Interesting question, when I was car shopping I had originally had my mind set on E60 5-Series. Living in Toronto however can be very hazardous to ones health We have some of the worst snowstorms, combined with pothole invested roads and some very poor drivers. I knew the 5'er would just not cut it here, so I settled in the X5 which I still think was a good decision on my part. Plenty of ground clearance to tackle the snow and X-drive to handle the conditions up here in Toronto. Now if I was living in Texas or Arizona, I have no dought in my mind I would be driving a 5'er no doubt in my mind