SIT behind the wheel of the third generation BMW X5 and whatever else is going on your life will simply fade away while you enjoy the moment.

Needless to say, I liked this car. A lot. Its rather intimidating looks, the smell of the leather as you step inside, the sheer enjoyment of the drive itself, the host of features and the general feeling of superiority over other road users which you can’t deny exists in a car such as this.

The X5 is very much a car for all roads and all types of weather. It has the space and versatility of an SUV, with the driving enjoyment of a BMW – the perfect package.

Although it’s not quite perfect of course. If I was nit picking, I’d ask why the display screen doesn’t disappear into the dash once you switch the engine off but rather sits awkwardly on top and why all the interior lighting doesn’t match. But I can live with that.

The X5 is available with five TwinPower Turbo engines – four diesel and one petrol – a standard eight-speed automatic transmission and the option of two or four-wheel drive. It is offered in SE or M Sport specifications.

This latest version of the BMW xDrive system manages the torque split between the front and rear wheels. It takes information about road and wheel speeds, steering angle and accelerator position to interpret the driver’s intentions and what the car is doing to calculate how to apportion engine torque. As a result it eliminates both understeer and oversteer to deliver improved cornering abilities.

All versions have an electromechanical parking brake and a powerful anti-lock braking system backed up by a vast array of driver assistance features including Dynamic Stability Control, Cornering Brake Control, Dynamic Brake Control, Hill-Start Assistant and Hill Descent Control.

Its popularity is widespread and it’s worth noting that the latest figures from TRACKER, the stolen vehicle recovery expert, that X5 remains top of the car thief’s shopping list.

But don’t let that put you off. This is my new favourite car especially the rather flash option to get ‘Concierge Services’ to make hotel reservations or search for telephone numbers and addresses, while Real Time Traffic Information can guide you away from hold-ups on your chosen route. There’s a reason why this is billed as BMW’s most luxurious Sports Activity Vehicle yet.

Factfile
Car:
BMW X5 xDrive40d M Sport
On the road: £55,365
Top speed: 149mph
0-62mph: 5.9 seconds
Fuel: 44.8mpg (combined)
CO2 emissions: 166g/km