Not sure Xactly which SUV will be our next??? Your thoughts?

[barbja]

With gas about $4/gallon, and you spending $200 per week on gas at 11-12mpg, you're driving about 600 miles per week?! That's 30k miles per year! Wow.

With that in mind, I'd never consider an x3. It's gas tank is only 17gals. Nobody who drives that far that often needs to lose almost 1/4 of their gas tank (vs 22 on the x5).

The window sticker on your car was 15/21, right? And you're getting 11/12? If so, then you're like me and your driving habits are such that sticker mileage, and the 'blue sky' mileage that everyone else reports doesn't apply.

I had a 2011 x5 35d and my calculated in-town average was about 18mpg (a whole tank in-town). Highway bursts gave me 24. 18mpg wasn't enough to make up for hunting for gas and sometimes general pump grossness (24 would be).

I traded my 35d for a 2012 x6 35i. I get about 16mpg in town (my worst tank was 14, but I think I did a couple of conference calls in the car with the ac running on that one). I've gotten two highway bursts of 27! I NEVER did that well with my 35d. Must be the 8-speed xmission. Usual highway is 22.

So, when you're thinking gas mileage on the 35i and 35d, use 16 and 18.

And, if it's in budget, how about considering and x6? I've driven various x5s for 9 years and I find my x6 SO much more fun to drive. My passengers like it better too (I ask -- the little ones at least). I have a 10yo son, a 10yo niece and a 14yo niece. I couldn't switch to an x6 until they offered a 3-person rear seat. I ordered the car before they were shipping, so we had no idea if it would work out or not. It did, thank goodness.

The only thing spec'd differently from my 35d was the outside color and soft close doors (my 35d had adaptive drive too), so it has to be the x6ness of it all that they're appreciating. You wouldn't think so since the rear seat is a very maligned area of that car.

I did LOVE being able to put furniture in my e70, but I decided that I use my car to move me around, not furniture. If I can fit the cr*p in that I need/want for a trip, I'm good. Since my goal with my e70 was to always keep it under the cargo cover, I knew it would work out.

[Pex5]

Gas here in CT fluctuates between $4.19 to $4.55 and the 11-12 average dips into single digits when exclusively in town. I feel like a 'dumb' American not ever giving mileage a thought before buying the 4.8

[4MoJoe]

When I drove my new 35d home from Colorado Springs, CO to Boise, ID I had no issue finding diesel and with the MPG range I wasn't that worried either if I did because I didn't have to stop nearly as much.

In light of this thread and comments about noise, yesterday I got out of my car at home and walked around it with engine running and it's really not that loud at all - you know it's diesel but it's not so loud it's off putting to me.

I think BMW just needs to insulate the cabin a bit more; I really only question it when I'm accelerating hard - that there is too much coming into the cockpit. I wonder if people with E53's and diesels in Europe felt it was too noisy for that body design?

[two-five boy]

I considered the Q5 S-Line as well prior to going with the X5 35i. The Audi is nice but definitely a notch or 2 below BMW, in regards to handling, performance, exterior looks, etc. Also imo Audi's are less reliable and let's not forget they don't offer free maintenance like BMW. For me, a $15K increase from a Q5 to X5 was worth it.

As for mileage on the 35i, I'm averaging about 18mpg on 50/50 driving. Pure highway at 75-85 I get 23-24mpg. I'm sure I can achieve high 20's if I kept speeds <70mph. I test drove the diesel but didn't like it much, due to noise and lack of 8-spd tranny. No regrets about my decision here.

[wslee]

Saw the new baby Range Rover Evoque in the Top Gear few weeks ago, I will get one if the real car will give me the same feel as seeing it in TV when it launching here.

[genew]

currently on my 3rd x5 (4.8 now) and have enjoyed every mile. Am 200 plus miles from a dealer and am getting a little anxious being so far away. I am seriously considering a Land Cruiser ( yes I know you bimmers cringe but I had a LX 470 previous so know what I would be getting into) and a jeep (SRT8) partly because I have local dealers and partly because I like them. I realize you guys and gals that are a stones throw away from BMW dealerships could care less about stopping for service but for todays vehicles ( electronics) being a long distance from a dealership is really weighing on nerves. Jeep is about the same reliability as the bimmer but have a local dealer and the land cruiser is certainly a step above. Everyone needs to look at their own needs!
Gene

[cravin]

Just wondering why you're not considering a sedan? If it's purely because of the height, I am 6'5 and both the 5 and 7 series are plenty of headroom for me. Easiest way of gaining fuel economy is to cut the weight. Since it doesn't sound like you need the SUV for kids or whatever, just moving to a 535 or something, would immediately change your mileage to 22/32 with regular gas.

[BGM]

Originally Posted by cravin

Just wondering why you're not considering a sedan? If it's purely because of the height, I am 6'5 and both the 5 and 7 series are plenty of headroom for me. Easiest way of gaining fuel economy is to cut the weight. Since it doesn't sound like you need the SUV for kids or whatever, just moving to a 535 or something, would immediately change your mileage to 22/32 with regular gas.

I'm 6'3 and will never go back to a "car" just for the ease of getting in and out. When I get a service loaner at the dealer or a rental car I immediately dread the "car" ha.

Honestly, I do think I would go Q5 S-Line before the X3 given the choice between the 2--X3 just doesn't look right IMO.

[deutsch100]

One of my best friends has a 2008 X3 3.0 and it is a GREAT car. It has given her almost 0 problems!! I think the new model looks really, really great!! Vast improvement over the first generation!

Have you considered the Diesel or Hybrid new Touareg? I've seen a few at my son's school...and they look really good! I personally like the looks of the first Touareg (more massive and beefier, just like the first Cayenne vs. the new one)..but the new Touareg has cool LED DRLs and the interior blows the X3 out of the water!

Also, the all new 2012 ML350, ML Diesel and ML550 are AWESOME! Build quality, materials, safety and features are amazing! My 2011 GL550 is sooo good. You should at least look at the Mercedes. Their quality since the early 2000's has done a 180!!

[Spanky Deluxe]

The Toerags do look quite nice but aren't quite in the same league as the X5. The Q7's decent looking but something about it just doesn't grab me. I don't like the way Range Rovers are taking their looks these days and besides which, if you drive one around London everyone will assume you're a drug dealer. I wouldn't even think about getting a Merc though, I'm sure they're great on the inside and in the engine bay but saying I dislike the looks is an understatement and when it comes to cars of this price range, I admit that I'm a little vain.