Well I have a 2005 x5 3.0i and I like how it handles in snow conditions.Went tru some nasty weather in Vermont and never had any problems uphill downhill, deep snow it's great.Plenty of traction and driving confidence.
Your friend probably did not have a good winter tires if any.Lets face it all season tires are not winter tires.
Even the best SUV-s fitted with the wrong tires perform poorly in bad weather.))