Looks pinned, now future-focused

Thoroughly enjoyable drive - BMW's X5 is giving the 3 series, coupe variant below, a run for its money when it comes to being a top-seller. Photo / Supplied

BMW's 3 Series may be its top-seller this year, but X5 isn't far behind, in third spot on its personal sales charts. So updates to both are important.

Hence the fancy "life cycle impulse" name for this X5 facelift - and changes to the three-door 3 Series coupe and cabrio models.

What's new
I could fill half the paper here - because there's very little to see, a lot under the skin, and a number of models to cover.

Suffice it to say that changes to both models concentrate on the engines and overall efficiency - with more power supplied where possible without a fuel penalty.

So X5 uses reduced rolling resistance tyres; employs brake energy regeneration; and some ancillaries only draw power when needed.

Engine changes are many. The X5 V8 petrol's the most noticeable, the old 4.8-litre Valvetronic replaced by a 4.4-litre unit with two turbos and a name change, from 48i to 50i (no, it's not logical). Power is up 15 per cent to 300kW; torque a massive 26 per cent to 600Nm; the 0-100 time is one second quicker at 5.5 seconds; and not surprisingly, thirst has increased a tad.

The other engines get smaller changes, all boosting urge while improving fuel and emissions figures. It helps that an eight-speed auto filched from the 5 and 7 Series is now standard.

It'll virtually take a trainspotter to recognise the changes from the skin - with alterations to the lower body and the lights.

The same goes for the 3 coupe and cabrio, with minor changes to the headlights down. The formerly twin-turbo petrol 335i now gets a valvetronic with no changes to power but better fuel economy, while the straight-six 330d diesel has a single variable nozzle turbo in place of the 335d's twin turbo. It's a nudge slower to 100 and power's down, but 520Nm means it's hardly a slug, and better fuel economy's a bonus.

The company line
BMW says it's got the looks pinned - its focus now is meeting future emissions regs and cutting fuel use without compromising driveability. There's a lot of twin-power talk - don't get confused. It just means "two turbo elements", which may mean two turbos, or a turbo with a variable vane component, or ... even BMW NZ's boffins admit the differences aren't always clear.

What we say
All the cars look smart, the minimal cosmetic changes most noticeable around the lights - literally, the falcon-stare of the headlight rings imparting a slightly aggressive vision in the rear mirrors.

It can be hard to get your head around the price difference between a BMW and its mainstream equivalent; those who pay it can argue they've paid for tech developments that eventually will filter down to everyday drivers.

On the road
These cars remain accomplished handlers - the X5 with the "for an SUV" proviso - while the limited time available at launch didn't reveal much about the engine changes.

Why you'll buy one
The X5 because you must have an SUV; and BMW's efficient dynamics tech makes this one of the greenest of a not-naturally-green breed.

The coupe we sampled at launch you'll have because it's a thoroughly enjoyable drive, with a well thought out cabin that extracts a minimal compromise from rear passengers.

Why you won't
There are SUVs that'll go far further off-road, and cars that do better on it than X5. As for the 3s, you want something more affordable or more obviously cutting edge while BMW's clever tech largely works behind the scenes.