Locomotive Breath

BMW’s gone and made the X5 more luxurious, and soft. does that make it a better choice than the Audi Q7 then?

- Simran Rastogi

Let’s take it from the top – the people buying these luxury SUVs. They’re mostly driven around, and comfort is the main priority, despite what everyone may say about wanting more precise and accurate steering, more power under the hood, and sporty driving dynamics. So when BMW brought the X5 into its fourth generation, comfort and luxury is exactly what they’ve focussed on. Something that the Audi Q7 does very well, as does the other obvious choice for someone looking for a luxury full-size, the Mercedes-Benz GLE. The all-new (and very impressive) GLE is due in India in the coming months, as well as a refreshed Q7 with improved interiors. But for the time being, how does the glam-luxe BMW stack up against the more family-man Audi?

Styling

The X5 has grown larger in every way, including in the new iteration of the kidney grille that BMW has slapped on the nose. And despite what the memes on the internet say, it looks pretty darn good in real life! You’ll notice the difference versus the outgoing X5 for sure, but some of the BMW X character is lost in the move to the slim tail lights from the L-shaped ones. Shift your gaze downwards to the ridiculously wide 305 section rear tyres and suddenly the wide hip, narrow top starts looking immensely enticing, just like a sports SUV should. Next to it, the Q7 looks even more station wagon-y than it does on its own, and that’s a pity because it’s a handsome, inoffensive design that’ll age well. Of course, there’s no getting away from the massive grilles on both, but the BMW is easily the better looking SUV, with far more presence and style. The two are pretty evenly matched in exterior dimensions, with the BMW trading 100odd milimetres to the Audi in length, but being fairly wider and marginally taller. The BMW’s 20-inch wheels fill out the wheel wells far better than the Audi’s 19-inchers too.