TEN years ago there weren’t any BMW SUVs in existence. Today you can take your pick from four different model lines – including the coupé-esque X6. That’s quite a turnaround for a company that used to pride itself on creating pure driving machines and, arguably, rates as the creator of the modern super-saloon. But BMW is a smart company – one of the world’s most successful automakers – and it moves with the times.
The increased popularity of raised ride-height vehicles and the perceived safety net of all-wheel drive allowed BMW to diversify into the sport-utility market at precisely the right time. The demand for SUV and crossover- type products has been so large that BMW is already into the second generation of its two original products; X5 and X3. The all-new X3 is a far cry from the vehicle that it replaces. It has grown significantly from the previous model and to some eyes look far nicer than the first-generation model. Judging styling is subjective though, and while some of our team commented favourably about the boxy shape and blunt nose, others – including one self-confessed propeller- head – said that the new X3 was “beaten with the ugly stick”.
You can decide about the looks for yourself but at least the proportions are right on the money. The new car is not ungainly and maintains a good balance of swage lines, glass, metal and wheels. It is easy to manoeuvre and park and never feels awkward or unwieldy.
More impressively, it offers a large amount of interior room for a vehicle that does not appear gargantuan on the outside – good going BMW. If you are slightly under average height then you will step up into the cabin. Inside you will find a typical BMW facia; that is to say, of simple and user-friendly design that is easy to familiarise oneself with. An allleather interior complemented by dark wood trim lends an air of sophistication but does make the cabin feel sombre.
There’s tremendous space in the cabin – it is so large, in fact, that we wonder how much bigger an X5, in reality, is inside. Even our taller testers were able to “sit behind themselves”, an informal measure we subject all test cars to. The rear bench is not the most comfortable as the padding feels firm and the cushion flat, but we suspect that this may ease up with time and use. On top of the usual niceties, our test unit had a raft of optional extras such as a heated steering wheel, heads-up display, upgraded audio and navigation systems, a panoramic roof and electric front seats with memory settings.
Raise the tailgate and you are presented with 352 dm3 of luggage space, which compares favourably with the 368 we measured in the X5. If the need arises you can fold down the 40:20:40 split rear seat, erect the cargo net and have a (very expensive) delivery van at your disposal. As the somewhat confusing but now familiar badging suggests, the xDrive35i is powered by BMW’s turbocharged 3,0-litre, straight-six petrol engine. It fires with a bark and settles into a silky smooth idle. All X3s are fitted with an auto stop/start function as part of the Efficient- Dynamics package to help reduce fuel consumption.
Impressive peak outputs of 225 kW and 400 N.m of torque are fed to all wheels via an eight-speed auto transmission. An octet of ratios may seem like overkill but the shift action is excellent. Even without the paddle shift manual override or sport setting activated, the transmission software management ensures the appropriate gear for any scenario.
From standstill, the X3 xDrive35i scoots off the line and can repeatedly turn in 0-100 km/h sprint runs under seven seconds, which should see off most wheelspin-prone hot hatches. It also covers the standing kilometre in less than 28 seconds and flat out it will do 245 km/h.
So, while it may excel in a straight line, we were even more impressed with the X3’s ride and handling capabilities. Engineers have tuned the suspension to work well with the latest-generation run-flat tyres and the result is an excellent ride. Furthermore when the road gets twisty the Pirelli P Zero rubber provides a level of grip that is not expected of a vehicle that weighs over 1,9 tons and has 212 mm of ground clearance.
The Dynamic Control system, which is offered on a BMW X model for the fi rst time, allows drivers to choose between Normal, Sport and Sport+ modes. These pre-programmed settings prime the transmission, engine response and stability management for different situations. Thanks to the overdrive nature of the eighth gear ratio the X3 cruises effortlessly and registers a lowly 2 000 r/min at the national speed limit, which makes for a very sedate and quiet experience.
A brief off-road excursion proved two things: 1) the X3’s build quality is exemplary, as no matter the roughness of the unsealed roads we travelled, or how many potholes we hit, the car remained unfazed and felt solid afterwards, and 2) the road-biased tyres are not up to duty on slushy surfaces, which is not really a surprise.
TEST SUMMARY
The X3 xDrive35i is no cheapie, and the test unit with all its extras exceeds the list price by well over R100 000, making it a direct competitor to a model such as the Porsche Cayenne, and that is some seriously talented company.
With a move to this larger format – which brings oodles of interior space – and the high specification levels, one has to wonder if an X5 is really necessary? The X3 is more than enough SUV for most families. We suspect that BMW is going to cannibalise sales from the current X5 with this newcomer. The next-generation X5 will, however, grow in size to address this positioning problem. That said, apart from the high-ish price tag we fi nd very little wrong with the X3.
