With a legacy as the progenitor of the premium midsize SUV segment, the new BMW X3 has some big shoes to fill…
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BMW X3 xDrive20d M Sport Fast Facts
- Price: R1 186 417
- 0-100 km/h: 7.13 seconds
- Top speed: 215 km/h
- Power: 145 kW
- Torque: 400 N.m
- CAR fuel index: 6.96 L/100 km
- CO2: 163 g/km
BMW is widely credited with establishing the premium midsize SUV segment when it launched its 3 Series-based E83 X3 in 2003. Before then, access to SUVs wearing a premium badge was limited to full-size models from the German Big Three, Land Rover and a handful of solid but obscure Japanese models. By the time the LHD-only Mercedes GLK and Audi Q5 arrived in 2008, BMW had stolen a march on its rivals and had already built more than 400 000 examples. Through three generations, the last of which was built at BMW SA’s Plant Rosslyn facility, the three pillars of the X3’s success was built on the foundations of solid build, practical packaging and well-balanced driving characteristics that made it something of a segment benchmark. Now, just of 20 years later and with 2.5 million X3s sold, the fourth-generation G45, again an SA-built model, has arrived on a groundswell of expectation.
BMW’s designers describe the new X3’s styling treatment as ‘monolithic’, as if hewn from a single, solid piece, and that’s a pretty neat summation. Where previous models were fairly streamlined and smooth-skinned, the new car is altogether more bluff-nosed and angular in its execution, presenting a more masculine air than before. In the metal, it’s also appreciably larger than the outgoing model measuring 200 mm shorter and only 85 mm narrower than the X5. Factor in the M Sport rims, and features such as the illuminated grille and ‘Shadow Line’ straked LED running lights forming part of the optional M Sport package pro kit, and the new X3 manages to look both solid and sporty.
The cabin’s architecture echoes some of that exterior angularity, especially in its broad, crisp infotainment/instrument panel. The 14.9-inch TFT unit that plays host the BMW’s latest infotainment operating system (BMW Operating System 9), which ushers in smoother interplay between more intuitive interfaces and improved voice recognition and integration. While our unit’s dark M Sport headliner and thick pillars do make it feel a little close inside, the cabin is spacious with 620 mm of rear legroom and more than 800 mm of headroom all round. The boot is generous, easily swallowing 312 litres of our ISO measuring blocks with all the seats in place and a healthy 1 192 litres with the rear seatbacks folded. While the monolithic theme may have permeated the interior’s design, there are a couple of elements that don’t feel quite as rock-solid. There are some bits that let the side down somewhat – most notably the door lock/outer vent control/seat memory rocker panel, which is made from thin plastic and feels rather loose, as well as some scratchy finishes on the cabin door pulls. These only stand out because the rest of the cabin is of the high standard of fit and finish we’ve come to expect from BMW. The inclusion of the R10 000 optional Luxury instrument panel – a padded and textured, woven finish for the cabin’s beltline panels, made from recycled materials – helped offset some of these less polished items, though.
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When it comes to the X3’s road manners, however, there are no such chinks in its armour. BMW’s midsize stalwart has traditionally made a name for itself when it comes to finely balancing refined, civilised cruising and effortless round-town wieldiness with a genuine dose of driver engagement – and we’re pleased to say that the new car is no exception. The 20d’s 2.0-litre turbodiesel is an impressive entry point into the X3 range, not least because firing it up on a full tank sees you confronted with a range of around 900 km on the trip computer. Indeed, our mixed-use fuel consumption testing saw the 20d return 6.8 L/100 km (just shy of BMW’s 5.8 claim and close to our fuel index figure), which would equate to around 860 km from a full tank. This unit’s outputs of 145 kW and 400 N.m is about par for the segment but are harnessed so well by the drivetrain and chassis that the all-round driving experience is so pleasingly fluid. In start-stop traffic round town, the 48 V mild hybrid system brings the engine in and out of play seamlessly, and despite our test vehicle wearing optional 21-inch rims with low-profile rubber, married to adaptive suspension (a type system that has served up somewhat inconsistent damping in some cars we’ve tested) the ride is fluid and isn’t set quivering by rippled surfaces. NVH suppression is also impressive, with wind and engine noise reduced to a murmur at motorway speeds.
While it’s no lightweight – registering 1 890 kg on our scales – pressing on, the X3 rewards its driver with taut but composed body control when tackling tight bends. With the peak torque occupying a fairly narrow 1 500-2 750 r/min band, our initial impression was that sudden throttle inputs were met with a millisecond’s hesitancy. But that’s more a product of the engine’s smooth power delivery, which sees your progress marked by a steady swell of motive effort, rather than a kick in the back. For quick overtaking, the Sport Boost function – accessed by holding the left shift paddle – puts the drivetrain management parameters into their full-attack settings for 10 seconds.
Even on roads with quick elevation changes, there’s little in the way of vertical ‘bob’ and it’s easy to tell what the nose is doing, thanks to the feedback through that thick-rimmed steering wheel. This, along with bags of grip served up by an AWD system that does a great job of apportioning torque between the axles makes the X3 a thoroughly entertaining backroad companion. It may not quite match the poise and involvement of the Porsche Macan, or quite have the Mercedes GLC220d’s low-end grunt, but it’s more composed in broader road conditions than the former and more involving than the latter, remaining the most balanced offering in its segment.
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BMW has a lot riding on the success of the new X3, and from our first experience with the entry-level model it’s fair to say that the formula that’s perennially made this car such a hit remains firmly intact. The packaging is distinctive yet practical and the driving experience is about as well-rounded as you could wish for. The presence of some so-so finishes is the sole black mark against the new car, only being noticeable because the rest of the package is so well resolved, but they aren’t a dealbreaker and will likely be an area of focus come mid-cycle update time. Indeed, the 20d was widely held as being “all the X3 you really need” by members of the test team, thanks to its capable but frugal powerplant, but this is encouraging when you consider it’s just the starting point in what should be a broad and interesting product lineup.
Find the full feature in the April 2025 issue of CAR Magazine.
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