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Post by johnc on Jul 22, 2019 13:01:52 GMT
The current issue of CAR mag has the X5 on test against the Merc GLE and Porsche Cayenne - all in 3 litre petrol flavour. The X5 wins except its more like being the least bad - a 3 star result for it. It feels as if the tide is turning against these, at least in the tests, as they point out that while they may be an SUV the S part is relative to size and weight and, really, if you want a 'sporty' holdall then why not buy an estate that will also give better economy. These vehicles are much better suited to big diesels and if the diesel engine is going to be killed off, this kind of vehicle will die with it. |
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Post by Tim on Jul 22, 2019 13:11:44 GMT
Agreed but I think there negative comments were aimed at the breed as a whole rather than it being because they tested the petrol versions.
Anyway, the Porsche came last despite having had an extra 50% of list price added in options.
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Post by Martin on Jul 22, 2019 13:11:55 GMT
The current issue of CAR mag has the X5 on test against the Merc GLE and Porsche Cayenne - all in 3 litre petrol flavour. The X5 wins except its more like being the least bad - a 3 star result for it. It feels as if the tide is turning against these, at least in the tests, as they point out that while they may be an SUV the S part is relative to size and weight and, really, if you want a 'sporty' holdall then why not buy an estate that will also give better economy. That’s what I’ve always thought and I’ve not changed my mind. |
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Post by PetrolEd on Jul 22, 2019 14:42:51 GMT
Because they're bought by families with young kids and its just so much easier getting them into an SUV. Yes something like a Galaxy would be better still there about as cool as corduroy.
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Post by Martin on Jul 22, 2019 14:54:38 GMT
Because they're bought by families with young kids and its just so much easier getting them into an SUV. Yes something like a Galaxy would be better still there about as cool as corduroy. It's not that much easier. When they're really young you don't have to bend down to fasten the belts, but even in the lowest (access) suspension position I think it would be a stretch and when they kids are a bit older you'd probably still have to lift them in. You're compromising quite a lot just to make it slightly easier to get kids in/out. |
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Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Jul 22, 2019 15:22:40 GMT
In my experience it's a lot easier on the back to get kids in and out of a SUV than a normal saloon or hatchback, one's head receives fewer bumps, and the kids seem to appreciate the higher seating position resulting in less car sickness.
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Post by michael on Jul 22, 2019 15:25:45 GMT
A journalists idea of a car that is good to drive is moving further from the average buyers idea of good to drive than ever before. SUVs aren't about driving at ten tenths, they're about ease of use, comfort and practicality. It seems to me that the general population prefer a high up seating position and they prefer an SUV to an MPV which is why they're a winner.
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Post by Tim on Jul 22, 2019 15:37:15 GMT
A journalists idea of a car that is good to drive is moving further from the average buyers idea of good to drive than ever before. SUVs aren't about driving at ten tenths, they're about ease of use, comfort and practicality. It seems to me that the general population prefer a high up seating position and they prefer an SUV to an MPV which is why they're a winner. I agree about the journo bit but actually the 'sporty' SUVs (which appear to comprise the majority of the market, at least at the German level of price point) are a compromise too far in my opinion. If you want the high up seating and easy access for yourself and kids then you probably don't want/need stiff suspension, massive tyres with hardly any sidewall and hugely compromised dynamics for the one time you actually welly it down a twisty road. The most appropriate SUV I've driven (again, in my opinion) was an 07 plate Discovery TDV6 that was reasonably quick but seemed to encourage a relaxed driving style that removed so much stress from the journey. I presume the more recent Discos follow a similar path. I'm not surprised the thick necked people drive so aggressively because the cars they choose, e.g. X5, don't appear to be very relaxing to drive at all. |
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Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Jul 22, 2019 15:43:48 GMT
When I see "Sport SUV" I interpret that to mean it handles and performs better than the standard SUV - I don't interpret it to mean it's a sports car, or can outhandle a similarly engined saloon. Physics is physics etc.
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Post by Martin on Jul 22, 2019 15:46:48 GMT
A journalists idea of a car that is good to drive is moving further from the average buyers idea of good to drive than ever before. SUVs aren't about driving at ten tenths, they're about ease of use, comfort and practicality. It seems to me that the general population prefer a high up seating position and they prefer an SUV to an MPV which is why they're a winner. They do. To be fair, my teenage kids liked the seating position and view out and I appreciated the view out when on the motorway. But you only really get that with high driving position in a full size SUV, not the smaller stuff favoured by the general population. The X4 I had a while back was one of the most uncomfortable cars I've been and made be feel ill, I think the last time I've felt car sick when driving sensibly was in a Discovery 2! |
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Post by Martin on Sept 7, 2019 12:29:51 GMT
I’ve got another one today. Took mine in for a ‘Fastlane Service’ and they’d not ordered in the right spark plugs, so was going to take around 2.5 hours. Not great, but decent recovery as the advisor said she would find me something suitable to borrow and I could either come back later or tomorrow/Monday if that suited me better. I don’t know if that’s 7 series related service or not, but difficult to complain too much and not really inconvenient as we were planning to go for a walk and have lunch afterwards anyway. Similar spec, so Merino leather, leather dash HUD, surround cameras, off road pack etc, but different wheels and it doesn’t have 7 seats. The thing I liked the most about the last one was the colour, this one is Metallic Mineral white with black Merino so doesn’t have that going for it. At least I’m able to make my presence known again......  |
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Post by PG on Sept 8, 2019 7:44:57 GMT
I can't think of a single big SUV that looks good in white.
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