E53 BMW X5 vs. E70 BMW X5: Which is the Most Reliable SUV?
The dynamic performance of the new 2006 BMW X5 E70 over the older BMW X5 E53 that came on the market in 1999 when BMW still possessed Land Rover, is perhaps unconvincing.
The new E70 BMW X5 is more comfortable and easier to drive. It comes with greater safety and electronic driving aids, as well as comfort features, but it beats the old E53 BMW X5 a thousand times.
If you love engine power, keep an eye out for the rare 355-horsepower 4.8-liter E53 N62 that reaches 0 100 km / h in 6.1 seconds. The equivalent 4.8-liter 350hp engine in the E70 X5 reaches 0,100 km / h in 6.5 seconds. The E70 has a smaller 3.0-liter petrol 261 Horse powered which has slightly better performance (8.1 seconds 0-100 Km/H) compared to the E53’s 3.0 liter 227 Horsepower, which takes 0.7 s more to reach 0-100 Km/H.
If the 4.8-liter E53 is out of reach, you can be content with the 4.4-liter M62 petrol engine, the 355 horsepower of which allows it to jump from 0 to 100 km / h in 7.5 seconds. The old E53 BMW X5 sounds and feels more like a young attacker. The E53 feels firmer and more dynamic on the tarmac as you push it hard through the corners.
Instead, the E70 BMW X5 is less quiet when driven aggressively and feels more like a tame horse with less power. The E70 BMW X5 is wider at 60 mm, longer at 165 mm, and heavier at 91 kg, making it less maneuverable. If appearances don’t lie, the E53’s sleeker and more aerodynamic shape makes it agile and a sportier BMW of the two options.
But the E70 also has a good side. Its six-speed gearbox makes it more fuel-efficient and suitable for a smoother and quieter ride. Comfort and convenience features are refined.
The E70 BMW X5 comes with many electronic toys for dynamic and safe driving. The manual gearbox has been omitted and the all-wheel-drive has the X-drive. The E70 has a space-saving joystick-like electronic shifter called the I Drive, which is electronically connected to the gearbox that was previously used for shift links to save space.
The head-up display projects important information onto the windshield, while Active Steering changes the steering ratio based on speed and driving style. E70 ensures a pleasant driving experience with adaptive traction, active roll stabilization, and adaptive dampers. A poorly maintained imported or locally used E53 or E70 BMW X5 becomes very unreliable and expensive.
Previous owners are known to sell them to get rid of problem gearboxes or diesel engines. The age limit for importing a car has likely lowered the import of an E53 X5. Unless you buy one for local use.
E53 BMW X5 & E70 BMW X5 – Photo Gallery
Recommended For You
2025 BMW M5 Touring – Incredible Family Wagon!
Jeremy Markus
Jeremy is an automotive journalist and is particularly passionate about the BMW brand. He deals with writing news and reviews for BMW, but sometimes he also writes articles about troubleshooting and car maintenance. Being an independent mechanic in Munich, Germany, he has extensive knowledge of servicing BMW cars. The knowledge he has, he shares on BMWSite. In his spare time, after he is very tired after so much work, instead of resting, he likes to drive his E39 BMW M5 with 400 horsepower, which gives him energy and a smile on his face.
