![]() ![]() The 2.0-litre petrol 20i opens the range, with the 20d and 3.0-litre 30d serving diesel tastes – the latter boasting 282bhp. M Sport costs around £1,800 more and brings larger wheels, different trim and M Sport suspension for a sportier drive. The X3 is offered in the usual xLine and M Sport trims, with all versions getting LED lights front and rear, an automatic tailgate, three-zone climate control and BMW Live Cockpit Plus with built-in navigation. Speaking of models, the X3 – as the number might suggest – sits between the smaller X1 and the larger X5 the similarly-sized X4 slotting in between as a coupe version of the X3, available with many of the same trim and engine options. The X3 remains a really easy car to live with, whichever model you pick. That’s not to say it’s anything but competitive, especially when you consider its wide-ranging engine lineup, which consists not only of petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid offerings, but also a fully-electric iX3 variant capable of more than 250 miles on a charge. Originally launched in 2017, however, the BMW is starting to show its age in places newer BMWs get dash-spanning single screens and the latest iDrive 8 technology, while the X3 retains much of the same hardware it did when it first went into production. Not only does it have to face the Audi Q5, Alfa Romeo Stelvio, Mercedes GLC and Volvo XC60, but also the Jaguar F-Pace, Porsche Macan and Range Rover Velar. But while the first generation felt like a bit of a compromise, the latest model is a thoroughly sophisticated car. The BMW X3 has mirrored its bigger brother's popularity since 2003. BMW X3 models, specs and alternativesĪfter the big sales success of the BMW X5, it came as no surprise that a smaller, more affordable model would follow soon after. The on-board tech isn’t the most cutting-edge, admittedly, but there’s a simplicity to its operation that shouldn’t be sniffed at in a world full of touch-sensitive climate controls and autonomous drive functions. It’s spacious, comfortable and great to drive, and with a range of engines including petrol, diesel, hybrid and fully electric, there should be a model to suit all situations. As a result you’re looking at a 0-62mph time of 6.1 seconds, and despite the extra weight it does feel particularly sprightly.īMW’s integration of the two powertrains is super smooth too, although the four-cylinder can get a little rattly if you run the battery flat and ask it to do all of the heavy lifting.Įxpect a real-world 25-30 miles of all-electric range from a full charge though, and spec the smallest wheels for a supremely comfortable ride.Despite launching way back in 2017, the third-generation BMW X3 is still one of the best premium SUVs you can buy. BMW reckons on 249bhp, but with an extra 40bhp potentially available from the electric motor when absolutely necessary. Yep, that’s the xDrive30e which pairs a 4cyl petrol engine with an electric motor and a small lithium-ion battery that’s mounted under the boot floor. The diesels and lowly petrols on smaller wheels more so again. The M40i is actually smoother than a big-wheeled F-Pace. Worth remembering that we aren’t talking about the obscenely stiff X3 M here, though. The ride, both on the diesels and the powerful petrols, is surprisingly supple at all speeds. Their steering isn't as transparent as you'd hope, but it's gearing and response is well-measured. The new ones have progressive reactions and a sense of rear-bias in Sport mode – a button that tautens the damper programme and changes centre diff emphasis among other things. The old cars felt wooden as they strained their weight. There's a fluency that was absent in the old X3/ X4. ![]()
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