The 2010 BMW X5 was a part of the second-generation version of the German firm’s large luxury SUV that was offered for sale between 2007 and 2013. The 2010 car has some significance, though, because that was the year the car went through what BMW calls a Life Cycle Impulse, or LCI. That’s a facelift to the rest of us. This brought slightly revised looks, with redesigned front- and rear bumpers, and new xenon headlights with LED Corona rings. More important, though, was the arrival of three new engines, which all met new EU5 emissions standards, and also provided more power and better efficiency than the ones they replaced.

Strengths:

Brilliant to drive in all forms
Luxuriously appointed cabin
Roomy, with the choice of seven seats

Weaknesses:

Extra chairs in seven-seater tight for space
Some reliability issues that could be financially ruinous
High running costs, particularly on the petrols

Is the 2010 BMW X5 better than the 2010 Audi Q7?

That depends on your priorities. If you want the sharper-driving car, go for the BMW. Both cars feel satisfying on the road, but the BMW moves along with just a little bit more alacrity. However, if you want seven seats that you can actually use on a regular basis, then it has to be the Audi, because the third-row chairs are a lot more accommodating than those in the BMW.