In life, there are two kinds of people. Coffee drinkers and tea sippers. To this writer, both brews are good and each serves a specific time and mood.
Deciding whether a cup of kopi peng or teh peng during lunch is as tough a decision as to whether we prefer the BMW X5 xDrive35i or the Volvo XC90 T6 Inscription.
BMW is known for the dash of sportiness in its cars while the Volvo brand is noted for its safety features. This paradigm remains true with these two luxury Sports Utility Vehicles (SUV).
Exterior
Both cars you see here are architectural marvels by modern automotive standards but the X5's arches and curves give it a sharper look as opposed to the XC90's boxier guise.
BMW's belief in sportiness begins with the face of the X5, which is decorated by vertical apertures that serve as drag-reducing Air Curtains. This facial feature guides the inflowing air around the wheel arches that is channelled out via Air Breathers in the side panels.
Illuminating the X5's path are piquant, three-dimensional LED light strips in the headlamps. This striking road presence is complimented by the car's L-shaped rear lights.
The XC90 doesn't lack in presence either. Its state-of-the-art construction is accentuated with Volvo's prominent iron mark, which has the iconic arrow gracefully allineated against the diagonal slash across the grille.
A pair of T-shaped, 'Thor's Hammer' inspirited Daytime Dunning Lights (DRL) mirror an air of confidence that is given off by the car's visual muscle.
Interior
Bavarian sportiness is mirrored in the X5's beautifully-crafted cabin. A three-dimensional horizontal structure of layered surfaces underlines the broad sweep of the instrument panel, giving the dash a stark contrast.
Wood trims add a balancing touch of luxury that is finished off with soft-touch leather. Throughout the cabin, LED units arranged in a wrap-around contour line create an alluring effect.
As with all Bimmers, the 10.25-inch Control Display linked to the standard-fitted iDrive operating system is extremely user-friendly and all controls are easily within reach.
At 4,950mm x 2,008mm x 1,775mm (L x W x H), the XC90 is slightly larger than the X5's 4,886mm x 1,938mm x 1,762mm dimensions.
This difference is size is instantly felt when you take a seat in both the second and third rows of the Volvo.
Bavarian sportiness is mirrored in the X5's beautifully-crafted cabin. A three-dimensional horizontal structure of layered surfaces underlines the broad sweep of the instrument panel, giving the dash a stark contrast.
Wood trims add a balancing touch of luxury that is finished off with soft-touch leather. Throughout the cabin, LED units arranged in a wrap-around contour line create an alluring effect.
As with all Bimmers, the 10.25-inch Control Display linked to the standard-fitted iDrive operating system is extremely user-friendly and all controls are easily within reach.
At 4,950mm x 2,008mm x 1,775mm (L x W x H), the XC90 is slightly larger than the X5's 4,886mm x 1,938mm x 1,762mm dimensions.
This difference is size is instantly felt when you take a seat in both the second and third rows of the Volvo.
However, with all seats down, the X5 triumphs marginally in terms of full boot capacity with 1,870 litres, two litres more than the XC90's 1,868 litres.
The comfort and spaciousness in the XC90 is undeniable. Interior finishes are a combination of fine Nappa leather and wood with handcrafted details. The Swedes have indeed stepped up their level of refinement with the interior of this car.
Smack in the middle of the centre console is a display that bears a striking resemblance to an iPad. Although attractively designed, this tablet-like touchscreen control console that forms the heart of the in-car control system can be a bit of a challenge to fiddle with while driving.
The Drive
At the heart of the X5 xDrive35i is a 3.0-litre six-cylinder TwinPower turbo petrol engine that arms it with 302bhp and a torque output of 400Nm at the flick of a foot. The motor is eager to rev and happy to sing to you the song of its in-line six.
With that paired to its silky smooth eight-speed Sport automatic gearbox, the X5 sprints around in traffic like a Germanic fighter on a mission.
Even for something as tall and hefty, the car is poised and confident in corners. The Bavarians have definitely nailed their recipe for a fast-paced family mover.
On the other hand, the XC90 isn't as exciting or engaging to pilot around town, but it serves perfectly the purpose of why it was created. Power and torque is rated at 320bhp and 400Nm respectively. This may be 18bhp more than the X5 but its transmission is where it loses points to the Bavarian.
At the heart of the X5 xDrive35i is a 3.0-litre six-cylinder TwinPower turbo petrol engine that arms it with 302bhp and a torque output of 400Nm at the flick of a foot. The motor is eager to rev and happy to sing to you the song of its in-line six.
With that paired to its silky smooth eight-speed Sport automatic gearbox, the X5 sprints around in traffic like a Germanic fighter on a mission.
Even for something as tall and hefty, the car is poised and confident in corners. The Bavarians have definitely nailed their recipe for a fast-paced family mover.
On the other hand, the XC90 isn't as exciting or engaging to pilot around town, but it serves perfectly the purpose of why it was created. Power and torque is rated at 320bhp and 400Nm respectively. This may be 18bhp more than the X5 but its transmission is where it loses points to the Bavarian.
Despite being an eight-speed Geartronic transmission, the XC90's power delivery isn't as responsive as that in the BMW and the need for refinement is evident.
Nevertheless, the XC90 is quiet and comfortable enough for your infant at the back to enjoy a nap on a long drive. Where it loses out to the Germans on a driving scoreboard, it makes up for in safety features.
Features like Roll Stability Control, City Safety Auto-Brake function and Lane Keeping Aid provide that peace of mind that buyers in this segment would appreciate.
Conclusion
At $360,000 (as of 9th September 2015), the XC90 is $16,200 more than the X5, which costs $343,800 (as of 12th September 2015). Are you getting that much more for what you pay? If safety features are your priority then the answer could be yes. Otherwise, the X5 seems to us like the more refined ride.
