The All-New 2018 BMW X3 (G01)

Intelligent High-Performance Engineering with the Aesthetics to back it up

MANILA, Philippines — The all-new 3rd generation BMW X3-series has finally been released and it delivers more than we expected.

Whether you’re exploring new exciting locations or simply escaping the mundane, the all-new X3 establishes its new well-earned sovereignty in the premium compact crossover class. With new standards of realistically explorable dynamic high-performance set by the Teutonic masters of mechanical alchemy, the completely redesigned X3 is now the very best-looking model in the X-family.

Since the release of the all-new X1, I had insisted that the old X3 would greatly benefit from inheriting its key design cues, which was always a sore spot in the past two generations, in my opinion. So I was elated to discover that the responsibility of redesigning the all-new X3 was non-other than the same brilliant and hard-working Australian designer Calvin Luk who revolutionized the said X1 (F48) and the face-lifted LCI 1-series (F20).

We met up with Calvin at BMW’s regional launch appropriately in lovely tropical Port Douglas, Cairns, Australia. Calvin graciously acknowledges that the culminated results were a strong team effort. I assure you all that it was all worth it. After testing three initial engine variants for the region, the xDrive20d, xDrive30i, and the xDrive30d (my personal favorite), in xLine, Luxury Line, and M Sport packages, there is a particular variant available to quench your desire for such a versatile and thorough mobility machine. A full exploratory review of each model can be enjoyed in the upcoming 16th anniversary January issue of C! Magazine. Until then, please allow me to share some of the highlights and improvements from the commercially successful 2nd generation model.

Still considered a 3-series sedan on stilts, which is certainly a great place to start, the all-new X3 is actually larger than the 1st generation X5 (E53) while being considerably more comfortable and bursting with kit.

The X3 will also adopt plug-in hybrid technology very soon. A whole slew of smart technology from the new 5-series has also found their way to the X3 like gesture control, LED exterior and interior lighting, iDrive 6.0 with a crisp 10.2-inch widescreen touch-screen monitor, acoustic glass, active front grille flaps, a host of Driving Assistant Plus measures that include BMW CoPilot, active cruise control, semi-autonomous adaptive steering, Head-Up Display, big alloys wrapped with tenacious rubber, Dynamic Damper Control, Bird’s-Eye view cameras, optional 600-watt 16-speaker Harman/Kardon audio, and so much more.

The new X3’s cabin shares the classy sense and high-quality materials first experienced with the 5-series even with the base model xDrive20d in standard trim. Compared to the outgoing X3, the new model has a 2.2-inch longer wheelbase, is 2.3-inches longer, .2-inches wider, but with a lower roofline by 1.4-inches which helps give it a class-leading .29 Cd drag coefficient. It still has a generous 8-inches of ground clearance with a fording depth of 500mm (19.6 inches). It also has an optimal 50/50 weight distribution while loosing over 120 pounds despite being exponentially more opulent and more spacious. The engines have also been revised for even more power and better fuel efficiency while producing less carbon emissions.

The old generations were always dynamic high-performers that set the standard in their class but they weren’t lookers, now the X3 is very handsome combined with a very long list of standard equipment and neat innovations like the ability to tuck away the tonneau cover and bar underneath the trunk floor in its own dedicated receptacle when it is not needed. It’s a huge masterstroke for customers who really maximize their wagon trunks and would get annoyed with where to store the bar when they fill the trunk. The X3 now also has reclining rear bench seats for even better rear passenger comfort. Oh yes, and all variants are faster, quieter, better damped, more efficient, and better handlers compared to their direct model predecessors.

BMW Philippines will be selling these fantastic premium crossovers very soon in their showrooms and they are worth every cent of your hard-earned money. I honestly think that the all-new BMW X3 has convincingly set the new standard in its class in every way. I want one so bad!