2009 BMW X5 xDrive35d

The good: Some of the 2009 BMW X5 xDrive35d's cabin tech features work very well, such as the iPod and Bluetooth phone integration. Handling at speed is particularly good, and the diesel engine gives it about 5 miles per gallon better fuel economy than the gas version. The bad: The diesel engine makes for lagging acceleration from stopped, and produces more rattle than we would like. The old iDrive interface is still present in the X5. The bottom line: The presence of the old iDrive interface makes it hard to recommend this generation of the BMW X5 xDrive35d, and the diesel engine makes it more suitable for open-road conditions than congested city traffic.