BMW X5 review - Practicality & boot space
"We love the X5’s split tailgate, and you can add a third row of seats"
Despite its sporting attributes, the BMW X5 is still a big SUV with lots of practical features. For a start there's a handy split tailgate, providing an ideal platform for loading heavy items, that's also likely to prove popular with dog owners. There's also acres of interior space, but those after more flexible seating may need to look at a rival model or opt for the larger BMW X7.
BMW X5 interior space & storage
The X5 is a very spacious SUV for five adults, with almost no transmission tunnel to affect space for a middle rear passenger. There's lots of headroom in the front and rear, and it's possible to add a third row of seats for £1,650. We haven't been able to sample these yet, but we suspect they won't be as spacious as those fitted in the Land Rover Discovery, making them best suited to children. The centre console is very wide, offering plenty of storage.
Customers can also specify electric control for the seating, using a panel in the boot to move the second row fore and aft or fold down the backrests of the second and third rows. As part of a £4,300 upgrade pack you can also add heated and cooled cupholders among other features.
Boot space
There's 650 litres of boot space lying behind the split tailgate (500 litres for the plug-in models), so the X5 isn't quite as practical as the Mercedes GLE with 690 litres of space. It's a similar story if you fold down the 40:20:40 rear seats, liberating 1,860 litres compared with the 2,010 of the Mercedes. Those split and fold chairs are more convenient than the GLE's 60:40 items, though, especially if you like skiing and don't fancy the idea of fitting a roof rack. Choose the Comfort Access pack and both sections of the tailgate can be opened and closed 'hands-free', along with the boot cover.
