BMW X5 M50d

While it’s not as fast as the Porsche, the X5 M50d still has performance to spare, plus refinement is excellent. But the driving experience is dated, as is the styling inside and out. This remains a practical, robustly built SUV, and it emits less CO2 than the Porsche, yet it still finishes second. We’ll be keen to see if the all-new BMW, due later this year, can turn the tables.

More than a decade after the original X5 revolutionised the high-end sporty SUV sector, the second-generation model continues to be a popular choice.

We’ve just seen the new X5, but it’s not on sale until November. Until then, the current car soldiers on – and it’s showing its age. It’s big and heavy shouldered, although the short overhangs and chunky body give a purposeful stance on the road.

Inside, the dash design and switchgear look and feel similarly out of date. Still, you get the latest version of BMW’s iDrive cabin control system and a big colour navigation screen. And while the materials don’t look or feel as upmarket as the Porsche’s, there’s no faulting the solid build quality.

Better still, the X5 still leads the way when it comes to passenger space. There’s plenty of rear legroom and the combination of a flat floor and a fixed rear bench means it’s the better choice here at carrying three in the back. And while the rear seats don’t fold totally flat, they’re not far off, plus there’s the option of a third row of seats for £1,410, turning the car into an occasional seven-seater.

It’s easy for drivers to get comfortable, as there’s plenty of adjustment on the steering wheel and seat, and the lofty perch gives you a commanding view of the road. Yet with its wide arches, the X5 feels like a big car on narrow roads – an issue compounded by the fact that the suspension and wide tyres follow cambers in the road.

And while the steering is initially sharp, it needs plenty of input – poor self-centering means you end up doing a lot more twirling of the wheel than you do in the Cayenne.

Overall grip and stability are excellent, so the X5 retains the secure feel that made it a class leader. It’s just that the Porsche feels smaller, more agile and less heavy – like a precision tool to the BMW’s blunt instrument. At least the £1,650 adaptive dampers help settle the ride, while the active anti roll-bar technology ensures body control is excellent.

As with the Porsche, the amount of performance on offer from the M50d is simply mind boggling – for a car of this size and weight, it’s very fast indeed. The three-stage turbocharged six-cylinder engine has a linear power delivery, and although there’s a little diesel clatter at low revs, once above 4,000rpm it takes on a more traditional six-cylinder hum.

The low-down torque the engine provides is complemented by the smooth eight-speed gearbox, while CO2 emissions of less than 200g/km are impressive for a car that tips the scales at over two tonnes and delivers such amazing performance.

However, the £60,815 M50d is £1,762 more expensive to buy than the new Porsche, which is disappointing given how it’s starting to feel its age. The next X5 can’t come soon enough.