The external appearance the new X3 is certainly acceptable to eye & absent of Bangle Angles. The new model has proportionate lines, & much thought has clearly been given to making the car interesting & stylish. The aesthetics of the bonnet are particularly appealing & the car has a chunkier look than the outgoing model. The new X3 actually isn’t that much shorter than the first X5 & is more impactive than the more understated & smaller X1.
The new X3's interior is equally acceptable, albeit there’s nothing groundbreaking here & despite the X3's interior having moved on from the outgoing model. Significantly the new X3 comes with cow bits for seats as standard & is complimented with satin silver trim. Customers can pay £255 to have brushed aluminium trim although I would want to know I was getting a significantly better look than the standard trim. Those partial to collecting tree parts, (you know who you are
), can adorn their X3's interior with same for £345. The interior feels well put together with the exception being the boot floor which I suspect has been designed to keep vehicle weight down. So then looks department out of the way let's look at the spec of the car I tested.
The car I drove came with the optional 8-Speed Steptronic Gearbox(£1525), & was running on standard 17" alloys without run flats,(optional wheel/tyre packages have run flats & up to a 19†max rim diameter), needless to say I wasn't sad to see the absence of the controversial rubber choice on the car I drove. With the appaling state of todays roads in Britain buyers within these shores are no doubt more frequently questioning the logic of fitting lower profile tyres &/or seeking out harder suspension packages. Note that the launch model is available in SE spec only albeit their is a "Performance Control" promises sportier handling & engine response for just £125. "Variable Damper Control" comes in at £930 & "Variable Sport Steering" prices at £380. I do not believe that any of these 3 options were fitted to the car I tested. The demonstartor I tested came with various options packs including the Climate Comfort package, (£1420), the Cold Weather package, (£805), & the Navigation inclusive Media package, (£2210).
The salesman on my test drive was new to the local area & did not know all the rural roads near to the dealership………I didn’t need asking twice when asked if I had a local route preference. Before moving odd I easily adjust the seat & steering to my needs, however. those who feel the need can pay BMW £970 to move their backsides with electronic assistance. At this time I am not aware of an option for electric steering wheel adjustment & some may find this an odd omission.
On moving off I first take it easy so as to acquaint myself with the car. With the 8-speed Steptronic box in manual mode I take in a couple of undulating roundabouts, the car holds my desired course as I admire it’s cornering abilities. In auto mode I enter a dual carriageway slip road rising to an incline. I apply a little more more pressure to the accelerator so as not to run out of filter tarmac &, whilst nothing spectacular occurrs, the torque available causes the car is to merge with ease alongside what had been more progressive traffic. I don’t try autobhan speeds, however, the 2.0d lump allows BMW's newest SUV to cruise effortlessly up & down varied inclines without me having any concerns as to how it would cope with sensible speeds on multi lane British roads.
Fast forward a few minutes later & I am entering my next selected section of test route. I again select manual gear mode as as the salesman queries if I happen to know the local roads - I confirm this is the case & we're off ! The car moves along at a respectable pace as I cause it to travel a several miles of varied black quality black stuff. Twists & dips, cambers & inclines the new X3 takes the route in it's stride against a picturesque rural backdrop. The salesman comments that I seem to be enjoying driving the car & he is right. I have also enjoyed driving other cars on this route, but the X3 certainly seems to cope more than adequately.
By way of comparison to my 4.4i X5 Sport the X3's 2.0d engine is a little less urgent than my V8 when I demand instant power delivery, albeit the lighter more nimble X3 is more seamless across the rev range. I doubt there would be much in it if both cars driven back to back the X5 V8 more grunt but in truth the X3 probably making less work in dealing with the bumps & lumps on offer today.
Pressing on I happen to come across a couple of slower moving cars which as luck would have it they are near perfectly positioned for me to allow the X3 to show it’s 's overtaking abilities. At real world speeds, with open views, progressive overtakes are executed without strain. Sure there are cars far more urgent & able to sieze the opportunities of smaller gaps but the X3 2.0d is adequate in delivering. Only the insane or unwise are likely to be caught out in everyday driving.
Today the road surfaces are generally dry with the exception of a few damp spots in places, (I don’t check the passenger seat upholstery). I’m far from being the perfect driver, (& have yet to meet such a person), yet today on these roads, in this car, I briefly forget that I am only driving the launch model which has the less powerful, & less guilt laden 2.0d powerplant. (3.0d is rumoured to be hit uk shores in last quarter of 2011).
Making enjoyable brisk progress when safe the X3 never puts a foot wrong. I don't try to find the cars limits, (though at times in my test drive I can think of other similar sized 4x4's that might have occasionally found their limits if trying to match pace). I am driving the car enthusiastically yet repectfully & mindful the car is destined to adorn a customers driveway in the not too distant future. Despite pressing on the salesman comments on how smooth proceedings are. The new X3 takes everything in its stride & is demonstrating sure footed handling & adequate road holding. The car never put a foot wrong & is absent of unacceptable dipping, diving or noticeable suspension noise when in my hands.
The car I am driving has the optional 8 speed Steptronic gearbox which is supposedly a first for BMW in being the first auto box offered with stop start technology. Due to being on open roads I am not getting the opportunity to use it today, (I have prior driven manual BMWs with this feature which is fine when you get used to it). One criticism is whereas the manual box, (standard specification), has an Optimal Upshift indicator, the feature designed to help drivers yield better MPG isn’t available for the auto Steptronic box, (when the driver chooses to select manual mode). I assume that the technology is absent or the logic is that owners selecting Steptronic gears manually want to make progress rather than to economise. Using the 8-Speed auto in manual steptronic mode I do, on occasions, find myself having to look at the dash display as the difference between the some adjacent ratios is negligible at times, (& I cant keep counting every time I shake the magic stick). On a more positive note, the combined fuel consumption figure is claimed to be an impressive identical 50.4 mpg both for cars with auto & manual boxes.
My desire to change gear reminds me I generally prefer to choose what ratio to use. Whilst enjoying this car I cant but think I would like to try one with the standard manual gearbox. If I had an X3 as a keeper then I might later lose some sleep thinking of potential bills if ticking the auto option & not extending the warranty. If I did plentiful urban driving or did the daily motorway gridlock thing then the auto would be my only choice to avoid clutch pedal tedium. Future residual consideration may be another factor why some choose to tick certain option boxes,( maybe including Steptronic), on their order form(s).
My route, though well chosen, is absent of legal green lane opportunities. I briefly touch on the X3's ability on off road capabilities as I manage to slowly traverse a muddy inclined bank & so as to afford passage to an oncoming vehicle on a single track road. The tame task coped with adequately, albeit with a little lateral movement detected. Ending my rural excursion I eventually re-join the same dual carriageway to head back to the dealership, (no luxury of a slip road at this junction). I accelerate fairly hard so as to gather speed & avoid dangerous conflict with faster traffic. Adequate progress is made but a slight diesel clatter as we approach 4k rpm reminds me that I am driving a 2.0d & I back off slightly despite the salesman assuring me I the car is fine & that I am not being unsymptahetic to the vehicle. Coming off the dual carriageway I grab one last overtake before reducing the pace before safely arriving back at the dealership.
The salesman confirms I like the car & mentions the cars strong fuel economy headline figures. I check the MPG display on the easy to use i-drive which is standard on this car & it shows around 32 or 33 mpg. I far from mirrored the official goverment consumption test figures but I had driven the car with deliberation, over some considerable distance. I doubt the mpg computer was reset before my outing & now wish I had done this out of curiosity. Anyway salesman then asks me if I would like to order one & I politely explain that though able to do so I presently have other financial priorities. I only took had a test drive on back of being offered same when in the dealership for other reasons & I would definitely not rule out buying such a new shape X3 in the future.
In summary I think the latest X3 2.0d SE is all most would need most of the time in most of the UK. Sure there are other far more powerful offerings out there & I have driven far more powerful & faster vehicles. Facts remains that this competent car is relatively well priced, costs just £125 to put a tax disc in it’s windscreen & 5 years servicing is just £295. The road tax & insurance are highly likely lower than the forthcoming X3 3.0d, (but like others I am curious to see what the 3.0d may deliver). I would genuinely consider buying the car I drove if it was available, (it’s already reserved), & more importantly if I could comfortably justify the cost.
Of course simlar money could buy other new or used offerings. A good pre-owned E70 X5 is within reach for the price of a new X3 especially if the X3 were ordered with a few toys. I wont go into details of all X3 options & option packages but suffice to say the information is out there for anyone seriously thinking about buying a new shape X3. No doubt some who are considering this car may also want to see how competitors shape up & including any forthcoming models.
The new F25 X3 2.0d SE is BMW showrooms now & priced from £31,135 (OTR) without ticking any option boxes.
Do consider that delivery time quoted to me was 7 - 9 months....!
Hope the above is of interest to some
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Never anthropomorphise computers. They hate that.
and it would be even better if they put in a 23d into the f11 or maybe in the new X3 as per the X1.
and that is a mighty fine power plant. Slighty fettled, this would make for a perfect unit for the new X3/f11 touring 
before typing!!!!