BMW X3

BMW X3, Soft-roaders might not be everyone’s cup of tea, especially those who are used to roughing it on farm roads or those seeking to conquer Africa’s roughest passes, but like it or not, there is a market for these vehicles. And that share is growing to include smaller and more afordable mini SUVs as well as luxury car brands who are starting to release SUVs of their own. While some manufacturers are only just getting into the swing of things, BMW has gained plenty of experience in this ield over the past two decades, having sold a little over 1.5 million units worldwide. The X3 is now into its third generation, which means that this version should be better than its two predecessors.

Chip off the old design block?  

There are deinitely elements that are unmistakably synonymous with the Munich-based brand, such as the signature Hofmeister kink (elongated) in the C-pillar and kidney grilles (much larger than before) on the front end. But this X3 is the irst from Aussie design supremo Calvin Luk, who lexed his creativity on the current 1 Series and X1. His bold views have been carried over to the X Range, which makes the X3 look decidedly less conservative and a lot more striking. The wheelbase has been stretched by 50 mm, but it seems longer than that thanks to clever folds in the body panels when viewed from the side, along with a narrower glasshouse. The shape of the wheel arches has also been formed to give the X3 a more forwardcharging stance. The overall impression is quite sporty, especially because the X3 we tested was itted with optional 21” wheels.

Sumptuous interior appointments 

Many manufacturers claim to have a panoramic roof, but BMW’s is the real deal. There’s glass from front to rear, and with the blind rolled up all the way back, the extra light lifts the cabin ambience substantially because the black leather interior is quite a sombre afair. In fact, even with the blind pushed all the way back there’s not much heat intrusion thanks to the way the glass has been treated. An uncharacteristic warm week in the Cape winter made this quite clear. The touches are quality, from the brushed alloy-look switchgear to the gloss inish on certain items and even the instrument panel, which is actually just one large TFT monitor. Speaking of which, as you switch between driving modes the screen’s display changes gauges and colour to suit your needs. There’s also wireless charging for mobile phones. Just let your iPhone X rest on the pad in front of the gear lever and it charges sans a cable. Another item to tick of on the options list is the Harman Kardon sound system to brighten your mood in peak traic.

Dynamically not to be dissed  

The legacy of BMW’s six-cylinder motors is the stuf of legend and even in turbodiesel guise is nothing to scof at. Actually, with the xDrive all-wheel-drive system active all the time you’ll surely be able to show a clean pair of heels to many a boy racer about town. But the X3 only really comes into its own on the open road, and on smooth asphalt this xDrive30d is almost in a class of its own despite it not being the range-topper. The amount of low-down torque is breathtaking, and the eight-speed automatic transmission is well-paired to make full use of the power on tap. Despite fairly spirited driving in the Overberg region of the Western Cape, the X3 managed a very impressive average of just 7.5 ℓ/100 km. Turning it down a notch and driving on the Dwarskloof Pass, we left the driving mode in the default comfort mode setting and settled on an unhurried 60 km/h towards the town of Greyton. While comfortably soaking up bumps, cat’s eyes and other imperfections on the blacktop, the X3 was less than soothing on even a decent gravel road. We also left the tyres at the recommended pressure of 2.4 bar all round, but 40 and 35 proiles (front and rear) really have very little place of the beaten track. You could get up to adequate speed on this surface, but don’t get it twisted because while the on-road noise vibration and harshness levels are probably class-leading, it’s not admirable on gravel.

Techno-laden 

After illing the tank with 50 ppm and driving in ECO PRO mode for 60 km, the tank’s range increased from 900 km to 1 017 km – another 117 km that could come in handy when it’s necessary to stretch the last few litres of fuel. In Sport mode, however, the steering weights up and the throttle becomes more sensitive to minor lexes in your right foot. Even when you’re cruising in ECO or COMFORT modes, with the throttle pedal held at the same angle, the X3 will start accelerating when switched to Sport mode. On the safety front, those who spend hours on the motorway will be pleased by the Driving Assist Plus package, which includes adaptive cruise control that automatically brakes the X3 when someone cuts in front of you and picks up speed once that individual has switched lanes again. Easily distracted drivers will also be saved by the steering and lane keep assists, which brakes the left or right side depending on which side of the lane you’re drifting out of. We used both of these extensively on the N2 and we’re glad to report than the systems are quite gentle but irm. Actually, there might just be very little actual driving needed as you guide the X3 towards your next holiday destination.

Summary 

At R868 000 for this model in basic guise, a purchase like this with all the nice stuf ticked of the options list (including an electric folding tow hitch at R11 500) will easily set you back a cool million. If you’re not planning on bundu-bashing then who are we to argue, especially because the X3 does everything else well.

sources: Go Drive & Camp, July 2018

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