Storage Space in Cubic Feet?

[montoya]

Anyone know the actual storage space in cubic feet for the X5? The BMW manual says 21.9 and 61.8 cubic feet, but Motor Trend and Car and Driver show 75.2 and 35.8 cubic feet. Additionally, the loading test used by Car and Driver (number of beer cases) would suggest that the X5 compared to others like the ML is in fact closer to the cubic feet in the magazines rather than what BMW publishes in their manual. Here's the results from a recent Car and Driver comparison test:

SUV/Cases of Beer behind second row/ cases of beer behind front row seats

ML350/20/45
Acura MDX/23/41
Touareg/18/39

X5 /22/48

All of these other SUV's publish a higher storage capacity, yet the number of cases would suggest otherwise.

Can anyone shed light on this???

[soldmystang]

relax, they sell Coors beer in the South now.

[montoya]

OK- I know it's a weird benchmark... what if you only drink wine, how many wine cases can it hold????

Seriously, I guess I'm just concerned about the storage space. A more pointed question- from those of you coming from other SUV's how does the storage space feel to you? More or less than your old SUV?

Thanks in advance for your replies!

[soldmystang]

doesn't come close to the room and versatility of a Suburban. i have had four 17" tires in there but it is an akward fit. i regularly pick up small orders from suppliers but anything over 6.5 feet in length is a challenge.

this is my work truck (unless i actually need my real truck), what are you trying to carry?

2 adults and two daughters with luggage for a week? ain't gonna happen.

[montoya]

Well more like four adults for a long weekend... I know it's not a suburban- but it needs to do double duty as the wife's daily driver so a large SUV is out.

We have a Subaru Tribeca and an ML430 which both have about comparable luggage space. As long as it's not significantly less than those, I think we should be fine. This is why I spent some time researching the storage space and came up with the conflicting information.

I think the reason that C&D uses the beer cases is that odd crooks and crannies can add space in the cubic feet measurements, but aren't practical in the real world.

[Quicksilver]

If The BMW manual says 21.9 and 61.8 cubic feet
Then my guess is that's what it is..............