BMW's new X5 M is "simply a joy to drive", according to one review.

In a review for BMW fan-site bmwblog.com, Horatiu Boeriurs highlights the car's impressive handling and commends the new power-steering system it has been fitted with.

He draws attention to the visual details the manufacturer has added to ensure that the 4X4 retains the aggressive look of a traditional M-Series vehicle.

BMW car hire fans may be interested in the fact that the 5,368-pound off-roader produces 555bhp and is able to achieve 60mph from standstill in an impressive 4.1 seconds.

"Seconds after pushing that Start button, the M-like sound [is] more than obvious … the X5 M is still one of the most potent SUVs you can buy and its throttle response is much more linear than that in the top X5 model," Mr Boeriurs wrote.

The X5 M was revealed at the New York Motor Show last year.

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Posted by Chris Weaver