2018 BMW X3 Review
Car Tested: 2018 BMW X3; Road Test No. 976
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 60.7 – Rs. 68.8 lakhs
The BMW X3 sits right in between the X1 and the X5 in the BMW SUV lineup
It looks very polished but is it enough to hold on to its own in the segment that’s getting pretty crowded with new arrivals right from the Volvo, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Land Rover and Lexus? In the recent times, there has been a rainfall of new SUVs in this particular segment but can the X3 hold on to its own? We find out.
The 2018 BMW X3 gets significant changes to the exteriors and interior
Exteriors – First things first, the 2018 BMW X3 looks more or less like an X5 as it has grown in terms of dimensions. It is longer and wider than its predecessor. The SUV now gets a larger kidney grille with Active Air Stream function (they open and close depending on the engine’s cooling requirements) flanked by Adaptive LED headlights while the bumper is sportier and aggressive-looking. The rear gets new LED tail-lights and the twin exhaust setup gives the X3 an athletic stance. Though the basic silhouette of the vehicle remains the same, the third generation X3 looks more polished and that will keep it relevant in the segment for some time now.
The interior of the SUV feels luxurious and is also tech-laden
Interiors – The 2018 BMW X3 gets a completely new dashboard with a new 3-spoke multi-function steering wheel and an all-new 12.3-inch fully digital TFT instrument console. Then, there is the super intuitive 10.25-inch iDrive touchscreen infotainment system which comes paired with a 600-watt 16-speaker Harmon Kardon audio system. The system churns out good quality audio and the quality of materials used inside the cabin like wood, leather and plastics are what we have come to expect from a BMW. The wood accents give the cabin a premium touch while the aluminium finish on the dash and the steering wheel add to the finesse of the cabin. As expected from a mid-size luxury SUV, the X3 comes handsomely loaded with features. You get Apple CarPlay, Satellite Navigation, ambient lighting, panoramic sunroof, 3-zone climate control, wireless charging and rear-view camera with park assist.
The increase in the wheelbase has freed up more space at the rear seat
The front seats are supremely comfortable and supportive and same is the case with the rear seat as well
Space at the rear is decent with good knee room and headroom. That said, the rear seat does recline to a certain degree should you choose to relax in more comfort after that boring meeting at the office. Three passengers will be a squeeze as the protruding rear AC vent and the slightly higher transmission tunnel will make the third/middle passenger rather uncomfortable.
The powertrain feels alive only post the 2000 RPM mark, below that it’s quite breathless
Performance – The 20d badging on our test car means that its motivation comes from a 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder TwinPower Turbo diesel engine which produces 190 HP of power and 400 Nm of torque. This is the same B47 diesel motor that debuted in the last generation 5-Series and this is one great powerplant. There is some amount of turbo lag below the 2000 RPM mark but post that the turbo spools up and the car really shines. Mid-range and top-end are good but unlike other BMWs which have their tachometers marked all the way till 5500 RPM, the 2018 X3 will not go beyond the 4700 RPM mark because it just keeps upshifting gears around that ballpark. There are three drive modes – ECOPRO, Comfort and Sport. In the Sport mode, the urgency improves and the performance is better in all aspects. Comfort mode allows the car to soak up all the undulations perfectly while the ECOPRO gets you more kilometres per litre of fuel by cutting down on performance.
The 2.0-litre diesel motor doesn’t sound like an oil-burner at all
The 8-speed Steptronic transmission is as good as ever. It is also fast and slick-shifting and will give you a downshift when you need it. An icing on the cake is that you can manually take control of things via the steering-mounted paddle shifts or the manual mode using the tiptronic function for an enthusiastic drive. Refinement levels have improved dramatically all thanks to the vibration and acoustic glass, however, post the 4000 RPM mark the powertrain is audible inside the cabin.
The X3 now comes with a better ride quality than before
Driving Dynamics – BMW has worked on the suspension of the X3 which now gets adaptive dampers as well along with coil springs. This ensures that the low-speed ride is absolutely excellent. There is nothing that catches the SUV unless and until you go fast on bad section of roads where the cabin just thuds over it. Coming to the steering, it is great as ever and weighs up well in the Sport mode although it does feel artificial now. There is some body roll obviously due to the size of the SUV and honestly, the third generation X3 isn’t the best handling X3 as it treads between a line that is more towards a balance of comfort and handling rather than outright handling that the previous gen X3 was known for. The car offers a good amount of composure but there is some vertical movement on bad roads at faster speeds. Although the SUV weighs almost 1.8 tonnes, it is agile especially in the corners and rarely will the driver feel the heft of the vehicle. The brakes offer a good initial bite and the stopping power is supreme.
The Bavarian automaker has managed a 50:50 weight distribution in the SUV and the third gen model is also lighter by 55 kgs
Safety and After Sales Service – The 2018 BMW X3 gets a multitude of safety equipment starting with 6-airbags, Dynamic Stability Control including Cornering Braking Control, electric parking brake with auto hold function, ISOFIX child seat mounts and integrated emergency spare wheel under the load floor. The German carmaker’s after sales service is something that has no room for complaints, so servicing your X3 will never be a hassle but yes it is expensive to maintain in India.
The 550-litres of boot space can be increased to 1600-litres with the seats down
Verdict – The third generation X3 has improved leaps and bounds. Although it is based on the 3-Series, its cabin design and the features on offer will remind you of the 5-Series. Having said that, for the price the X3 comes at, it doesn’t really offer the performance you’d normally expect from a BMW. Yes, the X3 xDrive 20d is efficient but if performance is what you’re seeking, it’s the 30d variant that you should be considering which we hope the carmaker will launch in India soon. Overall, if you’re looking for a mid-size luxury SUV to drive yourselves most of the times, there is still none that beats the BMW X3.
The X3 gets a host of safety features
What’s Cool
* Additional tech and space add to the convenience
* A driving enthusiasts car
* The diesel engine is efficient
* The 8-speed Steptronic transmission is butter smooth
What’s Not So Cool
* The X3 xDrive 20d is a little low on performance
* Cannot be really taken for off-roading
Alternatives: Mercedes GLC, Audi Q5, Volvo XC60
The trademark LED headlights light up the road really well
2018 BMW X3 20d Specifications
* Engine: 1995cc, 4-cyl, Turbo-diesel
* Power: 190 HP @ 4000 RPM
* Torque: 400 Nm @ 1750-2500 RPM
* Transmission: 8-speed automatic transmission
* 0-100 km/hr: 8 seconds (claimed)
* Top Speed: 213 km/hr
* Suspension: Aluminium double joint spring strut axle (Front), Five-link axle (Rear)
* Tyre Size: 225/60/18 (Front & Rear)
* Brakes: Discs (Front), Discs (Rear), ABS
* Safety: Multiple Airbags, ABS, Dynamic Stability Control, Cornering Braking Control, ISOFIX child seat mounts
2018 BMW X3 20d Dimensions
* Overall length x width x height: 4708 mm X 1891 mm X 1676 mm
* Boot Space: 550-litres
* Ground clearance: 204 mm
* Wheelbase: 2864 mm
* Kerb weight: 1750 kgs
This segment has got quite crowded, the Audi Q5 is a worthy contender
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