It is more than a decade since BMW weaved its not inconsiderable sports car magic over a whacking great 4x4 and unveiled the X5. The aim was simple – produce a formidable 4x4 with the driving dynamics of BMW’s forte, the sports tourer. The success of the formula is reflected in the number of sharp-handling rivals that now line up against the German beast.

Over the years, BMW too has extended its reach across the 4x4 range with the smaller X6, X3 and X1, offering a wide choice to buyers who want the flexibility of four-wheel-drive without sacrificing the precise drive for which BMW is rightly famous.

But up there at the head of the bunch remains the X5, an unashamedly luxurious, heavyweight hulk, with the road presence of a Range Rover and mighty engines to match.

The world was a different place when the aggressively-styled X5 came on the market in the 1990s. The engine choice at first was limited to one – a 4.4-litre V8 – and it was two years before the first diesel was offered. Not surprisingly, 95 per cent of buyers now opt for diesel power.

Perhaps more significantly was the introduction of the xDrive four-wheel-drive system in 2003 that used an electronically-activated system, rather than heavy, energy-sapping differentials.

Three years ago, the range was freshened with a new range of engines and options, longer wheelbase and a lower centre of gravity to further help the car’s handling. And it is the handling of the X5 that sets it apart from its rivals. While some top-of-the-range 4x4s can justifiably claim to have better off-road credentials or offer more carrying capacity, it is the sheer joy of driving the X5 that makes it such a powerful package.

Since 2007, the car’s electronics system have had a number of tweaks to give a boost to safety and comfort: brake pre-tensioning shortens stopping distances during an emergency stop by priming the brakes should it detect the driver lifting off the accelerator; brake drying improves braking performance in the wet by periodically applying the brake pads to scrub away the film of water from the brake discs, and brake fade compensation applies additional braking without any extra effort should sensors detect that the brake pads are starting to lose ‘bite’ due to heat build-up. The car is also fitted with a hill-start assistant, that allows it to pull away smoothly on steep hills without rolling back.

Inside, the dashboard houses BMW’s iDrive control system, and options that include a rear-view camera to ease parking, electronically-controlled adaptive suspension that counters the natural lean of the car during cornering for a more composed ride and a head-up display that projects speed, navigation and check control messages on to the windscreen.

From June, the look of the car will be updated and the range will see a further array of design and engine changes, offering even greater performance and lower emissions.

Auto facts BMW X5 35d SE

Price: £43,815

Ins group: 18

Fuel consumption (Combined): 34mpg

Top speed: 146mph

Length: 485.4cm/191.1in

Width: 193.3cm/76.1in

Luggage space: 21.9 cu ft

Fuel tank capacity: 18.7 gallons/ 85 litres

CO2 emissions: 220g/km

Warranty: 3 years/unlimited mileage