What Car? rates the BMW X5 as one of the best large SUVs on sale, and it’s one of the best to tow with, too.
Whether accelerating hard, slowing down or holding a steady speed, the X5 felt stable and secure with a caravan behind it. We rarely needed to make any steering corrections.
In the lane-change test, the X5 bullied the van into submission, comfortably completing the course even on the third and fastest run.
You can buy more powerful X5s than the 30d, but you have to question the need when this version can pull a twin-axle caravan from 30-60mph in 10.4 seconds. It’s a shame the engine is so noisy when revved hard, though.
The X5 stops as well as it goes, needing just 10.4m to come to a halt from 30mph.
The hill-start test proved straightforward for the X5. The electronic parking brake held car and caravan steady and released smoothly, while the beefy engine did the rest.
If you need space for seven, a third row of seats is available as an option. In standard five-seat guise there’s plenty of room for holiday luggage, and the fitment of a Trailer Stability Programme also picked up marks from the practicality judges. However, the handbook warns only to limp home if you have a puncture on the run-flat tyres while towing.
