BMW's X3 has grown and matured nicely. The five-seat X3 is now a genuine alternative to the more costly BMW X5.
Initially the new X3 comes with one engine - a powerful 2-litre diesel that pushes out 184bhp. Thanks to its auto stop-start technology, CO2 emissions and fuel consumption are down too. To give our test car its full title, it is an 'X3 xDrive20d'.
The latest version also gets VDC (variable damper control) and DDC (drive dynamic control) for the first time to make it pretty useful on the road. Of course, the X3 is a useful tool in slippery conditions (unlike its rear-wheel drive siblings!), thanks to a clever four-wheel drive (xDrive) setup.
Outside it now has bulges and curves to mimic the larger X5's styling, while inside there is much more space all round and a posher feel to interior. The boot is bigger at 550 litres, while leg and headroom are greater than before. Drivers may need to check the rear badge to make sure they are not in an X5 - it is that impressive inside. Fold the seats and there are 1,600 litres of an Ikea-friendly cargo area.
BMW's 2-litre diesel pushes out 380nm of torque and can sprint to 100km/h in just 8.5 seconds. You can also manage a very respectable 50mpg with a light right foot. CO2 is a mere 149g/km in the manual six-speed version, which is class-leading in the premium SAV sector. Believe it or not, the eight-speed automatic gearbox version has a lower CO2 figure of just 147g/km!
On the road the latest X3 feels less harsh than the original car. It is dynamic and fun but still not the GTi it wants to be. The steering is a little vague and even numb at times. When cruising on exposed motorway the car's height can be felt when the wind blows.
X3 was designed for left-hand drive markets and to be fitted with an automatic gearbox. You feel this especially in a right-hand drive manual car. My feet are forced well over to the right of the footwell to find the three pedals. The clutch is where you would instinctively look for the brake pedal. The only upside is a massive footrest area for your clutch foot when cruising. This is a minor niggle that you will get used to - but you need to be aware of it when wearing your snow boots!
Speaking of snow, X3 features the xDrive badge, which means it has permanent four-wheel drive plus a host of electronic driver aids to help keep the car going in the direction the driver intends it to go. A general word of caution to anyone who has or is planning to buy a four-wheel drive: Having the engine power turn all the car's wheels will help move it along where two-wheel drive cars may not, but it doesn't help you stop any quicker than a normal car. All cars have four-wheel brakes!
Still a relatively expensive machine, the latest X3 is a massive step forward over the outgoing car. The market for off-roaders is making a strong comeback and while X3 is now a really nice car, I couldn't see myself buying one when I could get an excellent BMW X1 xDrive for a lot less cash.
Michael Sheridan
