Flower Power! BMW X5 M50i Is a Phenomenal Landscape Rover
Comfort with a Capital C
Done with the pass and onto the glorious wheat fields towards Darling as the sun popped over the horizon, I toggled it back to Comfort and we enjoyed a relaxed onward drive. Believe me – Comfort deserves that Capital C in this case.
X5 M50i’s leather and aluminum trim cabin’s stylish dash is dominated by a pair of 12.3” digital displays. One for the space-age SensaTec dials, the other dedicated to its remote-upgradable multi-input iDrive 7.0 infotainment.
There are several ways to operate it all — one being X5 M50i’s leather-wrapped telescopic power sport power multifunction steering wheel. The Intelligent Personal Assistant can of course also be manipulated via the iDrive and voice too.
As you’d expect, the top-end Beemer packs leading-edge infotainment. It includes everything from Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility steering, to Bluetooth and both dual-USB and 3 amp Thunderport connectivity. A cleverer solution to some rivals because you can use either accessory cord.
X5 M50i has Cool Practical Touches
The X5 also supports simultaneous device pairing and Qi wireless gadget charging. Made me pine for a mobile upgrade! There are a few more cool practical touches — like a multifunction accessory bracket to hang your stuff off. And handy power outlets in the front and rear center consoles and trunk.
The big Beemer also comes with one-touch anti-trapping power windows, power-folding heated wing mirrors and speed-adaptable rain-sensing wipers. Add front and rear park distance control and a rear-view camera.
Fiddling with the iDrive and barking out voice controls chasing fading radio stations and choosing some good Doors and Floyd to play, it seemed that two hour drive was done far quicker than that. Our plan worked too — no three mile queue at the gate and the park was still quiet as we paid the pittance to go in.