in plenty of acceleration, making the X5M an absolute thrill to drive on the track. The vehicle also features a heads-up display, steering wheel that feels nice and comfortable, and soft leather seats that are firm but still comfortable.

In terms of visibility, the X5M is generally excellent all around, with good views out the back, sides, and front. Checking blind spots is also relatively easy, thanks to the vehicle's wide rearview mirror and decent side mirrors. However, accelerating in the X5M did require a bit of patience at first, as it took a little while for the engine to really launch forward.

Fortunately, the X5M does feature launch control, which would allow owners to push the vehicle even harder if they so desired. To test this out, we performed a quick parking test in reverse, where we aimed the vehicle at a dinosaur and watched as it effortlessly navigated around it. We then followed up with some slalom testing, where the X5M demonstrated its incredible handling capabilities.

In the slalom test, the X5M performed remarkably well, staying planted and composed even at high speeds. The vehicle's body roll was very little to none, and understeer was almost non-existent. We were able to push the X5M up to speed relatively quickly, but it never lost traction or stability.

Finally, we tested the X5M's stopping capabilities by driving around a figure-eight course at a high speed. The vehicle stopped remarkably quickly, with minimal ABS intervention required even at high speeds. This was impressive, given its weight and size.

One area where the X5M fell short was in terms of gear shifts. While they were certainly powerful and responsive, they were not exactly smooth or refined. However, this was a minor complaint compared to the vehicle's many other strengths. Overall, the 2015 BMW X5M is an incredible performance SUV that is sure to deliver thrills for drivers who crave excitement on the road.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enhello everyone and welcome in this video we'll be track testing the 2015 BMW x5m this is a premium SUV from BMW featuring a 4.4 L V8 producing 567 horsepower which I'll be comparing to the Acura MDX BMW x6m Cadillac Escalade Mercedes ml400 and Volkswagen teg starting with the drawbacks the BMW comes at a heavy price tag slightly over $116,000 it's fairly heavy so as you can expect with an engine is potent fuel economy is quite poor at 16 MPG combined rating that said its Track Performance is incredible 0 to 64 seconds very neutral handling with little fuss incredible stopping power and all with a good siiz trunk and surprisingly the highest ground clearance of the luxury SUVs tested compared to the x6m it's heavier though it does offer more cargo space more leg room and head room in both the front and back and is $6,000 cheaper as tested it's the Practical one of the two if uh that's a thing due to their performance nature the BMWs did not compete in the off-road portion check out the video description for videos of the compared models so because it does have twin scroll turbochargers that means you've got that torque range across a very wide RPM range uh so plenty of acceleration this thing's probably going to be a lot of fun to drive and you do have a heads up display steering wheel feels really nice good soft leather and it's got some cushion to it firm the seats are also pretty firm firm comfortable soft leather checking for visibility actually really good all the way around out the back is good to the sides out the front checking your blind spot actually pretty decent visibility looking at your blind spot okay accelerating in the x5m straighten out here foot down Wham hit with torque it definitely did lag a little bit you know you had to wait till you at the higher RPMs before it really launched but it's quick I believe it does have launch control so you could certainly do faster all right do a quick little parking test here put it into reverse we've got our camera there showing us where we will be headed we want to hit that dinosaur very close to the dinosaur and we're in drive and we're off all right let's go do some slalom in this thing let's get up to speed here actually phenomenal very little body roll stays planted I don't see much under steer and we're doing this at 30 very impressive and let's do stopping from 40 very good stopping didn't even feel the ABS come in and that was under 50 ft very impressive thing hauls the gear shifts are a little abrupt not exactly smooth but very powerful accelerationhello everyone and welcome in this video we'll be track testing the 2015 BMW x5m this is a premium SUV from BMW featuring a 4.4 L V8 producing 567 horsepower which I'll be comparing to the Acura MDX BMW x6m Cadillac Escalade Mercedes ml400 and Volkswagen teg starting with the drawbacks the BMW comes at a heavy price tag slightly over $116,000 it's fairly heavy so as you can expect with an engine is potent fuel economy is quite poor at 16 MPG combined rating that said its Track Performance is incredible 0 to 64 seconds very neutral handling with little fuss incredible stopping power and all with a good siiz trunk and surprisingly the highest ground clearance of the luxury SUVs tested compared to the x6m it's heavier though it does offer more cargo space more leg room and head room in both the front and back and is $6,000 cheaper as tested it's the Practical one of the two if uh that's a thing due to their performance nature the BMWs did not compete in the off-road portion check out the video description for videos of the compared models so because it does have twin scroll turbochargers that means you've got that torque range across a very wide RPM range uh so plenty of acceleration this thing's probably going to be a lot of fun to drive and you do have a heads up display steering wheel feels really nice good soft leather and it's got some cushion to it firm the seats are also pretty firm firm comfortable soft leather checking for visibility actually really good all the way around out the back is good to the sides out the front checking your blind spot actually pretty decent visibility looking at your blind spot okay accelerating in the x5m straighten out here foot down Wham hit with torque it definitely did lag a little bit you know you had to wait till you at the higher RPMs before it really launched but it's quick I believe it does have launch control so you could certainly do faster all right do a quick little parking test here put it into reverse we've got our camera there showing us where we will be headed we want to hit that dinosaur very close to the dinosaur and we're in drive and we're off all right let's go do some slalom in this thing let's get up to speed here actually phenomenal very little body roll stays planted I don't see much under steer and we're doing this at 30 very impressive and let's do stopping from 40 very good stopping didn't even feel the ABS come in and that was under 50 ft very impressive thing hauls the gear shifts are a little abrupt not exactly smooth but very powerful acceleration\n"