F15 X5 40d SE Amazing MPG...
Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2014 7:23 am
[align=center][/align]Hi folks,
Well, I was a bit sceptical about the official MPG claims for the new X5, especially after reading some of the blogs by owners. A couple of weeks ago, my car arrived with its superb 40d motor and nice quadrilateral exhausts.
So after familiarising myself with the controls, I was ready to take it abroad. My plan was to go from Eastbourne to Evian in the French Alps, stopping for a couple of days in Belgium where my wife has family.
Now I wanted to see what the car is capable of economy-wise, so I drove carefully, not forgetting to select EcoPro mode each time after starting the car (EcoPro mode doesn't stay selected). I didn't do any burning up of the tyres at the lights, and didn't exceed any speed limits which is mostly 110km/hr on French motorways.
The overall trip has it's fair share of hills and dales especially as the Alps are approached.
Well, I was to say the least, absolutely astounded at the result. Upon driving into Evian, the trip computer was showing 45.7MPG !!! We have a holiday home situated higher up the mountains at 3000ft and by the time we reached there, the reading had dropped to 45.2MPG.
Compared to my Freelander which averages 35MPG for the same trip, that's a full 10MPG better... absolutely astounding for a car which is so much heavier. I arrived here with well over half a tank left after topping up in Luxembourg where the fuel is cheap.
All I can say is that I am absolutely chuffed... I am very economy conscious, but I do love a big car, and the two do not always go together. However, this time, I feel I've made a good choice, and I have to say, 'Well done BMW'.
Of course, I DO understand that a lot of folk will be using their X5 for urban driving and the consumption is obviously going to be very different in those circumstances. Also, not everyone is going to want to drive gently the whole time, especially when they own a powerful car. However, this wasn't by any means a perfectly flat run and the trip was punctuated with some short 'urban' trips, and I am very impressed.
When I return to GB early next week, I'll monitor the trip again and see what the car achieves in the opposite direction. I'll add the results here.
Well, I was a bit sceptical about the official MPG claims for the new X5, especially after reading some of the blogs by owners. A couple of weeks ago, my car arrived with its superb 40d motor and nice quadrilateral exhausts.
So after familiarising myself with the controls, I was ready to take it abroad. My plan was to go from Eastbourne to Evian in the French Alps, stopping for a couple of days in Belgium where my wife has family.
Now I wanted to see what the car is capable of economy-wise, so I drove carefully, not forgetting to select EcoPro mode each time after starting the car (EcoPro mode doesn't stay selected). I didn't do any burning up of the tyres at the lights, and didn't exceed any speed limits which is mostly 110km/hr on French motorways.
The overall trip has it's fair share of hills and dales especially as the Alps are approached.
Well, I was to say the least, absolutely astounded at the result. Upon driving into Evian, the trip computer was showing 45.7MPG !!! We have a holiday home situated higher up the mountains at 3000ft and by the time we reached there, the reading had dropped to 45.2MPG.
Compared to my Freelander which averages 35MPG for the same trip, that's a full 10MPG better... absolutely astounding for a car which is so much heavier. I arrived here with well over half a tank left after topping up in Luxembourg where the fuel is cheap.
All I can say is that I am absolutely chuffed... I am very economy conscious, but I do love a big car, and the two do not always go together. However, this time, I feel I've made a good choice, and I have to say, 'Well done BMW'.
Of course, I DO understand that a lot of folk will be using their X5 for urban driving and the consumption is obviously going to be very different in those circumstances. Also, not everyone is going to want to drive gently the whole time, especially when they own a powerful car. However, this wasn't by any means a perfectly flat run and the trip was punctuated with some short 'urban' trips, and I am very impressed.
When I return to GB early next week, I'll monitor the trip again and see what the car achieves in the opposite direction. I'll add the results here.