I can't base my experience on a previous X5, but I can certainly compare our three-month-old 4.8i to our last two SUVs, a Lexus RX330 (2004) and RX300 (1998), respectively.

X5 betters those cars in these ways:

-Performance (duh): vastly better engine, although it's not fair to compare a V8 to a V6, but the inline six is also better. Fantastic pickup, and the throttle is not too jumpy around town if you're careful. Lovely exhaust note. I could listen to that all day long, because it's better than the stereo.

-Handling. I drove the Cayenne S (both '06 and '08) and the RR Sport HSE, but neither came close. Cayenne felt disconnected compared to the BMW, with a quieter exhaust note, clumsier handling and less road feel. RR Sport is just heavy. That's the only way to put it. Obviously, the X5 puts the Camry-based RX to shame on this point.

-Quality. I can't speak for its reliability (yet), but boy, is this car built like a tank. You can feel it every time you close the door. It's distinctly German. Every surface is made of the best material. That said, I have Nappa, so don't be expecting the absolute best unless you pay extra for that buttery leather. I thought the RX's interior was cheap, and the X5 only solidifies that opinion. This car's interior is second only to the Range Rover, which is $30K more. I'm an avid Audi fanboy, but even I can admit that its interior is a notch above the Q7's. This could be BMW's best work.

-Space. In this case, it's clearly more spacious than the E53 as well as the RX330. The RR Sport's rear seat is downright small by comparison. The Cayenne feels cave-like, but that could be due to the fact that all three times I've driven it, the interior has been black or gray. Yawn. The E70's trunk is also spacious, and the power tailgate is appreciated. It's much faster and quieter than the Lexus's.

-Snow. It's great. Enough said.

-Looks. I love the way this thing looks. Even with the standard 18" rims, it looks fantastic. Timeless. It makes the RX look like a fad. The designers at BMW outdid themselves here. Pictures don't do the car justice, but all of you know that.

-Ride. Sporty without being too stiff. A welcome departure from the RX's too-soft ride, which one of my sons described as being "like four sticks of butter rolling down the road."

And the cons?

-Stereo, as I already mentioned. It's just weak. I could be used to the RX's ML stereo, but I don't think so, as similar complaints surface daily.

-Fuel economy. I can't expect much from a 190in SUV with a 350hp V8, but why is it that heavy, anyway? This car doesn't have any off-roading pretensions. It should be lighter, and it should get better mileage. I regret not waiting for the excellent 3.0d... but then I push the pedal down. Whoosh.

-Parking aids. The park assist is endlessly annoying every time I pull into the garage, and the backup camera is utterly useless.

-Excessive brake squeal. I don't know why it does this, because it went away for awhile, but eventually came back. It's pretty strange. So far this week, I haven't heard any.

-The iDrive can be annoying at times, but I'm in the process of getting used to using voice commands.

That's about it! I hope you make the right decision!

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'08 BMW X5 4.8i *'06 Audi A3 2.0T DSG *'05 Audi S4 Cabriolet

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