since launching in 2000 the x5 has been a huge sales success for BMW and that puts a lot of pressure on this car the all-new fourth-generation x5 BMW says that pretty much everything on this car is new but will it carry on the winning formula well here are five key things you need to know about it before we go any further don’t forget that if you want to buy a bmw x5 or any of its rivals you can get a great deal on it at the new car buying section of the what car website the x5 is no been a shrinking violet on the roads but this version is even taller wider and longer than the one it replaces BMW says this isn’t only to distance the x5 from the other increasingly large SUV’s in its lineup it also helps with safety and overall packaging – it’s got wider door openings than before and that should make it easier for people to get in and out and there’s also more space between the front and rear axles and that should improve rear legroom a choice of three engines will be available from launch two diesels and one petrol with the diesels is a choice of a three litre six cylinder engine with either 261 brake horsepower or a whopping 395 brake horsepower the smaller version badged xDrive 30d is expected to be the best seller striking the best balance of performance economy and price in the range but if it’s performance you’re after you’ll want the range-topping m50d it comes with four turbochargers and has a nought to 60 – time of just 5.2 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 155 miles an hour if you want petrol power there’s a 335 bhp 6-cylinder engine and this will be joined later we’re 321 bhp four-cylinder petrol electric hybrid option another diesel engine sitting between the current two will also join the range the outgoing x5 was great to drive and BMW hopes the new model will carry on that tradition agility boosting features include active anti-roll bars four-wheel steering and adjustable air suspension that lowers the ride height by 20 millimeters in sport mode all-wheel drive is standard and then if you add on the off-road pack you get some extra goodies include scuff plates for underneath an electric control grid if and for driving modes that alter the ride height accelerator and gearbox there’s no shortage of luxury inside the x5 and all models come with an impressive amount of standard kit there’s a new twelve point three inch high drive infotainment screen and in front of the driver there’s a digital display of the same size that can be configured to show different information and all models also come with electrically adjustable leather heated front seats that all sounds good so far but all this luxury comes at a price the new BMW x5 starts at fifty six thousand seven hundred and ten pounds and that makes it sound expensive compared with an Audi q7 or a Volvo xc90 but to find out how the BMW compares to its closest rivals we’ll need to group test it first and don’t forget to visit whatcar.com – to see the best news reviews and car deals you