Art That Works

I love art. I love art of all forms: painting, sculpture, literature, architecture, music, even the art of cooking! Automobile design is an art form I have come to appreciate recently, thanks to my friends at Fort Worth Autobahn. American artist Donald Judd once said, “Design has to work. Art does not”. This may be true in some instances, but with all due respect to Mr. Judd, BMW has created art that works in the 2022 X5, where design and art have come together to make an outstanding SUV.

On a beautiful Saturday in February, I met up with Derek Singhass, the New Car Sales Manager at Autobahn BMW of Fort Worth. As always, the Autobahn team made me feel completely comfortable and at ease being surrounded by all the amazing cars BMW had to offer. Derek took me to the X5 and gave me the full rundown of how everything worked, and he made sure I felt completely comfortable taking the X5 for the next few days.

At the risk of sounding a bit overdramatic, the X5 is completely brilliant. Forget design. This is art. I love the overall aesthetic of the X5. The exterior paint on “my” X5 was a gorgeous midnight blue that sparkled in the sun. The interior leather seats were a dark tan and possibly most comfortable car seats I’ve ever ridden in. This is saying a lot, my friends, because I have fond memories of riding in my parent’s 1982 Cadillac DeVille, cocooned in leather seats the size of a couch.

Derek wished me all the best and I drove off the dealership’s lot, ready for the X5 to show me what it can do. An easy touch on the gas pedal, and I could tell this luxury SUV is, at heart, a high performance sports car. It maneuvered around the street corners with ease and precision and came to a solid stop at every red light and stop sign. The crisp and cleanly styled interior, more understated than flashy, fit the X5’s sportier nature.

The BMW X5 has five seats as standard. A third row is optional, which raises the seating capacity to seven. The first- and second-row seats were spacious for adults. It was easy to find a comfortable driving position as well, and outward visibility was good to the front and sides of the SUV. The cabin felt solid and well put-together, and the interior was quiet and serene, with little road noise. The X5 comes packed with standard driver assistance features and an easy-to-use infotainment center. There was a generous amount of cargo space to load up all you would need for a long road trip for spring break or summer vacations.

Windows down, panoramic sunroof revealed, and an amazing sound system made for a fantastic driving experience not just for me, but for my two teenage daughters and husband. We enjoyed the smooth drive as we bounced around our lovely city, taking turns on who got to connect to Apple CarPlay next so we all could hear our favorite songs.

The 2022 BMW X5 is a terrific piece of automotive design. It deserves to be on your shortlist if you’re shopping for a new luxury midsize SUV. The X5 is as enjoyable to drive as it is practical, and being a BMW, there are plenty of options if you want upgrades to make this vehicle even more luxurious.

As I drove back to the dealership, I was reminded, once again, of the incredible driving experiences I have continued to have through Fort Worth Autobahn. I haven’t come across a manager, salesman, or automobile that I haven’t liked. If you haven’t met my friends at the Autobahn dealerships yet, do yourself a favor and take a stroll one day. The knowledgeable staff understands the art of a fine car, but, more importantly, they know the art of great customer service!

Thank you, Autobahn Fort Worth, for trusting me with your amazing cars! See you next time!