Let's talk about calling an X5 a "truck"

[chiplee]

For some reason every time I see someone call their X5 a truck I balk at it, and I'm not sure why. It's clearly not a car, and I call my 4Runner a truck. So what do you guys think? Do you think it matters that the word "truck" has a definition, or can we just apply it as we see fit when no other word seems correct? The reason I call my 4Runner a truck is because it has the body on frame construction and off road capability that we typically associate with "trucks". And it would be kind of ridiculous to call this vehicle a "car".
I call my wife's X5 a car because "SUV" is cumbersome, and it's best suited to "car like" usage.

[Cravin]

I call mine a truck because I get charged the oversize vehicle charge in parking garages

So let's see why folks wouldn't call it a car:
a) higher ground clearance
b) rated for towing behind the vehicle
c) all wheel drive (which most cars do not have)
d) size
e) weight

Really comes down to whether or not you call any SUV a truck. If so, it's a truck. If not, then it's an oversized car to you.

[mrpcar]

The Govt categorize it as a truck, which is actually good for consumers. Less strict emission regulations, the ability to take advantage of the Sec 179 tax deduction etc. I am sure there are other advantages that goes along with it being a truck.

So I have no problem calling it a truck.

[Northern X5M]

Truck.

[richard in NC]

Strange calling it a truck but it's more a truck than a car.
BMW couldn't decide so they came up with the new term SAV. It is more Activity than Utility so that works for me. I just say I have an X5 and leave it at that.

[chiplee]

Originally Posted by richard in NC

Strange calling it a truck but it's more a truck than a car.
BMW couldn't decide so they came up with the new term SAV. It is more Activity than Utility so that works for me. I just say I have an X5 and leave it at that.

That is actually what we tend to do more often than not. We call it the "X5" or the BMW. It's sometimes a little uncomfortable for me even to call my 4Runner a truck, so the X will probably never make that cut for me. There are plenty of cars with digitally controlled all wheel drive, and the X5's ground clearance is nothing special. It's just doesn't "feel" anything like a truck to me. Check out the google image results for the word "truck" and see how many pictures you have to scroll through to find a single SUV/SAV type vehicle. I got bored before I found one. The reason I "allow" myself the call the 4Runner a truck is because it's built on exactly the same frame as a Tacoma, solid rear axle and all, and because it's got over a foot of ground clearance and full time 4WD with lockers. My 4Runner's off road capability makes my X look like, well, a car.

[BeamingE39]

SUV, but definately more truck than car. Anything close to 5000lbs shouldn't be called a car.

[GmoneyLI]

Originally Posted by NAForever

SUV, but definately more truck than car. Anything close to 5000lbs shouldn't be called a car.

My Alpina B7 was over 5000 lbs.. But I def refer to my X as a truck sometimes also.. I'm not going to call it and suv or sav in conversation. Most of the time I just call it my X lol

[14bmws]

It certainly doesn't drive like well balanced 3 series sedan, it drives like a truck.... especially with the large 20' sport wheels. It consumes gas like a truck. Im getting just 15 mpg with my 35i.

It's a truck, and in my book that's not necessarily a good thing.

[Forster]

I agree with most... It's more of a truck than a car. I do see my lowered X as a SAV= Suburban Asphalt Vehicle. Haha

[CarFan]

Of course it's a truck. Just because it handles well doesn't change much. I think you'd have a much more interesting thread on the X3.

[doug_999]

Originally Posted by GmoneyLI

My Alpina B7 was over 5000 lbs.. But I def refer to my X as a truck sometimes also.. I'm not going to call it and suv or sav in conversation. Most of the time I just call it my X lol

Loaded you mean (GVWR). Because I think the B7 is about 4,500 lbs unladen. The X5 is over 5,000 and over 6,000 GVWR.

back on topic...
Having come from a car, I can assure you the X5/X6 is a truck One of the best riding trucks, but still a truck.

[WilliCO]

Originally Posted by 14bmws

It certainly doesn't drive like well balanced 3 series sedan, it drives like a truck.... especially with the large 20' sport wheels. It consumes gas like a truck. Im getting just 15 mpg with my 35i.

It's a truck, and in my book that's not necessarily a good thing.

When I think "truck" I think Chevy pickup. An X5 drives a lot more like a 5 series sedan than it drives like a Chevy pickup. IMO and IME anyway.

[JLed79]

I think I'm the loner here, but coming from a real truck, 08 GMC Sierra Denali crewcab, by comparison, the X5 both looks and drives like a car. I can't throw half of the stuff in the rear end I could in the truck. Therefore, imo, it's no truck.

[doug_999]

Originally Posted by JLed79

I think I'm the loner here, but coming from a real truck, 08 GMC Sierra Denali crewcab, by comparison, the X5 both looks and drives like a car. I can't throw half of the stuff in the rear end I could in the truck. Therefore, imo, it's no truck.

But that's like saying a Chevy Cavalier is not a car since it doesn't drive like a 7 series nor hold as much. Those are both cars although they ride/handle and carry different amounts of "stuff".

[JLed79]

Originally Posted by doug_999

But that's like saying a Chevy Cavalier is not a car since it doesn't drive like a 7 series nor hold as much. Those are both cars although they ride/handle and carry different amounts of "stuff".

True, but a truck has a bed. I don't think anything without one can be called a truck.

[JLed79]

I guess, looking back in history, I should change my opinion. The X5 is certainly more truck then the El Camino ever dreamt of being.

[doug_999]

Originally Posted by JLed79

True, but a truck has a bed. I don't think anything without one can be called a truck.

I don't think the people who drive Suburbans would agree with you.

[JLed79]

Maybe. Maybe not. Suburbans are big SUVs. The first part of truck has always been pickup. SUV as a title is fairly new but I think we all agree that Willies invented the vehicle style before selling it to Jeep. Now it seems, the lines are getting very blurred between vehicle titles. My wife drives a GMC Acadia, which is technically a crossover and not all that much different in size to an X5, but I swear if it had a sliding door it would be a minivan. And the Subaru's Forester and Outback have grown so much that they're not all that much smaller than an X5. But calling either of them a truck will surely get you some good laughs. So maybe the thread isnt possible to answer correctly. My best label for the X5 isn't truck or car, it's awesome!

[chiplee]

Originally Posted by CarFan

Of course it's a truck. Just because it handles well doesn't change much. I think you'd have a much more interesting thread on the X3.

Lol, of course huh? I mean I obviously don't care what anyone chooses to regard their X5 as, but the reality is that words mean things. I think JLed79 hit the nail on the head. The X5 falls squarely in the SUV category, but three syllable names are more cumbersome than one syllable names, so people don't tend to say things like, "I think I'll take the S-U-V to work today". Judging by the replies, given the two basic "easy to say" choices of truck and car, some of us are uncomfortable calling it a car, while others of us are uncomfortable calling it a truck. I think we all have our own reasons, but a side with the folks who think its downright silly to call an X5 a truck, or to draw a distinction between the X5 and the X3 for the purpose of this conversation. Same rules apply. Words mean things. If you can find a definition of a truck or pickup truck that includes a picture of any SUV, I'll reconsider.

[JLed79]

Well said Chiplee. And while your Toy is sick and looks like it can climb a tree, I'd still call it an suv lol. For me, the main thing that has always distinguished trucks as trucks is the ability to throw massive amounts of God knows what in the bed and not worry about it getting my carpets dirty. Trucks have beds. SUVs and cars don't.

[JLed79]

Also, like you said, suv is cumbersome to say. When I get my m sport X5 next week I will be calling her a car. A very angry car with serious attitude, but a car nonetheless.