The new BMW X3 is the right size for Singapore’s urban jungle.
BMW has truly embraced the SUV/SAV genre, covering the sports-utility market at almost every level with its X1, X3, X5 and X6 models.
The marque’s first-generation X5 in 1999 was a tentative venture into the SUV world, but also a runaway success with 618,135 units shifted. Then from the loins of the 3 Series sprang the original BMW X3 in early 2004, which sold 614,824 vehicles despite its no-frills appearance.
This latest incarnation, however, is a real looker. Where the former BMW X3 appears somewhat plain, the 2011 version oozes class. It may look diminutive on US roads, but its dimensions are just right for Singapore, with the current X5 being a tad oversized (and perhaps just right for the US market). The BMW X3’s kerb weight is up by a reasonable 65kg.
While still built on a 3 Series platform, the new BMW X3 has electronics from a class above – literally. Many of the 5 Series’ electronic appointments will be available on the BMW X3 – clever because the next-generation 3 Series is still in the works, and development of the new BMW X3 began some four years ago.
BMW X3 interior is roomier and far classier than before.
As with the suave exterior, similar improvements permeate the interior, banishing the utilitarian look and feel of its forebear and replacing it with something out of the pages of the 5 Series.
Maybe back in 2004, BMW was not entirely sure of how it should tackle the SUV segment – so it stuck to its guns and made the sportiest SUV it could, hence the SAV (Sports Activity Vehicle) label. The first X5 rides rather harshly (as does the previous X3), and while drivers appreciate the effort, passengers do not.
Having spoken to BMW engineers, we now understand just why the old BMW X3 is as hard-riding as a sports car. The vehicle is tall and relatively narrow, so the engineers had to stiffen its suspension to lower the roll angles and sharpen steering response. This, unfortunately, meant stiffer springs and dampers. But in all fairness, the outgoing X3 handles crisply for a SUV, with wonderfully positive and informative steering.
Still abiding by their “ultimate driving machine” motto, the engineers decided to maintain the sporty handling and steering while improving ride refinement. Enter the wider track of the front and rear axles – being wider would offer more stability without actually lowering the car.
BMW X3’s interior space, ride comfort and on-board amenities have all been improved.
This allowed the engineers to dial back the suspension settings and use run-flat tyres (that were not fitted to the first BMW X3).
Of course, damper technology has improved dramatically in the almost seven years since, and it is now possible to offer good harshness suppression with firm damping.
The new BMW X3 also offers an optional Dynamic Damper Control system that automatically adjusts to driving conditions. Alternatively, one could just hit the Sport button and have the dampers take up all the slack for sharper handling – albeit at some cost to ride comfort. Unfortunately, there were no standard BMW X3s available at the international press launch, so we could not gauge how the standard fixed-rate suspension behaves.
So, despite the added harshness from the latest P Zero run-flat tyres, the new BMW X3 is streets ahead of its predecessor in ride comfort and, by no stretch of the imagination, the best-riding BMW SAV. For fear that the marque has gone too soft, we put the vehicle through the country roads around Atlanta.
BMW X3’s 550-litre boot is useful if you head north across the Causeway for a driving holiday.
Good news – the sportiness of its handling is undiminished. Part of the reason is the new EPS variable sports steering (aka Active Steering), now almost undetectable in its application compared to earlier models so equipped. Alas, this is yet another option.
Oddly enough, BMW showcased only two BMW X3 engine variants in Atlanta – a 2-litre turbo-diesel called xDrive 20d, and a 3-litre turbocharged petrol number called xDrive35i.
It is obvious from the specifications that the xDrive 20d is an eco solution and the xDrive35i is the luxe solution. The diesel has a CO2 rating as low as 147g/km, while reaching 100km/h in 8.5 seconds; the xDrive35i does the sprint in 5.7 seconds, but with a CO2 rating of 204g/km.
This is the same respected engine that powers the 535i and produces 306bhp and 400Nm of torque, with a single twin-scroll turbocharger. The magic actually lies in the new 8-speed ZF automatic developed for the BMW X3. We’re glad that the slushbox is fighting back, because the dual-clutch transmission is not the panacea it’s hyped up to be.
According to the development engineers, the new autobox now has lock-up in all gears and only uses the torque converter to move off in first gear. This makes crawling at carpark speeds smoother than with a dual-clutch system, which struggles to mimic this.
BMW’s new gearbox is very compact compared to its own DCT. It’s also lighter despite its eight gear ratios. Moreover, its response to manual gear selection is virtually as good as the DCT. Response is even better when it comes to kick-down, as it’s able to drop four gears at a time, unlike the sequential DCT.
What the torque converter allows is a slight multiplication of torque during the re-engagement of the gearbox, delivering a small surge absent from DCT-equipped cars. This new ZF unit shows there is life yet in the torque converter automatic.
The wider spread of the eight ratios means both performance and efficiency are improved.
The BMW X3 35i’s 0-100km/h time is just a tick slower than the 5.4 seconds of the 407bhp X6 50i, yet the BMW X3 is capable of delivering 11.4km/L in the combined EU test cycle – an amazing nine percent reduction compared to the old 272bhp naturally aspirated 3-litre engine.
This could be attributed to a number of factors – direct injection, lower-resistance tyres, better aerodynamics and the highly efficient 8-speed automatic. Newly available is Start-Stop technology for the BMW X3 – a necessary feature to help automakers meet increasingly stringent emission and fuel economy standards.
While BMW had arranged an “off-road” section for the test drive, it was really more of an unpaved forest track that hardly challenged the car or its driver. It is safe to say that few, if any, owners of such expensive SUVs would put their precious vehicles through the jungle. Any off-road excursion would probably be accidental.
Having said that, what the off-road detour revealed was the high level of ride comfort provided by the new BMW X3, despite the poor driving surface.
The BMW X3 is by no means a sports car, but it gets closer than most rival SUVs and is really well sorted as it strings together corners rather fluently.
This is not an SUV that steers by approximation – it is so accurate that it merits comparison with the 535i (and offers a better ride). Selecting Sport or Sport+ firms up both suspension and response considerably, but never uncomfortably so.
This newcomer is better overall than its forebear in terms of balancing comfort and control.
Leave things in Normal mode, and it’s perfectly happy to do your bidding without being woolly, as the Dynamic Damper Control seeks the best ride quality without muddling the handling and steering feel.
The well-known weaknesses of the old BMW X3 have been “repaired” nicely by the new model.
Part of this improved agility is due to the brake-based vectoring, which reduces understeer and applies power to tighten, rather than widen, the cornering line.
Has BMW nailed it with the new BMW X3? The answer is a guarded yes. Concerns about build quality, with BMW X3 production moved from Austria to Spartanburg in the US, are unfounded, as is the case with the X5 and X6.
However, some owners might take exception to the finish of the X3’s engine bay, which lacks “polish”.
Pricing for BMW’s new arrival has not been announced, but hopefully, the weakness of the US dollar can reduce the import cost of the BMW X3.
All things said, with its attractive styling, powerful engine, refined transmission and sporty handling, this new German recreational vehicle is not going to need much help “shifting” from the showroom to your home.
BMW X3 xDrive35i 3.0 (A)
ENGINE 2979cc, 24-valves, inline-6, turbocharged
MAX POWER 306bhp at 5800rpm
MAX TORQUE 400Nm at 1200-5000rpm
GEARBOX 8-speed automatic with manual select
0-100KM/H 5.7 seconds
TOP SPEED 245km/h
CONSUMPTION 11.4km/L
PRICE INCL. COE To be advised (as of December 2010)
