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By Ben Barry
05 August 2008 13:31
Previously untouchable in the premium compact SUV segment, the BMW X3 now finds itself with some impressive competition. Audi has the Q5 and coming over the hill, looking like a monster, is Mercedes’ GLK. Both are based on newer platforms than the X3 and offer serious, credible alternatives. Can BMW’s baby premium 4x4 still match up?
Would you believe the X3 only dates to 2004? Evolution has, however, left this BMW behind. Unlock or start the car and you immediately notice you’re using a metal key. Climb aboard and there’s no iDrive – though some may see that as a blessing – while all the main dials and switchgear are shared with the Z4 and look dated.
Room in the back is a little tight but the seats are firm and comfortable and the boot big. Granted it’s not up to BMW’s latest standards, but it’s still a premium cabin.
The X3 is very much the Mini-Me X5. Firm, driver-focused ride; car-like handling; commanding driving position. And in 2.0-litre turbodiesel form, it’s the real-world compromise with 174bhp, 258lb ft and 42.2mpg.
We’ve been hugely impressed with this engine in the 320d saloon, where it's punchy, hugely refined, frugal. But here it doesn’t translate quite so well. At 1825kg, the X3 weighs 230kg more than its 3-series Touring counterpart, so the engine labours and thrashes much more noticeably under load and feels blunted too.
Drive it after experiencing most diesels and you’ll still come away hugely impressed and it is good – but the X3 doesn’t showcase this powerplant at its best.
The steering is direct if a little artificial, and the seats comfortable. But is it really necessary to have such driver-focused handling for a 4x4? The Nissan Qashqai strikes a better balance here, being far more compliant over bumps – as does the Volkswagen Touareg. Even the bigger Touareg 2.5-litre diesel costs just £305 more.
Click 'Next' below to read our verdict on how the BMW X3 matches up against the Audi Q5 and MercGLK
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Performance
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BMW X3 2.0d CAR review
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asp says
RE: BMW X3 2.0d CAR review
"But is it really necessary to have such driver-focused handling..." - Can't believe I've just read that in Car. Good job I'm sitting down! I don't care if it's an MPV, repmobile saloon, workhorse van or a Routemaster bus, why can't we have more driver focused handling in whatever we drive. Ben, you are restricted to driving a Yugo 45 for one month in penance.
08 August 2008 08:06
Number One says
Styling is just plain ugly, the new Mercedes GLK is challenging but at the same time with the right wheels will grow on us (like the c class is doing…not sure about promoting it as the lady car of sex and the city though). The X3 is clearly an end-of-life model selling because it is a BMW (a CR-V is better looking, cheaper and better in all aspects) but at least build quality as improved over the first really bad units.
07 August 2008 18:32
Archibold says
The headlamps would look quite neat on a citycar or scooter like the way they are shaped like arrows with the indicator built into the end.
07 August 2008 17:35
MAX25 says
Fully agree it's the runt of the litter and has aged appallingly (yet somehow still sells brilliantly), but can someone please explain what on this green earth Bangle was thinking when he signed off those headlights? Every time I see them they make my eyes hurt. No Bangle-butted, flame-surfaced, banana-silled design feature in the past 7 years comes anywhere near to the sheer awfulness of the headlight unit design on the X3. So wantonly controversial and challenging - willing us to accept that pig ugly is the new beautiful... and not an iota modified in the (relatively for BMW) comprehensive facelift. I think if the headlamps looked different my whole view of the car might be different.
06 August 2008 22:27
Brand0 says
As painful as it is for me to do so, I must confess that the X3 is the worst car in BMWs catelogue, design-wise. Of course, and as usual, it is technically best in class, but the things it's best at matter less in this particular market. As Pedro wrote, the X5 is such a success that the X3 was always up against it. Seems BMW's attempt to avoid competition within the brand just has not worked like it has with the 3 and 5 series which are both desirable, but different animals.
06 August 2008 10:25
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