Let's face it, the first BMW X3 was a bit of a letdown. Sure, it drove like a BMW should and it was a joy to throw around the bends but there were some serious issues in the looks department.
For one, what was Munich thinking when they placed those ghastly grey plastic bumpers on the front and back? Then there was the overall design of it. It looked like the in-breeding lovechild of an E60 5 series and the E90 3 series.
To be fair, it wasn't just its looks. The ride was unusually stiff as well with little give in the way of shock absorption. The car itself also appeared a little confused. While it carries the guise of an SUV, it hardly has enough ground clearance to proudly proclaim itself as one.
Off-road capability was laughable at best with the poor beemer getting caught on ruts that a Landie Discovery will scoff at. Granted the last bit was a bit harsh considering the X3 was conceived more as an urban being than a wild child of the forest.
For one, what was Munich thinking when they placed those ghastly grey plastic bumpers on the front and back? Then there was the overall design of it. It looked like the in-breeding lovechild of an E60 5 series and the E90 3 series.
To be fair, it wasn't just its looks. The ride was unusually stiff as well with little give in the way of shock absorption. The car itself also appeared a little confused. While it carries the guise of an SUV, it hardly has enough ground clearance to proudly proclaim itself as one.
Off-road capability was laughable at best with the poor beemer getting caught on ruts that a Landie Discovery will scoff at. Granted the last bit was a bit harsh considering the X3 was conceived more as an urban being than a wild child of the forest.
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Fast forward to the latest X3 and nearly all the ghosts of the past have been exorcised. Actually, all shivers of the past are gone. The new X3 is what the first always should've been. Athletic, practical, easy on the eyes (subjective this part is) and engaging to drive.
Exterior
While we could generally agree that the first X3 was abit of a gargoyle, the latest X3 managed to miss 70% of the branches when it fell down the ugly tree. BMW have recently adopted a design language that always seems to land their cars on extreme aesthetic ends.
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You either love 'em or hate 'em. In this case, I find the X3 a handsome beast. Handsome in that it possesses strategic creases on its body panels to express its aggression that's backed up by its dynamic handling qualities. And a beast for having those enlarged kidney grilles that remind one of nostrils on a warthog.
From the front, the X3 looks sharper with headlamps that are slightly dipped to give the car a focused and intense expression. Gone are the hideous grey plastic bumpers that were once worn by the earlier X3. Now the bumpers are all colour coordinated with the rest of the car and affords the X3 a premium look that it always deserved.
Along the flanks the X3 gets a creased rising shoulder line that emanates from the front quarter panels all the way to the rear tail light. It creates a beautiful elegant trail to guide your eyes along the gently curving flanks of the vehicle.
The rear has also gone under the knife for a sharper more avant-garde expression. The large slanting tail lamps that mimic the headlamps are reminiscent of those found on the current X5.
While the grey plastic bumper remains, it has been reduced to but a sliver that accentuates the rear enough not to mar its elegance. The X3 also inherits one of the more visually attractive 18 inch rims from BMW that compliments the car perfectly though 19 inch rims would further enhance the beast's imposing stance.
Interior
The first generation X3 suffered much when it came to the interior. General feedback was the less than premium feel and the tacky nature unbecoming of a premium brand. I'm glad to report that the 2011 BMW X3 has that all sorted.
The X3's interior feels well built with soft plastics where they should be. It feels much like the 3 series albeit built with a little more attention.
From the front, the X3 looks sharper with headlamps that are slightly dipped to give the car a focused and intense expression. Gone are the hideous grey plastic bumpers that were once worn by the earlier X3. Now the bumpers are all colour coordinated with the rest of the car and affords the X3 a premium look that it always deserved.
Along the flanks the X3 gets a creased rising shoulder line that emanates from the front quarter panels all the way to the rear tail light. It creates a beautiful elegant trail to guide your eyes along the gently curving flanks of the vehicle.
The rear has also gone under the knife for a sharper more avant-garde expression. The large slanting tail lamps that mimic the headlamps are reminiscent of those found on the current X5.
While the grey plastic bumper remains, it has been reduced to but a sliver that accentuates the rear enough not to mar its elegance. The X3 also inherits one of the more visually attractive 18 inch rims from BMW that compliments the car perfectly though 19 inch rims would further enhance the beast's imposing stance.
Interior
The first generation X3 suffered much when it came to the interior. General feedback was the less than premium feel and the tacky nature unbecoming of a premium brand. I'm glad to report that the 2011 BMW X3 has that all sorted.
The X3's interior feels well built with soft plastics where they should be. It feels much like the 3 series albeit built with a little more attention.
Settled into the front driver's seat, you feel well cocooned by the dashboard with the centre console within easy reach. The driving position here is faultless and ranks among the best. Despite the higher ground clearance of the SUV, you don't get the sensation that you're riding on top of the vehicle.
The seats do a fine job of keeping you in place when the X3 is being driven regally. But if you happen to enjoy taking the bends like how we motoring journalists do when given a car of such dynamic prowess, you might do well to opt for the sports seating package. When taking the bends at a slightly faster pace, a bit of bracing with the knees will be necessary to remain in a decent driving position while in the standard seats.
The centre console is dominated by the latest iDrive system that is also an improvement over the older iDrive system where you had to possess intimate knowledge of a Playstation console to operate it effectively. The new system though is much more intuitive with the improved user interface that has made navigating through the different pages and menu a cinch.
In the rear, the seats are generously spacious for two adults but put a third person in and it might get a little tight. Leg room though is more than adequate even with a tall driver in the front seat, an equally tall passenger in the back would still have no complaints.
A major push factor for anyone considering an SUV is luggage space. And in the X3, it is presented in abundant amounts. With all seats up, the electrically operated tailgate raises up to reveal a wide aperture for oversized loads to take advantage of the 550 litres of space.
This equates to four golf bags in the rear with all the seats still up. If more space is needed, the space triples with the rear seats folded. In a three seat configuration (two in front and one in the rear), it's even possible to fit three mountain bikes in the rear with their front wheels removed when the '40' and '20' seats are folded flat.
The seats do a fine job of keeping you in place when the X3 is being driven regally. But if you happen to enjoy taking the bends like how we motoring journalists do when given a car of such dynamic prowess, you might do well to opt for the sports seating package. When taking the bends at a slightly faster pace, a bit of bracing with the knees will be necessary to remain in a decent driving position while in the standard seats.
The centre console is dominated by the latest iDrive system that is also an improvement over the older iDrive system where you had to possess intimate knowledge of a Playstation console to operate it effectively. The new system though is much more intuitive with the improved user interface that has made navigating through the different pages and menu a cinch.
In the rear, the seats are generously spacious for two adults but put a third person in and it might get a little tight. Leg room though is more than adequate even with a tall driver in the front seat, an equally tall passenger in the back would still have no complaints.
A major push factor for anyone considering an SUV is luggage space. And in the X3, it is presented in abundant amounts. With all seats up, the electrically operated tailgate raises up to reveal a wide aperture for oversized loads to take advantage of the 550 litres of space.
This equates to four golf bags in the rear with all the seats still up. If more space is needed, the space triples with the rear seats folded. In a three seat configuration (two in front and one in the rear), it's even possible to fit three mountain bikes in the rear with their front wheels removed when the '40' and '20' seats are folded flat.
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The Drive
BMW proudly proclaims they build the Ultimate Driving Machines. While that might seem like a boastful claim, where the X3 is concerned, they're not far from the truth.
Having handled a number of SUVs since my first test drive, I've come to expect the lumpy ride comfort, excessive body roll and a general lack of body control associated with most SUVs. Save for the Porsche Cayenne which to be honest bears a rather historical crest on the bonnet and is expectedly a damn good drive.
So you can understand why I didn't really have high expectations for the X3. And it's just as well, else the surprise would've been dulled somewhat. The X3 is easily the most dynamically gifted SUV I have driven (except for the Cayenne of course).
Part of that dynamic ability comes from the strong force induced lump under the bonnet. Underneath the creased bonnet lies the 3.0-litre twin turbo straight six that also powers the 535i, GT and 335i. This BMW 'TwinPower Turbo' motor musters up 306bhp and 400Nm of torque.
Acceleration in the X3 is mind blowingly explosive when you take into account its SUV dimensions. The behemoth completes the century sprint in just 5.7 seconds. A none too shabby time that would embarrass most things at the traffic lights. Do take a second to observe their gaping mouths as you power past their performance coupes for sheer delight.
The motor will pull all the way up to 240kmh accompanied with a satisfying growl. Drivers who prefer the serenity of a Lexus might not find the vocals of this motor as attractive.
BMW proudly proclaims they build the Ultimate Driving Machines. While that might seem like a boastful claim, where the X3 is concerned, they're not far from the truth.
Having handled a number of SUVs since my first test drive, I've come to expect the lumpy ride comfort, excessive body roll and a general lack of body control associated with most SUVs. Save for the Porsche Cayenne which to be honest bears a rather historical crest on the bonnet and is expectedly a damn good drive.
So you can understand why I didn't really have high expectations for the X3. And it's just as well, else the surprise would've been dulled somewhat. The X3 is easily the most dynamically gifted SUV I have driven (except for the Cayenne of course).
Part of that dynamic ability comes from the strong force induced lump under the bonnet. Underneath the creased bonnet lies the 3.0-litre twin turbo straight six that also powers the 535i, GT and 335i. This BMW 'TwinPower Turbo' motor musters up 306bhp and 400Nm of torque.
Acceleration in the X3 is mind blowingly explosive when you take into account its SUV dimensions. The behemoth completes the century sprint in just 5.7 seconds. A none too shabby time that would embarrass most things at the traffic lights. Do take a second to observe their gaping mouths as you power past their performance coupes for sheer delight.
The motor will pull all the way up to 240kmh accompanied with a satisfying growl. Drivers who prefer the serenity of a Lexus might not find the vocals of this motor as attractive.
The X3 does possess a hint of turbo lag at low speeds but pulls strongly and forcefully once the revs past 2000rpm. The brilliant engine is coupled with an eight-speed auto that is shared with the 5-series and the latest X5. Gearshifts are smooth and intuitive while manual shifts with the steering mounted paddles are quick.
Despite its size and height, the X3 is a joy (pun unintended) to throw around the bends. Steering is pin sharp and full of feel as you take the X3 through bends at speeds never before imagined with such a big machine. While body control is already impressive in normal mode, the car absolutely shines when you engage the Dynamic Damper Control to 'Sport' mode. Body roll is all but neutralized while the ride although firm, remains comfortable.
After piling the X3 with this incredible performance, BMW also introduces its EfficientDynamics systems to keep the X3 green. The X3 gets a Kinetic Energy Recovery system to recharge the batteries during braking. A start/stop feature also contributes to consumption reduction by cutting off the engine when stopped at the lights and firing it up again when you lift off the brake pedal. The latter feature though can be deactivated for those who find the feature a tad bothersome.
Conclusion
While BMW might have made a bit of a hash of the last X3, they've truly more than made up for those sins in this latest iteration. In this class of premium SUVs, the X3 has no peers when it comes to offering the level of dynamic performance and practicality. It truly is the Ultimate Driving Machine.
Well done BMW!
What do you think? Jot down your opinions at the comment box below.
Despite its size and height, the X3 is a joy (pun unintended) to throw around the bends. Steering is pin sharp and full of feel as you take the X3 through bends at speeds never before imagined with such a big machine. While body control is already impressive in normal mode, the car absolutely shines when you engage the Dynamic Damper Control to 'Sport' mode. Body roll is all but neutralized while the ride although firm, remains comfortable.
After piling the X3 with this incredible performance, BMW also introduces its EfficientDynamics systems to keep the X3 green. The X3 gets a Kinetic Energy Recovery system to recharge the batteries during braking. A start/stop feature also contributes to consumption reduction by cutting off the engine when stopped at the lights and firing it up again when you lift off the brake pedal. The latter feature though can be deactivated for those who find the feature a tad bothersome.
Conclusion
While BMW might have made a bit of a hash of the last X3, they've truly more than made up for those sins in this latest iteration. In this class of premium SUVs, the X3 has no peers when it comes to offering the level of dynamic performance and practicality. It truly is the Ultimate Driving Machine.
Well done BMW!
What do you think? Jot down your opinions at the comment box below.
