BMW

The new X5 is clearly a BMW. It’s immediately identifiable as one from a distance, and that’s a good thing. The new SUV may be larger than the old one, but the rear-wheel-drive proportions remain the same, as do many styling cues, including the “twin-kidney” oval grille. A new kick-up in the body-side lines around the rear door adds a little flair to the typical two-box SUV look, but BMW’s stylists did a good job keeping the X5 clean, modern and traditional. Its competitors look good, too; its closest rival is the all-new Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class, which also received a complete (and very attractive) redo on a new platform, though it will arrive later in 2019 as a 2020 model. The Land Rover Discovery matches up well against the new BMW, as does the high-spec version of the Jeep Grand Cherokee, which is often cross-shopped against luxury competitors in its high-dollar trim levels.