'The Boss' worthy of title

Sheldon Williams, Gleaner Writer

Two months after I was introduced to the all-new 2014 BMW X5, last week, I finally took it for a test drive.

I was co-pilot at first, as Stewart Motors service adviser Mark O'Sullivan gave me a quick tutorial on some of the features of the vehicle dubbed 'The Boss'. Soon enough, along Arthur Wint Drive, it was my time to take the controls.

Dring the changeover, O'Sullivan pointed out the fascinating soft close automatic feature. I was able to open the driver's door with simply the lightest of touches on the door handle. It was just as easy to close the door without slamming it.

Naturally, I did not miss the all too well-known sound of a car door being slammed.

As BMW explains how the feature works, "When the door is within approximately six millimetres of the lock, a sensor activates an electric motor that pulls the door firmly and quietly closes and secures it. The components of the door locks are automatically returned to their original position. The door can be opened again at any time. The soft close automatic process is also run whenever the door is manually closed, to ensure the door is properly shut."

in the driver's seat

With the key in my pocket, I finally took my place behind the steering wheel, planning to head on to the main road, heading for Beverly Hills and Long Mountain to put the X5 to my hill ascent/descend test. But before I even exited the parking lot, the engine shut off. It was not a glitch; at work was another feature which gained my immediate approval - the auto start/stop function.

As I waited to join the line of traffic, with the vehicle at a standstill, the engine automatically turned off and restarted as soon as I removed my foot from the brake pedal. The feature prevents unnecessary fuel consumption and that is always a plus. However, this is not at the expense of battery power. Once the auto start/stop feature is activated, electronics such as the radio and air-conditionig are turned down, resuming their previous levels once the engine starts again.

My admiration of 'The Boss' continued as, driving up Long Mountain, I was introduced to the auto hold function which prevents the X5 from rolling when stopped on a slope.

I had made a wrong turn and had to change direction when the auto hold came in handy. All I had to do was press the button marked Auto H in the centre console and the parking brake was applied automatically.

I drove on to a slope and was able to lift my foot from the brake for five seconds before the vehicle started to roll. Of course, that gave me enough time to place my foot on the gas pedal and properly negotiate my turn. The feature is also useful in bumper-to-bumper traffic, as auto hold prevents 'The Boss' from the dreaded traffic creep.

down the hill

Hill descent control is also an admirable feature. The X5 felt literally glued to the road as I went downhill. The feature held the car to eight kilometres per hour without me having to press the brake.

The 2014 BMW X5 is strong on safety features. The new driving assistant safety package includes lane departure warning, which alerts drivers to an undesired lane change. There is also a pedestrian and collision warning system with braking function, which detects other vehicles and, at speeds up to 60 km/h (37 mph), also pedestrians who are likely to collide with the vehicle.

There are visual and audio warnings if a hazard is detected and, at the same time, the braking system is prepared to reduce stopping distance. At speeds up to 60 km/h (37 mph), moderate 'hazard' braking is activated to reduce vehicle speed and alert the driver to a critical situation.

The driving assistant plus package provides even more support. Driving assistant functions are combined with the active cruise control system and stop-and-go function, enhancing comfort and safety in slow-moving and stop-and-go traffic. This system maintains a safe following distance at any speed up to 210 km/h (130 mph).

A combination of a front camera and full-range radar sensors registers preceding traffic or stationary vehicles. If the driver fails to react to a warning of an imminent frontal collision, driving assistant plus automatically brakes the vehicle, to a standstill if necessary.

A further function, the traffic jam assistant, is due to be added to this package soon.

I struggled to hear the diesel engine of the X5 I was piloting in all three driving modes that I engaged (Eco pro, comfort, and sport). It was that quiet.

diesel engines

Three engine variants are available now, with others to be introduced shortly. Available are the BMW X5 xDrive50i with a new generation of the V8 petrol engine, BMW X5 xDrive30d with revised six-cylinder inline diesel unit, and the BMW X5 M50d M Performance Automobile, with a tri-turbo, six-cylinder inline diesel engine. The BMW X5 xDrive40d, BMW X5 xDrive35i, BMW X5 xDrive25d, and BMW X5 sDrive25d (with CO2 emissions of just 149 g/km) will soon follow.

I was very impressed with 'The Boss'. After that test drive, I now know what I want for Christmas, wrapped with a big red ribbon.

The 2014 BMW X5 is available at $10.7 million and can cost up to $13.3 million, depending on options.