BMW X3 xDrive30d M Sport First Drive Review
22 Dec 2017|15,892 views
What We Like
Punchy 3.0-litre diesel powerplant producing 620Nm of torque
Extra punch in the lower rev range makes city driving a breeze
What We Dislike
Ride is slightly firmer than the petrol variant
We've already established that the new BMW X3 has earned its rightful place as a 'Jack of all trades'. This is the BMW X3 xDrive30d, the larger of the two diesel variants that we drove in Cairns, Australia, recently.
There's really nothing else much to say about the 30d. It's pretty much the same as the BMW X3 xDrive30i and the BMW X3 xDrive20d that we reviewed. Well, except for one slight difference - a sizeable diesel powerplant producing lots of torque, which makes for some darn good driving.
Torque of the town
The 30d retains the same level of cabin refinement as its siblings and handles itself just as well, thanks to BMW's xDrive, which performs spectacularly both on and off-road. It also has the same amount of practicality, with a 550-litre boot and ample cabin space for five occupants.
On top of that, a commanding driving position makes for an excellent view of the road ahead while sharp, accurate steering allows for effortless navigation through the city.
The beauty of the 30d, however, lies in its 3.0-litre in-line six diesel engine. Where the 30i has a more linear powerband, the 30d produces more pace and shove in the lower rev range that is considerably more noticeable than the 20d.
There's really nothing else much to say about the 30d. It's pretty much the same as the BMW X3 xDrive30i and the BMW X3 xDrive20d that we reviewed. Well, except for one slight difference - a sizeable diesel powerplant producing lots of torque, which makes for some darn good driving.
Torque of the town
The 30d retains the same level of cabin refinement as its siblings and handles itself just as well, thanks to BMW's xDrive, which performs spectacularly both on and off-road. It also has the same amount of practicality, with a 550-litre boot and ample cabin space for five occupants.
On top of that, a commanding driving position makes for an excellent view of the road ahead while sharp, accurate steering allows for effortless navigation through the city.
The beauty of the 30d, however, lies in its 3.0-litre in-line six diesel engine. Where the 30i has a more linear powerband, the 30d produces more pace and shove in the lower rev range that is considerably more noticeable than the 20d.
It also boasts more horses than its petrol sibling (265bhp), almost twice the amount of twisting force (620Nm), and a faster 0-100km/h time of just 5.8 seconds. As with its other siblings, the 30d's powerplant is also mated to the smooth and quick-shifting eight-speed Steptronic transmission.
This translates to more power when you need it the most, especially in urban traffic conditions. Peak torque is delivered between 2,000rpm and 2,500rpm, which makes overtaking pesky road hoggers a walk in the park.
Diesel delight
The BMW X3 xDrive30d builds upon the X3's city-slick characteristics, adding to that a punchy diesel powertrain capable of conquering the concrete jungle without breaking a sweat.
It's got the low-end power that excels in city driving and a sporty cabin yet it retains all the endearing qualities of the X3 that we fell in love with.
It's a shame that diesel cars aren't as well-received here as they are in other parts of the world, what with the new Vehicular Emissions Scheme kicking in next year, and the recently implemented Euro 6 emissions standards. But if they are, it will not come as a surprise if the BMW X3 xDrive30d becomes a pretty big hit.
This translates to more power when you need it the most, especially in urban traffic conditions. Peak torque is delivered between 2,000rpm and 2,500rpm, which makes overtaking pesky road hoggers a walk in the park.
Diesel delight
The BMW X3 xDrive30d builds upon the X3's city-slick characteristics, adding to that a punchy diesel powertrain capable of conquering the concrete jungle without breaking a sweat.
It's got the low-end power that excels in city driving and a sporty cabin yet it retains all the endearing qualities of the X3 that we fell in love with.
It's a shame that diesel cars aren't as well-received here as they are in other parts of the world, what with the new Vehicular Emissions Scheme kicking in next year, and the recently implemented Euro 6 emissions standards. But if they are, it will not come as a surprise if the BMW X3 xDrive30d becomes a pretty big hit.
What We Like
Punchy 3.0-litre diesel powerplant producing 620Nm of torque
Extra punch in the lower rev range makes city driving a breeze
What We Dislike
Ride is slightly firmer than the petrol variant
We've already established that the new BMW X3 has earned its rightful place as a 'Jack of all trades'. This is the BMW X3 xDrive30d, the larger of the two diesel variants that we drove in Cairns, Australia, recently.
There's really nothing else much to say about the 30d. It's pretty much the same as the BMW X3 xDrive30i and the BMW X3 xDrive20d that we reviewed. Well, except for one slight difference - a sizeable diesel powerplant producing lots of torque, which makes for some darn good driving.
Torque of the town
The 30d retains the same level of cabin refinement as its siblings and handles itself just as well, thanks to BMW's xDrive, which performs spectacularly both on and off-road. It also has the same amount of practicality, with a 550-litre boot and ample cabin space for five occupants.
On top of that, a commanding driving position makes for an excellent view of the road ahead while sharp, accurate steering allows for effortless navigation through the city.
The beauty of the 30d, however, lies in its 3.0-litre in-line six diesel engine. Where the 30i has a more linear powerband, the 30d produces more pace and shove in the lower rev range that is considerably more noticeable than the 20d.
There's really nothing else much to say about the 30d. It's pretty much the same as the BMW X3 xDrive30i and the BMW X3 xDrive20d that we reviewed. Well, except for one slight difference - a sizeable diesel powerplant producing lots of torque, which makes for some darn good driving.
Torque of the town
The 30d retains the same level of cabin refinement as its siblings and handles itself just as well, thanks to BMW's xDrive, which performs spectacularly both on and off-road. It also has the same amount of practicality, with a 550-litre boot and ample cabin space for five occupants.
On top of that, a commanding driving position makes for an excellent view of the road ahead while sharp, accurate steering allows for effortless navigation through the city.
The beauty of the 30d, however, lies in its 3.0-litre in-line six diesel engine. Where the 30i has a more linear powerband, the 30d produces more pace and shove in the lower rev range that is considerably more noticeable than the 20d.
It also boasts more horses than its petrol sibling (265bhp), almost twice the amount of twisting force (620Nm), and a faster 0-100km/h time of just 5.8 seconds. As with its other siblings, the 30d's powerplant is also mated to the smooth and quick-shifting eight-speed Steptronic transmission.
This translates to more power when you need it the most, especially in urban traffic conditions. Peak torque is delivered between 2,000rpm and 2,500rpm, which makes overtaking pesky road hoggers a walk in the park.
Diesel delight
The BMW X3 xDrive30d builds upon the X3's city-slick characteristics, adding to that a punchy diesel powertrain capable of conquering the concrete jungle without breaking a sweat.
It's got the low-end power that excels in city driving and a sporty cabin yet it retains all the endearing qualities of the X3 that we fell in love with.
It's a shame that diesel cars aren't as well-received here as they are in other parts of the world, what with the new Vehicular Emissions Scheme kicking in next year, and the recently implemented Euro 6 emissions standards. But if they are, it will not come as a surprise if the BMW X3 xDrive30d becomes a pretty big hit.
This translates to more power when you need it the most, especially in urban traffic conditions. Peak torque is delivered between 2,000rpm and 2,500rpm, which makes overtaking pesky road hoggers a walk in the park.
Diesel delight
The BMW X3 xDrive30d builds upon the X3's city-slick characteristics, adding to that a punchy diesel powertrain capable of conquering the concrete jungle without breaking a sweat.
It's got the low-end power that excels in city driving and a sporty cabin yet it retains all the endearing qualities of the X3 that we fell in love with.
It's a shame that diesel cars aren't as well-received here as they are in other parts of the world, what with the new Vehicular Emissions Scheme kicking in next year, and the recently implemented Euro 6 emissions standards. But if they are, it will not come as a surprise if the BMW X3 xDrive30d becomes a pretty big hit.
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