It suits families or groups of friends who want to travel in one car without dawdling on the motorway. In the Masons premium car hire range it sits between the Audi RS6 estate and the seven-seat BMW X7: higher than the first, smaller and sportier than the second. The flip side is a firm, sporty suspension. This particular car is blue, with a white leather interior and a panoramic roof.

What the X5 M is good for

The typical plan is a winter ski weekend. Four people leave Prague on Friday afternoon with bags, helmets and ski boots packed in the back and the skis passed through a folded section of the rear seat. Two and a quarter hours later they are in Pec pod Sněžkou. The final climb up the valley is far less fraught with all-wheel drive than in a low saloon, but the drive system is no substitute for winter tyres and caution. The interior is white leather, so anything wet from the slopes goes in the luggage area, not on the seats.

The second plan is a family of five. Two adults in front; in the back, three children or one adult with two children; luggage for a week in the boot. The panoramic roof makes the back seat lighter and airier, which children appreciate on a longer drive, and the 360° camera helps you park a big car at a guesthouse or in an underground car park.

The third plan is any trip where you want something in reserve: a cottage at the end of an unpaved track, a mountain hotel with an uphill approach, or an autumn outing when the forecast promises the first snow. The X5 M is not an off-roader, but compared with a saloon or an estate you get more ground clearance and all-wheel drive.

In practice: seats, luggage and drive

Up front are BMW M sports seats; in the back, a bench for three. Five adults fit for a run around Prague or an hour-long trip, but for a long journey four is more comfortable. The SUV boot has a large tailgate; with five people and skis it gets tight, so pack soft bags. M xDrive powers both axles, giving grip when pulling away in rain, in snow or on a slippery garage ramp. Under the bonnet is a 625 hp twin-turbo petrol V8, so expect regular fuel stops and fill up before heading into the mountains.

The adaptive M suspension has a comfort mode, but even then the X5 M is no soft SUV. On the motorway that is no problem; on the cobbles of Malá Strana or a broken country road you will notice it. The car is big and wide, so take narrow old-town streets and the ramps of older underground car parks slowly, with help from the 360° camera. Prague's blue zones allow limited paid visitor parking; check the sign and time limit and pay online. For longer stays, choose a suitable garage or P+R car park.

Where to take the X5 M from Prague

Pec pod Sněžkou in the Krkonoše Mountains is about 2 hours 15 minutes from Prague: the D11 towards Hradec Králové, then via Jaroměř and Trutnov, and the last few kilometres uphill along the Úpa valley. That final stretch is why the X5 M suits the trip: in winter it is often snow-covered, and with a fully loaded car the all-wheel drive and extra clearance are welcome. Stop in Trutnov to refuel and buy anything you forgot. From Pec, a cable car runs via Růžová hora to Sněžka, the highest mountain in the Czech Republic, and in winter you can ski right in the village. Leave the car in a paid car park in Pec; further into the national park, cars need a permit.

X5 M or Audi RS6 Avant Performance?

Both carry five, with all-wheel drive and sporty suspension, but they suit different trips. Take the X5 M to the mountains, the cottage and anywhere you expect snow or a rough access road: you sit higher, children get in and out more easily, and there is more clearance. The Audi RS6 Avant is a low estate for long motorway runs, say to Germany, with a long boot for bikes or large suitcases. For skiing in the Czech mountains, choose the X5 M; for mostly motorway driving with plenty of luggage, the RS6.