FEW cars offer as much road presence as BMW's mighty X5 which is now bigger than ever.

It may not have the off-road capability of a Range Rover but on normal roads it is a match for anything.

And let's face it how many owners use their expensive SUVs to tackle the real rough stuff.

That's not to say that the X5 is not up to the job as it will easily deal with the worst of our winter weather, muddy fields or stony tracks but this car is more liable to be found on motorways or the school run rather than half way up a mountain.

I first drove an X5 20 years ago when it first arrived and it has gradually got more and more sophisticated as well as increasing in size.

It is now even chunkier than before with crisp looks while the front is dominated by a massive grille which makes it look quite aggressive.

The focus is still very much on on-road handling and performance and it is an SUV that you can really enjoy driving hard.

It comes with an option of a third row of seats and a choice of petrol and diesel engines.

Now in its fourth generation it comes with a choice of engines and I have been sampling the most popular - the3.0-litre diesel which punches out a substantial 258bhp and offers massive torque.

That means it is capable of 0-62mph in 6.8 seconds before going on to 142mph if you can find anywhere legal to achieve it.

And it is not just good in a straight line because the X5 handles the twisty stuff well and corners nicely despite its hefty bulk.

The steering is nicely weighted and provides good feedback while the eight-speed gearbox switches smoothly through the cogs but if you want some fun you can also use the paddles.

The brakes are fantastic and let's face it they would need to be to slow this monster from speed and the grip is also impressive.

You hardly hear the six cylinder diesel inside the superb cabin and the biggest problem I encountered was parking it in our way too small parking spaces. It really is time that NCP and others looked at that problem.

There is stacks of space inside the cabin and it is finished superbly with quality leather and soft-touch materials of the highest quality.

The dash is dominated by a huge touchscreen that can also be operated by the latest version of iDrive via the circular controller. The rest of the instruments are typical BMW and there is also a clever head-up display on this vehicle.

It is packed with all the latest tech and the cabin also offers plenty cup holders, storage bins and pockets as well as enough power sockets to keep the whole family happy.

The boot can take care of 650 litres of luggage and this can be increased to a massive 1,870 litres if you fold the rear seats flat.

The X5 boasts all the latest safety equipment and you can add more from the extensive options list and personalise your vehicle in many different ways.