BMW X5 vs Audi Q7 vs Land Rover Discovery

When it first appeared in 1999, the BMW X5 quickly established itself as the sector benchmark, helping to kick-start the explosion in the
popularity of full-size SUVs. Its combination of desirability, quality and, most importantly, class-leading road manners meant British buyers snapped up more than 50,000 of them.

So, the arrival of an all-new X5 was exciting news in 2007. Larger, cleaner and more efficient than its predecessor, the beefy BMW now gives family buyers the option of seven seats, and crucially promises to build on its reputation for offering excellent dynamics.

However, the premium 4x4 market is flooded with a diverse range of talented vehicles, and we pitched it against two of the best – the sporty Audi Q7 and Land Rover’s Discovery.

There’s no denying the Q7 is a vast car – yet the driving environment is quite cramped and it has nothing like the space and practicality of the Discovery. It can’t match the Land Rover’s versatility and off-road ability either, plus it’s not as sharp as the BMW on tarmac. While it’s certainly well built, it fails to excel in any area and finished third.

Picking a winner between the X5 and Discovery was harder. Both are great cars, but they sit at opposite ends of the SUV segment. The BMW is for keen drivers and image-driven city dwellers, while the Discovery is for those who value comfort, refinement and flexibility. The new X5 handles even better than its predecessor and is faultlessly engineered, but even with the option of seven seats, it isn’t as spacious as the Disco, and certainly can’t touch it off-road.

What really makes the Land Rover so special is that it doesn’t try to be stylish and sporty. It simply delivers the ultimate family SUV experience.