Loaded 2017 BMW 550XI Gran Turismo – An Accord CrossTour for Enthusiasts ?

My frustrated search for a successor unicorn for my 2010 Mercedes S600 (going on sale soon!) continues. I’ve become enamored not only with V-12’s, but with the latest and greatest technology – mostly some autonomous driving capability for long distance driving. Bought and returned the 2018 Cadillac CT6 Platinum (aka Clotmobile – it’s still on sale here at my Dulles Dealer) and came close to buying a 2019 BMW X5 50i. Different approaches, but both blew me away with the comfort of driving extended distances relatively hands free. But neither were real enthusiasts cars, although I tried to convince myself the Cadillac’s 400hp six cylinder and the BMW’s 456hp made up for that. Neither really were worthy of Cars and Coffee, and nobody came up to me at the gas pump with a “whatcha got there?!”. Sleepers both.

I’ve boxed myself in because while there are unicorns in my traditionally sense (deeply depreciated, low miles, expensive to fix but not my problem with MaxCare), once you tag autonomous driving onto an enthusiast car we’re talking $65,000 and up – no longer a bargain. My deal was instead of a three year old Camry we could be driving eight year old Mercedes for the same price, more fun, no risk. Well, CarMax doesn’t have a search feature for autonomous driving (the term too vague right now) so I dutifully plug in my big four – Apple Carplay, autonomous cruise control, heated steering wheel, and seat massagers – and of the 51,365 cars on lots today, only 75 meet my criteria. Half of them Ford Explorers and F150’s! Today, not even a Stinger GT2 available – an enthusiast car that comes with all that. So what’s the best I can do today?

A 2017 BMW 550XI Gran Turismo (GT)! A car that Car and Driver tagged as a model nobody asked for. But it’s really quite a car if you want a hatchback German sedan or can get over its awkward (to me) profile. (Bracing myself – good chance one of the blog readers owns one and loves the lines. My apologies.) Loaded with a 440hp twin turbo 4.4 liter V-8, AWD, heated and cooling seats, Apple Carplay, auto cruise, seat massagers, heated steering wheel, and a panoramic sunroof, once inside you won’t even know it looks kooky to some from the outside. And it’s less than $40,000! Note – the car made its debut at CarMax for $37,998 and almost immediately shot up to $40,998 – then this week backed off $1,000.

Thought just for fun I’d throw in a 2015 Honda CrossTour EX-L for comparison. The Honda only has a 278hp six but cost lots less. That said, it has a rear wiper! So what’s a Gran Turismo – or GT? Motor Trend says a “GT car fit between a sports car and a luxury car. It should have a big engine, a comfortable ride, a luxurious interior, and elegant bodywork. Not just fast, it needed to be able to handle like a sports car when the proper situation arose but coddle like a luxury car the rest of the time.” The BMW 550XI GT fits the bill, although it could be better looking.

The BMW has a handsome interior, although as a 2017 it’s infotainment screen is smaller and a little dated now despite this 550 model being a new gen. I dig the pre-coffee stained seats. Usually I have to turn them that color myself.

The trunk space looks useful. Maybe this is for folks who want to haul stuff but not lug around a larger SUV like the X5?

I like the motor. Thought I would need M models to be happy (I drove, and loved, a stupid fast 2020 BMW X5 M50i once) but the “base” twin turbo BMW V-8 is remarkably powerful. Test results put it at a mid to upper four second 0-60 mph sprint. This car sold new for perhaps $75,000 and is under $40k today. There’s an awful lot of features available for a five year old car, and if I could get over autonomous driving and the shape, I think it’s a bargain. Maxcare available to 125,000 miles and 60 months. Find this two owner, accident free, low mileage car here in Golden, Colorado.

Stock # 22136854 VIN # WBA5M0C58HD085267