Purists might grumble about the revered M badge spreading to BMW's crossovers, but as other manufacturers have shown, there's money to be made in high-performance SUVs; you need only look at Mercedes-Benz's lineup of AMG SUVs or high-powered versions of the Porsche Cayenne to realize that.

Whether or not the X5 M ruffles feathers within M-enthusiast circles, it's sure to shake things up in the high-performance SUV category. It's extremely well-executed, blending everyday drivability with remarkable performance.