New BMW X5 meets its E53 & E70 X5 ancestors (video)

The three generations of the BMW X5 meet

The new BMW X5 has just been revealed, and it follows the formula of its predecessors to deliver a new X5 that has more of everything previous X5s offered – performance, economy, space, practicality and luxury.

BMW like to call the X5 an ‘SAV’ (Sports Activity vehicle) to differentiate it from real SUVs; although the X5 has four-wheel drive it’s not really a mud-plugger like a Land Rover, but more a 5-Series on stilts.

But it’s a successful formula that started with the first generation X5 (E53) in 1999.

When the first generation X5 arrived in 1099 it came as a high-riding 5 Series with a new body and some of the all wheel drive technology Land Rover had in its cupboard of tricks (BMW then owned Land Rover) so it got stuff like Hill Descent and some of LR’s Terrain response technology, but it really had no off-road pretensions; this was an SUV for the city and weekend breaks.

Many criticised the design as ugly and the X5′s abilities as too soft-road to be taken seriously, but strong sales from buyers happy to live with the looks and pleased with the added reassurance of 4WD and a high driving position brought us the second generation X5 (E70) in 2006 which took the X5 up in size and quality.

Now we have the latest X5 (F15), and it too takes the X5 story forward, with a design that is very similar to the second generation car but with styling cues, inside and out, from BMW’s latest models, like the new 3-Series and the 4-Series Coupe, so BMW has taken the opportunity to put together a video highlight the progress and comparing the offerings from all three generations.

It’s clear the X5 has got bigger, cleverer and with more toys and technology with each generation, but it does make you think that perhaps the original X5 wasn’t that bad a looker after all – in comparison to its more recent siblings it looks almost elegant.

Well, almost.

By Cars UK