After almost 40 years of driving BMWs (320i, 535is, 740i sports (2 of em) and two plus years and 30k miles with the this rig I rate the X5M without a doubt as the best all around vehicle I've ever owned for pure unadulterated exhilaration, road feel and handling performance not to mention utility as a work truck. But most importantly because of its awesome expanse of glass (front side and back) and its height relative to vehicles around it, it has an incredible field of vision which means you cant miss anything trouble wise around you! I think that and its heft makes the X5M the SAFEST performance vehicle I have ever driven. You wont go wrong with it. Fuel inefficiency is just the price you pay for all of that. Look at that downside as merely an added insurance premium. Go for it!
