[buckybadger]

I am looking to get an SUV in the next 3-5 months. I test drove Q7, GLC, X3, Macan, Macan S , Cayenne and X5 so far.

Porsche was quite underwhelming and boring to drive for me, including all others except the X3. Note that I drive an M2C as a daily and no modern BMW comes close to it in the fun factor department.

I liked the X3 feel and ride/handling balance. This SUV was a standout. But my wife liked the X5 more. I also liked the X5 but it left me feeling a little bland as I found it a little floaty. The steering felt very light and interior space to me looked slightly more than X3. Price difference between X3 and X5 was close to $10K. Not sure if it is justified.

Now I'm in conundrum and can't make up my mind. Can you please share your experience or insights on these vehicles? Did you cross shop and consider both? What made you choose the X5? Is the new X5 really that good or is it overrated? Maybe I need to test drive it one more time.

I am looking at both the X3 and X5 with M Sport package.

[TJ_BMW]

Did the X5 you tested have the adaptive M-Supension, standard suspension or the air supension?

I find that the adaptive M-Suspension is floaty in Comfort mode, although I havent driven it long enough in Sport to notice if is more stiff.

I dont think there are any options that can adjust the weight of the steering, although we have the 4-Wheel Steering and the turn in is much tighter if that is what you would like.

[Aimster82]

I have both in my garage.

Is the X3 you looking at the M40i?

[natahoa]

The x3 is much smaller in all respects - cockpit, seats, cargo etc. if your wife likes the larger car better, I’d get the X5. Well worth $10k.

Ask your sales associate why the X5 you drove was floaty. Mine isn’t at all, I have a 40i with standard suspension. Supposedly the air suspension is floatier. And more expensive.

My car has a very stiff feel. Comfortable but stiffer than I would expect. To me, the X5 has a very sporty drive.

[jasrboyd]

I have the X5 40i M sport and yes in comfort mode it seems floaty compared to when it’s in adaptive or sport mode when the suspension instantly tightens up. I would highly recommend test driving a 50i that in my opinion is in a class of its own.

[Ilyam5]

Originally Posted by jasrboyd

I have the X5 40i M sport and yes in comfort mode it seems floaty compared to when it’s in adaptive or sport mode when the suspension instantly tightens up. I would highly recommend test driving a 50i that in my opinion is in a class of its own.

I would agree with that. X5 50 M sport or the new x5 M50 will be the answer.

X3 does not handle as well. I tried both base models before buying x5. Coming from M3 and 15 years on track - x5 platform is much better.
take base car and throw it into the corner or fast ramp. x3 complains and under-steers like crazy. x5 rotates and listens. You can actually drift the x5 on snow and wet pavement. It leans more but handles better despite the weight.

X3 has to be fixed with all the M40 goodies. If you find the x3 M40 with limited slip and adaptive suspension - it will handle better.

if you wait till September - you will have 2020 X3 m40 with the new engine from m340 and 382 HP and new I7 tech
or 2020 x5 M50 with 523Hp v8

[buckybadger]

Originally Posted by Aimster82

I have both in my garage.

Is the X3 you looking at the M40i?

Yes!

[buckybadger]

Originally Posted by Ilyam5

I would agree with that. X5 50 M sport or the new x5 M50 will be the answer.

X3 does not handle as well. I tried both base models before buying x5. Coming from M3 and 15 years on track - x5 platform is much better.
take base car and throw it into the corner or fast ramp. x3 complains and under-steers like crazy. x5 rotates and listens. You can actually drift the x5 on snow and wet pavement. It leans more but handles better despite the weight.

X3 has to be fixed with all the M40 goodies. If you find the x3 M40 with limited slip and adaptive suspension - it will handle better.

if you wait till September - you will have 2020 X3 m40 with the new engine from m340 and 382 HP and new I7 tech
or 2020 x5 M50 with 523Hp v8

Thanks, I'm looking to get the 2020 models. The X3 M40i I drove handled quite well. It was fully loaded.

[buckybadger]

Originally Posted by TJ_BMW

Did the X5 you tested have the adaptive M-Supension, standard suspension or the air supension?

I find that the adaptive M-Suspension is floaty in Comfort mode, although I havent driven it long enough in Sport to notice if is more stiff.

I dont think there are any options that can adjust the weight of the steering, although we have the 4-Wheel Steering and the turn in is much tighter if that is what you would like.

I drove the X5 with M Sport package and it stickered around $72K. I guess I don't remember if it had the air suspension.

[Marty in NY]

Originally Posted by buckybadger

I am looking to get an SUV in the next 3-5 months. I test drove Q7, GLC, X3, Macan, Macan S , Cayenne and X5 so far.

Porsche was quite underwhelming and boring to drive for me, including all others except the X3. Note that I drive an M2C as a daily and no modern BMW comes close to it in the fun factor department.

I liked the X3 feel and ride/handling balance. This SUV was a standout. But my wife liked the X5 more. I also liked the X5 but it left me feeling a little bland as I found it a little floaty. The steering felt very light and interior space to me looked slightly more than X3. Price difference between X3 and X5 was close to $10K. Not sure if it is justified.

Now I'm in conundrum and can't make up my mind. Can you please share your experience or insights on these vehicles? Did you cross shop and consider both? What made you choose the X5? Is the new X5 really that good or is it overrated? Maybe I need to test drive it one more time.

I am looking at both the X3 and X5 with M Sport package.

I drove both the 2019 X3 M40i and the 2019 X5 40i. Totally different. Did not care for the X3, steering wheel too fat, shift points a little rough, seats were not as comfortable as the X5, to get the optional spare tire pkg, they raise the rear cargo floor buy a little over 3" and to me it looks bad and of course you lose space.
However, the big thing for me was the drivetrain reliability..you should read through this post before considering an X3...(there are almost 800 posts, start with #1 and somewhere along the line I tallied up the issues and posted a spreadsheet, look for that too).. .. https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1485010

After conversing with X3 owners, I decided not to touch it. Yes, X5 owners have their share of issues too but they are mostly iDrive feature related and not drivetrain, engine, etc and many owners do not read their manuals and therefore there's a lot of operator error....the manual is a bit intimidating due to the abundance of features:-) BMW Connected should be renamed, BMW disconnected! ha ha If the X5 you drove had air suspension, that could be the cause of the floaty feel. After driving both the X3 and the X5, the X5 is a different and more capable animal. My $.02

[TYJ]

Originally Posted by Marty in Bgm

... to get the optional spare tire pkg, they raise the rear cargo floor buy a little over 3" and to me it looks bad and of course you lose space.

Yesterday, the BMW Genius at my dealership told me this is also true for the X5. True or false?

In general the X3 and X5 didn’t seem that different in size so I appreciate everyone’s comments here. X5 did seem more comfortable sitting in the front seat. Comparable leg room in the rear seats. Comparable trunk space.

In another thread here, a member posted all the trunk measurements between the X3 and X5. They were very close.

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by buckybadger

I am looking to get an SUV in the next 3-5 months. I test drove Q7, GLC, X3, Macan, Macan S , Cayenne and X5 so far.

• Note that I drive an M2C as a daily
• I liked the X3 feel and ride/handling balance ...
• But my wife liked the X5 more.
• I also liked the X5 but it left me feeling a little bland as I found it a little floaty.

Now I'm in conundrum and can't make up my mind.
I am looking at both the X3 and X5 with M Sport package.

My question to you is...who is this vehicle for or who will be driving it the most? If it is for your wife...shouldn't she be able to drive the type of vehicle that she likes if she has to drive it as her daily? Why force her to drive a vehicle with a stiff ride and sporty handling when what she prefers is something more comfortable and "floaty"? Are you forcing her to drive what YOU want...instead of what she wants?

[MystroX5]

A M2C and a X5 50i M-Sport is my BMW weapons. These are “my” cars and no one drives them except on long family road trips where my wife logs in some hours.
Both are the top of what they are designed to do. The X5 50i M-Sport is the ultimate in power and luxury. A genuine 4 second 0-60mph luxury SUV. It’s a beast. I had it on a 2200 mile road trip and it was by far the most comfortable and competent luxury car I have taken on this trip. It’s just as fast above 75mph and chews up miles effortlessly in rain, sleet and snow. I hit ever kind of weather and owned the left lane on i95.

I am buying my wife a X3 in another month. (Thats 3 new BMW’s in 6 months if your counting).
The X3 doesn’t come close to the level of luxury the X5 does. The X3 is nice but it’s not opulent to the levels of tech and features the G05 X5 has. It never will be. I test drove the new X4M and was disappointed that many features were not available as on the X5 and 7 Series. The top level options will never be on the X3 level SUV’s. My wife doesn’t need that level of tech and options so she loves the X1 and X3 size SUV.

[Denk]

I had an M40i but could never get comfortable in it. The seats and seating position didn't work for me. It is sharper handling and has a throatier exhaust note but isn't as comfortable or luxurious as the X5. The X5 in sport mode handles nicely for it's weight/size and is still satisfying to drive. I think the X5 is a more Wow car!

[Tenac]

Just my input between the X3 and X5.

Wife was ready for an upgrade so we spent about 3 months testing every SUV that you could drive from all brands we have access to in PHX. When all said and done we ran basically same situation as you. Wife loved the X3 M40i and I loved the X5 50i. In our situation we bought both.... But the simple reason was she didn't like how big the X5 was, she isn't into the large SUV class (I know the X5 is mid) but it felt big to her. The X3 fits her well and for me its acceptable but not as comfy as my X5 to ride in. I couldn't do a cross America drive in the X3 due to my size so I tried to talk her into the X5. In the end we both sat down and drew out the wants (no needs or that would cancel both for us ) I agree with Qsilver7 who is it for buy it for them.

[Marty in NY]

Originally Posted by TYJ

Yesterday, the BMW Genius at my dealership told me this is also true for the X5. True or false?

In general the X3 and X5 didn’t seem that different in size so I appreciate everyone’s comments here. X5 did seem more comfortable sitting in the front seat. Comparable leg room in the rear seats. Comparable trunk space.

In another thread here, a member posted all the trunk measurements between the X3 and X5. They were very close.

That was probably my pic that you saw, here it is again but it compares my 2011 X3 with the 2019 X5. I’m also posting another pic from someone else who did the comparison between two X3’s, one with and one without the spare tire kit. Once you subtract the 3" for the spare tire kit from the 18.5" height, its really the same as the X5.

In short, what your dealer genius said was somewhat true but out of context, yes the rear cargo area height in relationship to the cargo cover in the X5 without the spare option is the same as it is with the spare option and that dim is in fact less than it is in an X3 without the spare tire option. Though the X5 does give you more cargo space overall, it really comes in the depth more than any other dimension. Thing is though, you don't have the ugly raised floor that sticks up above the entry level as you do in the X3.
.

[TXSchnee]

Originally Posted by buckybadger

I am looking to get an SUV in the next 3-5 months. I test drove Q7, GLC, X3, Macan, Macan S , Cayenne and X5 so far.

Porsche was quite underwhelming and boring to drive for me, including all others except the X3. Note that I drive an M2C as a daily and no modern BMW comes close to it in the fun factor department.

I liked the X3 feel and ride/handling balance. This SUV was a standout. But my wife liked the X5 more. I also liked the X5 but it left me feeling a little bland as I found it a little floaty. The steering felt very light and interior space to me looked slightly more than X3. Price difference between X3 and X5 was close to $10K. Not sure if it is justified.

Now I'm in conundrum and can't make up my mind. Can you please share your experience or insights on these vehicles? Did you cross shop and consider both? What made you choose the X5? Is the new X5 really that good or is it overrated? Maybe I need to test drive it one more time.

I am looking at both the X3 and X5 with M Sport package.

I have an '18 X3 M40i, and will probably be ordering a '20 Porsche Cayenne E Hybrid. I had a '15 X5 which was nice, and have driven the current 50i, which seemed more floaty and less responsive than my '15. I've had 1 issue with my M40i in 15 months of ownership and that was taken care of through warranty. It is a decent long distance vehicle as well, the firm seats lead to less fatigue. Long story short, I prefer the handling and power delivery of the X3 over the G05, it is much more fun to drive and has better steering feel. Last point, I'm a woman who uses the M40i as her daily w/ 2 kids in the back most of the time, they prefer the X3 to my previous '17 Audi S6.

[RowanBuds]

I'm moving into a G05 from a loaded F25 X3 35i M-sport. I'm looking for something a bit softer in my daily so the X5 was logical progression.

I did have interest in ordering a new X3 to replace mine, but the one big gripe I have is not addressed - the ride is too jolting for me 100% of the time. If they did the 40i X3 without the Msport suspension and big wheels that may have been my choice.

I had a good idea of my X3 M40i spec cost and went to dealership to see interior/exterior options in the metal. While there I sat in the X3 M40i for about 15-20 minutes. I then sat in the G05 for 15-20 minutes. From there I ballparked my desired X5 spec MSRP. The delta I was finding was in the 11-13k range. Sitting inside the two, I felt there to be 30k separating the two inside. On a lease, the delta was reasonable, so it's an X5 next for me.

If it's too big/soft/isolated, so be it, in 3 years I can re-assess my needs.

good luck, I'm a huge fan of the final product BMW marketed here, I do find it to be best in class.

[Aimster82]

So I have a fully loaded X5 50 and a fully loaded X3 M40i.

I love driving the X3 M40i in sport plus mode. The sound of the exhaust is lovely. I giggle each time it "farts". The X5 does not do that.

The X5 is geared more towards comfy/luxury than sporty. I have M-sport package with the air suspense and 22" wheels. The X5 is slightly faster than the X3 but I don't find myself pushing it too hard.

You can get a 2019 X3 for 15-20% off MSRP. They are getting rid of them to make room for the 2020 models. If you find one that has everything you want on the lot go try to get 20% off. This will include all incentives.

If you want a premium luxury SUV that feels like you are driving an S-Class then the X5 is the car for you. If you want a sporty SUV that is still luxurious (3-series level) then X3 is perfect for you.

[Tenac]

Originally Posted by Aimster82

So I have a fully loaded X5 50 and a fully loaded X3 M40i.

I love driving the X3 M40i in sport plus mode. The sound of the exhaust is lovely. I giggle each time it "farts". The X5 does not do that.

Do you have the M styling on your 50i? Mine sure does pop during shifts just like the wife's X3 M40i.... I know it has the M exhaust though....

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by TYJ

Yesterday, the BMW Genius at my dealership told me this is also true for the X5. True or false?
.

That is False. The level/height of the cargo area floor is the same whether you have the spare tire or not.

[TYJ]

Originally Posted by TurtleBoy

That is False. The level/height of the cargo area floor is the same whether you have the spare tire or not.

Thank you for the confirmation.