BMW X5 (2007 – 2013) Review

BMW X5 (2007 – 2013) At A Glance

4/5

+Spacious and practical interior. Huge road presence. Good choice of engines including xDrive 30d. Available with seven seats. Very refined.

-Not always easy to park due to sheer size. Rearmost pair of seats strictly for children.

Insurance Groups are between 42–50
On average it achieves 76% of the official MPG figure

Car seat chooser

Child seats that fit a BMW X5 (2007 – 2013)

Our unique Car Seat Chooser shows you which child car seats will fit this car and which seat positions that they will fit, so that you don't have to check every car seat manufacturer's website for compatibility.

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Real MPG average for a BMW X5 (2007 – 2013)

RealMPG

Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.

Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.

Average performance

76%

Real MPG

16–36 mpg

MPGs submitted

506

Diesel or petrol? If you're unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel (or even an electric model if it's available), then you need our Petrol or Diesel? calculator. It does the maths on petrols, diesels and electric cars to show which is best suited to you.

Satisfaction Index

Satisfaction Index What is your car like to live with?

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Ask Honest John

Is there a warranty on a replacement timing chain?

"We had the timing chain replaced in October 2022, but the new one fitted has just snapped. Is there a warranty on all BMW products ? The garage who fitted it tell us there was only a years warranty on it, and before they give us a decision on what they can do we need to take it back to let them to assess the car."
Depending on the garage that carried out the work, a year's guarantee is typical for replacement parts. Even if it was carried out by a BMW dealer, unless the vehicle itself was already under warranty any replacement parts are subject to their own guarantee period.
Answered by David Ross

I want a dual dash camera setup - will my insurer consider it a modification to my vehicle?

"I have a BMW X5 and am considering having dealer fitted front and rear cameras fitted. The rear-facing camera is fairly unobtrusive but the front one is pretty conspicuous. I have some concerns about this. Firstly, if fitted is this an alteration that must be notified to my insurer thus incurring a notification fee? The front camera is also pretty visible, is it likely to attract thieves wanting to steal it? "
We advise checking with your insurers and your warranty provider as some companies take different stances on whether dash cams are a modification to a vehicle - especially if they're hardwired. A dual dash camera setup is a great idea, unfortunately, dash cams can attract unwanted attention. It depends on a lot of factors though - i.e., where you live, whether you park on-street or on a driveway etc. Each of our cars at the HJ office has a dash cam fitted and none have ever been broken into, but that's just personal experience. You could opt for something small, like the Garmin Mini, but this isn't compatible with a dual dash cam setup. Or you could opt for a camera that has a quick detachment, i.e. the new Nextbase cameras are charged via the magnetic mount so the dash cam can be removed quickly and put in a glove box while the mount stays attached to the windshield. Then there's no fuss reattaching the mount or wires when you're back in the vehicle. Garmin Mini review: https://kit.honestjohn.co.uk/reviews/review-garmin-mini/ Nextbase 422 (and rear cam) review: https://kit.honestjohn.co.uk/reviews/review-nextbase-422gw/
Answered by Georgia Petrie

Am I better buying an older premium car than a newer, cheaper car if I intend to keep it for a while?

"I'm looking to buy a large SUV that could fit me (6'4") in the driver's seat as well as behind the front seats. Due to this I've managed to narrow it down to only a few cars. I'm looking to keep this car for the next 10 years. Would a 2016 Hyundai Tuscon be a better purchase than a 2012 BMW X5, both are roughly the same price? Am I better buying the older premium car than the newer, cheaper car?"
Better buying the new Hyundai that comes with a five year warranty. A 2012 X5 could be very expensive in maintenance and repairs, the cost of which are in line with its original list price, not what you paid for it.
Answered by Honest John

Are there any decent, petrol hybrid SUVs that can tow a caravan?

"I currently own a 2007 BMW X5 with 155,000 miles on the clock, which I'm looking to change. I used to do over 20,000 miles a year, but more recently this has dropped to about 10,000. I use it to tow a caravan to Italy every year, but on a daily basis it's used for relatively short journeys, with the occasional 200 mile round trip. I've been buying diesels for decades, however, with the current political thinking on diesels, I'm thinking of buying a petrol hybrid. It needs to be able to tow over 1600kg so it has to be a full size SUV. There seem to be very few hybrid SUVs that fit my requirements. I've been looking at the Volvo XC90 T8, which looks very smart and fits the bill in terms of towing, but with a 2.0-litre petrol engine, I'm not sure how it will perform."
There's a Porsche Cayenne hybrid with a 3.0-litre supercharged V6, but I can't tell you how well that tows: http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/porsche/cayenne-2010/?section=history/ The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV can tug 1500kg; the Toyota RAV-4 2.5 hybrid with 4WD can hail 1650kg and the T8 can pull 2400kg.
Answered by Honest John
More Questions

What does a BMW X5 (2007 – 2013) cost?