pagemaster

Diesel and hybrids co-exist in overseas markets like New Zealand/Africa and Australia...the diesels do not overlap the hybrids at all.

There is no reason that Toyota could not offer the GX and the Land Cruiser in diesel form...

SLegacy99

Cost of making a clean diesel.

Allen K

iTrader: (4)

True, but overseas Diesels aren't seen as "dirty" like they are in the states. Personally, I'm pro-diesel, and if the clean diesels were available when I was shopping for my IS, I probably would have gotten one.

SLegacy99

Clean diesels are still dirty unfortunately.

mmarshall

.

No. Thanks largely to the urea-injection systems and the extreme precision of the high-pressure, common-rail injection, they are clean enough to pass CA and NY emissions....currently the toughest in the country.

RXGS

iTrader: (2)

Very nice review, but i have a question. Lexus and Merc suv's are traditionally the luxurious ones with bmw being the sporty one, but if people want something sporty, why don't they just buy a bmw wagon or sedan since a sports suv is sort of pointless......at least in my mind

mmarshall

Thanks.

The Porsche Cayenne, not the BMW X3/X5, is probably the "sportiest" SUV.
But you are partly right...the average BMW is "sportier" than the average Mercedes, though the AMG Mercedes models sometime give them good competition.

I would consider the 2010 Lexus RX350 more "luxurious" than any Mercedes SUV I've driven....even the GL. The RX350's ultra-smooth smooth drivetrain, overall refinement, and quietness are superb, though the ride on the all-new 2010 model, with the new wishbone suspension, is a little stiffer than I'd like.


In general, the best answer I can give you is that low-stance AWD BMW sedan/wagons won't go through a foot of snow or do mild off-roading like a higher-stance X3/X5. That, for example, is why Subaru makes the higher-stance Outback version of the Legacy sedan (I own an Outback myself). I've been through stuff with my Outback (snow as much as 9", and 5-6" of solid sleet/ice pellets) that would leave a regular Legacy, even with AWD, almost helpless.

lucasb7

Thanks MMarshall! I absolutely value and love your reviews. One of the big deterrents for the RX450h is that it is just a little too small for my family. Hence why we are interested in the X5.

I absolutely love wagons. I actually test drove the X5 35d and the 535xi Wagon back to back. What ultimately steered me away from the 535 is that I do some off roading and that 535 sits basically as high as a standard 535. I also tow about 3500 lbs several times a year and the BMW Salesman himself was against the idea. We even talked to the Service Tech and he thought we shouldn't do that.

SLegacy99

So they emit less CO2. They still produce toxins and have a very poor rating on the air pollution scale. I believe the Jetta TDI had a 1 (out of 10), the new one is a 3, where your average passenger vehicle is rated at 6.

mmarshall

OK...maybe so. But they are infinitely better then the dirty, smelly diesels of the 70's and 80's, and still pass emissions in all 50 states and the EPA....those standards regulate PPMs of both hydrocarbons and NOx.

And, since you are a Subaru fan like me......Subie diesels may be on the way here shortly.

DASHOCKER

iTrader: (2)

Here is an informative general video review of the X5 for potential shoppers.. Not taking anything away from you Marshall

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXob5...om=PL&index=22

As far as it being "sportier" than the Cayenne, I beg to differ..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3s7-eEqn6VI

I can't wait for the battle between the Cayenne Turbo S vs. the BMW X5M..

Nextourer

That is true but they're rated at Tier 2 Bin 5 which is what the majority of the gasoline engines meet (ULEV-II).

Hybrids are in the SULEV range (Tier 2 Bin 3) with certain California-emission-standard vehicles meeting the Tier 2 Bin 3 rating too with zero evaporative emissions which make them PZEV (e.g. certain Subaru models, Focus, Camry etc). The Civic Hybrid is currently the leader at Tier 2 Bin 2.

CdeFabio

Excellent write-up! My wife has a X5 and it has been a very good car, no real issues so far, only a few small ones – it is a 2005. We do have the extended warranty just to be safe. I think the new design drives very nice compared to the previous design – more refined and not as harsh. The only real issue I have with them is their service and how they do maintenance – oil changes every 12-15K miles is way too high in my book. What they do not tell you with their “Free” maintenance is if you want things replaced sooner or service done sooner than what they say you pay for it out of your own pocket. When I look at the oil in her X5 is jet black and getting thick at 12K miles but they keep telling me that is “normal” . Most of the service replacement intervals they specify are way too long in my opinion. They are fine if you are not going to keep the car past its original warranty, you probably will not see any problems till after that point.

SLegacy99

Yes, I do laud Subaru's first attempt at a diesel. The mileage of a Jetta TDI in an AWD sedan/wagon. Good work. Though, my understanding is that it too will require some work before it can be 50 state legal.