BMW X5 Celebrates 10th Birthday

Love it or loathe it, the BMW X5 has undeniable staying power. Launched in 1999 to a comparatively barren SUV market, the BMW X5 arguably got the ball well-and-truly rolling on the whole sports/luxury 4WD phenomenon.

Since it came to this country in 2001, nearly 23,000 Australian drivers have bought BMW's volume-selling SUV, while over 845,000 X5s have been sold globally.

Fuel crises, anti-4WD campaigners and toughening emissions laws have all failed to halt the X5's success, and despite a greater awareness of environmental issues and a renewed drive to wean ourselves off foreign oil, the X5 continues to reap profits for its Bavarian manufacturer.

And so it comes as no surprise that the X5 nameplate has lasted a decade, with two distinct models being produced during that time.

With the success of the X5 spawning two other models, the X3 and the X6, it's probably safe to say that we won't be seeing the end of BMW's all-paw goliath.