Okay, so get this: We've been laughing at BMW for years because of its insistence on calling the X5 an SAV. That's Sports Activity Vehicle. It's funny because the X5 is, by anyone else's definition, an SUV. Sport Utility Vehicle.
Why "activity?" Sure, you can do a lot of "activities" in the X5. You can spin its little iDrive controller until the computer locks up (which is fun). You can play with its new-wave shifter (which is a little disturbing, because it's shaped like... well, grab one and you'll know). You can even drive the thing. That's one particular activity that the X5 is really, really good at.
But what's BMW's problem with "utility"? We think the X5 has a huge amount of utility - it seats 7 people, it can tow 6000 pounds, and it can even do some off-roading. That's all very useful stuff. So, sorry BMW, but the X5 is an SUV. And a good one. Deal with it.
The new X6 is based on the X5, but it's not an SUV, either. In fact, it's not even an SAV. It's an SAC - a Sports Activity Coupe. Oh, really? To me, a coupe has two doors (even if it's called a Mercedes-Benz CLS or Volkswagen Passat CC, by the way).... Read full article