In a bid to appear like responsible adults we ordered the $1,200 third-row seats option on our long-term X5 instead of the monster 20-inch-wheels option. They are mutually exclusive options.
We're not saying it was a mistake, per se. But we can say that if we were buying an X5 for personal use we'd save ourselves the $1,200. And if we really needed three rows of seats, we wouldn't even consider the X5.
The two folding mini-buckets in the way-back are simply not very useful. But what about kids, you say? Well, there are no Latch attachments for the third row which would mean you'd have to use the old-school belts. And beside, we think some of our child-safety seats are bigger than the X5's third-row buckets. Although the kids would at least get an HVAC vent and a couple of cupholders back there.
And what about cramming adults back there, just for short trips? Stop being ridiculous. We crawled back there and it hurt. We don't dislike anyone that much -- certainly not anyone we'd allow into our car. Even employees of BMW North America will admit that offering the third row in the X5 was simply a marketing exercise and not a particularly useful option.
During it's stay with us the X5's rear-most seats remained folded into the floor basically always. There they added weight and cost and became the locus of resentment for staffers who really wanted the big, meaty rear tires.
-- Daniel Pund, Senior Editor, Detroit at 26,358 miles
altimadude00 says:
11:08 AM, 02/27/09
That third row is ridiculous. Big wheels are ridiculous too. Do you want some stick on ventiports on the front fender too?
kissel1 says:
12:00 PM, 02/27/09
Hi Daniel!
Great post! You really have a way with words.
Question: those third-row seats look awfully small. Any chance you could offer an assessment of how someone would fit back there? How about kids? Could they go back there?
Thanks!
dalaw says:
12:13 PM, 02/27/09
If you can post a photo of yourself sitting in the 3rd row that would help. How does it compare with the ones from Outlander or Rav4?
adavis2493 says:
12:22 PM, 02/27/09
At least they fold away well....
jatbeni says:
12:25 PM, 02/27/09
I made the mistake of trying to sit in the third row at an auto show... suffice to say, that it was a terrible terrible mistake. Got some cramps - and I was afraid that I may have pulled something.
I have said this before, and I will say this again. As good looking as the X5 is (and in my opinion, it is the best looking SUV out there), the preceding model was better thought out. They could have saved some weight in designing this as a 5 passenger vehicle from the ground up. Or they should have made it a few inches longer, and given it a proper third row - giving up some of the pretensions of being a sporting SUV. Right now, it is neither here nor there.
redliner says:
12:26 PM, 02/27/09
'offering the third row in the X5 was simply a marketing exercise'
So it goes with most small and midsized suvs.
desmolicious says:
01:10 PM, 02/27/09
I'm 5'10", 155lbs and sat in the 3rd row of my brother's X5. To say it is excruciatingly painful is being kind. There is no hip room. Sitting sideways in order to fit your legs back there, your kneecaps are forced together.
It really is a horrible waste of space. Good for children between the ages of 4 to maybe 6. That's it.
briancam says:
01:59 PM, 02/27/09
Nothing gets by that Kissel.
ahightower says:
02:02 PM, 02/27/09
I didn't even know the X5 had a third row. Awfully small, but it is nice how flat they fold, and that those sliding cargo tie-downs still go all the way up to the back of the second row. Surprised to see an AC vent back there as well. Might be nice to have "just in case", but not for $1200.
firstwagon says:
02:12 PM, 02/27/09
I would rather a large hidden storage compartment under the floor then a seat to small to use.
roadburner says:
02:32 PM, 02/27/09
"It really is a horrible waste of space. Good for children between the ages of 4 to maybe 6. That's it."
Exactly. My son and I checked ou the third row seats at our dealers X5 introduction party; what a useless option. I don't even think my German Shepherd would be happy back there.
billt9 says:
05:47 PM, 02/27/09
This is nothing to complain about next to the Mitsubishi Outlander.
Go ahead. Land your butt on the Mitsubishi Outlander's 3rd row.
OW!..
Give me a second... I can't get up... hold on... I'll be there in a bit... *still trying to get butt back out of seat*...
dkhm3 says:
02:55 AM, 02/28/09
"That third row is ridiculous. Big wheels are ridiculous too. Do you want some stick on ventiports on the front fender too? "
Those 20's are awesome.
I have the 4.8i with sports package- ARS: Active Roll Stabilization. The car has no body roll and with 315 width wheels in the rear, it does not seem to ever lose grip. It handles much better than my wife's G35.
Btw, not many magazines mention that the X5 is/was the first car to utilize "FlexRay" technology- the front suspension sends signals to the rear to adapt the suspension before the pothole/bump etc even reaches the rear. It is awesome.
That being said, it contributes nothing to driving off road and it cannot be driven in the snow. Oh, those runflat dunlop tires cost 400+ each- I'm replacing the fronts at 16k miles. Faint.
btw I had also driven the x5 3.0si without sports and it is a different car completely...
1487 says:
11:24 AM, 02/28/09
They should have went the Lexus route and stuck with 5 seats. tiny 3rd rows like this are pointless.
CycloneRcr says:
07:52 AM, 03/14/09
I wouldn't buy an E70 X5 without the 20" wheels. The car deserves those wheels.. A big plus for both the looks and the handling.
On the other hand the 3rd row is a shame to buy. Really pointless.. Extra weight, extra cost, less space...