BMW X3
All-new model now looks the part – plus it delivers on and off the road, too
The presence of an extremely talented and well received big brother always piles on the pressure when a new model is launched. But the original BMW X3 didn’t live up to its billing as a miniature X5. Can the latest car make a better fist of it?
The new X3 gets off to a good start, as it has a far more imposing shape and sharper detailing than before. It’s wider, taller and longer; in fact, it’s only 19mm shorter than the original X5.
Video: watch CarBuyer's video review of the BMW X3
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Our test car was fitted with the firm’s £480 xLine package, which brings classy satin aluminium window surrounds and titanium-effect bumper inserts. However, the X3 still isn’t as neatly proportioned as its competitors in this test, particularly from the rear. Inside, you’re treated to a high driving position and a wide range of wheel and seat adjustment. The straightforward dashboard and clear dials sit neatly alongside BMW’s latest iDrive cabin control system.
Plus, the firm has addressed the criticisms levelled against the MkI X3’s quality. Fit and finish are excellent, and the materials used are first-class. Our car’s attractive wood veneer trim is a £340 optional extra, but leather seats, two-zone climate control and a multifunction steering wheel come as standard.
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Cash £18,700Space isn’t an issue, either. Not only does the car have the longest wheelbase in the test, it also provides the most comfortable back seats, with passengers getting lots of legroom and under-thigh support. Boot capacity has also increased to a class-leading 550 litres. The rear seats are split 60/40, and while they don’t fold completely flat, they help liberate a 1,600-litre maximum load space – beaten here only by the Land Rover.
From launch, there’s a single engine choice, and the 181bhp 2.0-litre diesel is unique as it incorporates stop-start technology whether customers specify manual or automatic transmissions – a first in this sector of the market.
Our model featured the eight-speed self-shifter, and its smooth gearchanges combine with positive throttle response to complement the trusty common-rail oil-burner’s linear power delivery. It emits a turbine-like hum under load, but overall refinement is good. And while the icy conditions of our test prevented us from recording fully representative performance figures from a standing start, the new X3 provided plenty of in-gear punch.
The selector on the centre console allows you to shift gears manually, and the speed with which the auto changes ratios can be tuned using the optional Drive Dynamic Control system. In Sport mode, you also get remapped steering responses and crisper throttle reactions.
But while the sharper driving dynamics this set-up provides are welcome, the BMW feels just as capable in Normal mode. The steering is accurate and well weighted, there is plenty of grip and body control is superb. As a result, you can turn into corners with confidence. It displays none of the extreme weight transfer or vagueness associated with 4x4s.
There’s loads of feel through the steering, and you get the kind of driving involvement you’d expect from a BMW saloon. Traction is impressive, too. The xDrive permanent four-wheel drive transfers power between the axles and – thanks to the stability control set-up – between individual wheels. This made the X3 simply unstoppable in the snow, although its winter tyres also played their part.
Comfort will be of more concern in fair weather, and the BMW continues to impress here. While the suspension is slightly firm around town, when you up the pace, excellent damping ensures the X3 soaks up bumps with ease, and it’s impressively composed on motorways.
It’s worth noting that our car was fitted with the £910 optional Variable Damper Control system, which can be programmed using the Drive Dynamic Control switch. Yet despite all the extra kit, it’s still the cheapest model here.
The BMW strikes an excellent balance between car-like responses and comfort. Add low emissions, test fuel economy of 34.5mpg and fixed-price servicing, and it’s a sensible bet. The X3 has come of age.
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Chart position: 1
WHY: BMW expects its new X3 to race to the front of the compact SUV class.
