These days 3 row seat is a must. Most wealthy soccer moms don't drive Chrysler Voyagers and Galaxys any longer, they drive SUV. Since some of them transport quite a few kids like in my younger brothers school, a third row can come in handy. Atlest BMW didn't make the X5 as long as the Q7. These days women love SUVs, especially the practical ones.

Its a SUV, I dont care about tracktimes with my SUV

Cars like the BMWs and Porsches were never the most practical of cars.
There seems to be a trend to go luxury and this all rounder non-sense at the expense of ones (ever more diluted) DNA.

It's what the market wanted, and it's not even standard, so I really don't care.
Plus, the X5 E70 is a huge car. Biggest one BMW has ever made. That kinda explains the huge weight (which is ok for a SUV!)

I'm glad that this X5 has 3 row seats because that was my main issue with the X5 and still is with the ML. If I wanted 2 row seats, then why do I need a SUV? A car is just fine...hell I'd rather opt for an Audi Allroad than get an SUV if I need the space that cars don't have. But since this X5 has 3rd row seats...it will sell even more than before.

But I like the ML aproach, smaller but lighter. And the ML63 trumps the Cayenne Turbo S.

Imhotep...The ML is nice but for my family's needs we would need 3rd row seats. I'm happy this X5 has it. My mom is thinking about selling her Honda Van and get an SUV (yes, she is a safe driver..LOL). It might be a year before she finally decides to get a new car but we are thinking about either the GL or Q7...now I might have to throw the X5 in the mix if it offers the same type of room as the other two.

I agree with Naruto. It's something that a family can use, therefore, for the mainstream market it is good. No one is going to say that having a 3rd row is bad. As for the perfomance SUV thing going on, well, I think that is second priority.

I agree with you Warot. The performance is a second priority. I mean sure it's cool to say that "my suv is faster than yours" or "my suv handles just like a car" but in all honesty. Anyone who thinks about driving thier SUV like a car doesn't belong on the road...Just like on a normal basis my mom never needs a capable off-roader. It is just something that my parents can use to haul supplies around for our business...and the van's not so powerful V6 isn't cutting it anymore

Sorry but BMW was never the most practical of the bunch. Its emphasis was on driving. A lower mass helps driving dynamics.

If it doesn't suit you, buy an Audi or VW or whatever. I feel that this time MBs idea was better (sadly MB is no BMW/Porsche).