2024 BMW X5 M COMPETITION

YOU DON’T HAVE TO GIVE UP PERFORMANCE WHEN YOU’RE SHOPPING FOR A LUXURY SUV

Just a guess here, but I’m thinking that few people in the market for a luxury SUV are putting sub 4.0-second zero-to-60 mph times high on their list of desired attributes for their new vehicle.

But if you are one who who seeks speed at all costs and have the budget to handle it, the 2024 BMW X5 M Competition just may be your dream vehicle.

What BMW has done has taken all the goodies in 2023’s optional Competition package that give an extra 17 ponies to an already generous 600 horsepower and added an extra track mode to driver options and made them standard in the 2024 BMW X5 M Competition.

Thus with this performance you not only can tow your race car to the track, you make make it your race car.

Underneath the hood of this massive beast is a 4.4-liter, twin-turbo V8 engine that generates 617 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque that propels its 2.5 tons of heft from zero-to-60 mph in 3.4 seconds, according to zerto60times.com. (It comes with a mild electric hybrid system, but that doesn’t add anything to those power numbers).

That engine is mated with an 8-speed automatic transmission, and all-wheel drive is standard, though setting the drive mode to Track gives it a rear-wheel bias.

Fuel figures (you don’t use the words “fuel economy” with numbers like these) is 13 miles-per-gallon city, 18 highway, and 15 combined using premium grade fuel. According to the federal government you should be prepared to spend $11,750 more in costs over the average new vehicle over a 5-year period.

Of course, there is nothing “average” about the 2024 BMW X5 M Competition.

While performance may get your attention, the 2024 BMW X5 M Competition is loaded with the latest in tech features (not all of them easy to get to) and other conveniences that befit the luxury segment.

Of course Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, and of course wireless charging is offered. A Harman Kardon Premium audio system is standard, and a wide dashboard display that includes carbon-fiber trim features navigation and dominates the front of the spacious cabin.

Standard safety features include blind-spot detection, lane-departure warning, forward collision warning, and automated emergency braking as well as a surround-view camera.

No-charge features on my test 2024 BMW X5 M Competition included an M Sport exhaust, 21-inch front and 22-inch rear wheels, 4-zone climate control, active driving and parking assist, full LED lights, an Anthracite, Alcantara headliner, BMW’s Active Driving Assist, and high-gloss roof rails.

Earlier I mentioned your potential automotive budget. The 2024 BMW X5 M Competition carries a hefty starting MSRP of $122,300. That puts it near the top of the niche luxury performance SUV class behind its X6 M sibling, among a couple of others.

My test 2024 BMW X5 M Competition came with a couple of other optional features like special exterior paint, an upgraded interior, and an Executive Package that added heated and cooled cupholders (yes, cupholders), front and rear heated seats, massage function for front seats), and an M Driver’s Package that offers track time at either of BMW’s facilities in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and Thermal California.

All that ran the final bottom line to $141,445 including the $995 destination charge.

What I liked about the 2024 BMW X5 M Competition: The performance from the twin-turbo V8 is exhilarating. For such a large vehicle (194.5 inches long) handling is very nimble. Tech features are numerable. The interior is spacious and the seats comfortable. Cargo space (33.9 cubic feet) is good.

What I didn’t like about the 2024 BMW X5 M Competition: The infotainment system isn’t that complicated, but it is fussy to work through features to get to what you want, such as an overabundance of drive settings. When operating the A/C blower manually, it goes from a barely detectable breeze at the lowest setting to a Category 5 hurricane at the next lowest. The shift pattern is kind of weird..

Would I buy the 2024 BMW X5 M Competition? Considering the pricing, no. If I’m going for performance I’m going to look for a different body style from an SUV. 

2024 KIA SPORTAGE HYBRID

 

HYBRID MODEL OVERCOMES CHECKERED HISTORY OF KIA SPORTAGE COMPACT SUV

The Kia Sportage may have a checkered history but the South Korean automaker has gotten things right since resuming production of its compact SUV after a two-year hiatus a couple of decades ago.

Poor sales and problems such as recalls to correct issues with rear wheels falling off and a reputation for being rollover prone led the company to discontinue sales after the 2002 model year.

Its replacement arrived for 2005 as a slightly larger verhicle, and improvements over the first generation led to Consumer Reports selecting the 2009 model as one of its most reliable vehicles.

The 2010 model that kicked off its third generation also earned international recognition, and the JD Power Survey gave it five stars in all categories of its quality survey. In 2016 the Sportage took over the role as the company’s best-seller from the Rio, and it hasn’t looked back since.

A redesign for 2023 gave the Sportage a completely new look and for the first time a gas-electric hybrid drivetrain. With such an extensive overhaul, only a few updates were applied to the 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid, including standard seat-mounted airbags for the seco
nd row and LED projection type headlights.

As the third hybrid SUV in the Kia lineup, the 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid is positioned between the larger Sorento and smaller Niro. It comes in three trim levels.

The LX serves as the base and front-wheel drive is standard with all-wheel available. The EX and SX Prestige get AWD as standard. This review is based on the SX Prestige model.

The hybrid drivetrain features a 1.6-liter turbo 4-cylinder gas engine paired with an electric motor and is rated at 177 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. That’s a bit less horsepower than the gas model delivers (187 hp) but a significant jump from the 178 lb.-ft. of torque from gas models.

Mileage for the 2024 Kia Sportage varies from 38 miles-per-gallon for the EX and SX-Prestige trims to 43 mpg for the LX. Gas-engine Sportages are rated a 28 mpg combined with FWD and 25 with AWD.

If your recollection of the Sportage is a rather plain, boxy 2- or 4-door small SUV from the 1990s you likely won’t recognize the 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid. The exterior is sleeker and the spare tire that once hung off the back of some early models has been dropped (not literally). The roomy interior has a premium feel.

Standard comfort and convenience features in the 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX-Prestige include navigation with a 12.3-inch touchscreen to display the map, dual automatic climate control, keyless entry with push-button start, a wireless charger, power adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar support, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard. Kia Connect, which gives access to features that remotely lock and unlock your vehicle, activate climate control, and find your car in a crowded parking lot, is offered by subscription with a one-year free trial.

The 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX-Prestige rides on 18-inch alloy wheel and comes with LED projection headlights, taillights, and daytime running lights, and standard roof rails.

Active safety systems include lane-departure warning, driver attention warning, blind-spot assist, rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist, and reverse parking distance warning. The government gives it four out of five stars when it comes to rollover protection and five stars for frontal crash protection.

Features adding no cost to the starting MSRP of $37,450 in my SX-Prestige test vehicle included dark gray wheels, a panoramic sunroof, power liftgate, LED fog lights, a Harman-Kardon premium sound system, a blind-spot view monitor (activated by turn signals), adaptive cruise control, highway driving assist, forward parking assist, a memory driver’s seat, LED interior lights, heated steering wheel, and ventilated front seats.

The only extras were $595 for the Shadow Matte Steel Gray exterior paint, carpeted floor mats, and a cargo mat tran the final total to $39,730 including the $1,375 destination and delivery fee.

The base FWD 2024 Kia Hybrid LX starts at $28,590 with AWD running the price to $30,390. The EX AWD starts at $3,290.

What I liked about the 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid: The design is very attractive both inside and out. The cabin is spacious and the ride is comfortable. Throttle response is very responsive and the cabin is spacious with lots of standard infotainment features operated off a 12.3-inch touchscreen. Though not a leader in its class, fuel economy still is a plus. The hybrid drivetrain provides a significant boost in both torque and fuel efficiency over Sportages with the 2.5-liter gas engine only.

What I didn’t like about the 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid: You won’t find much not to like about the 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid. The gear selector, which is a dial on the center console, is on the funky side.

Would I buy the 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid? Yes.Many standard hybrids offer more in the way of fuel economy, but the Sportage is competitive among other hybrid SUVs.