First, one look at the BMW X3 is enough to send one close to the edges of ecstasy. For all intents and purposes, the BMW X3 is the X5s "mini me" an only slightly smaller version, but a smaller one nonetheless. Therefore, it is without a doubt a sight to behold. And, with fenders flowing almost as smoothly into the vehicles cockpit the way a 3-Series sedans would, wed argue it was even more visually-appealing than its bigger brother. Standard 17-inch rims with matching low-profile Pirellis make for an even slicker profile, wed wager. Lets put it this way, outside, there isnt anything that says that this mini-SUV project from the Bavarian auto-maker does not conform to what a beautiful mini-SUV should be.
Walk through its sturdy doors, and what greets you is again a miniaturized version of the X5s interior. Coarse yet classy dark gray finishing with the occasional woodgrain trimming give the X3 that SUV-tough feel from the inside. Console controls are standard BMW which means that theres an air of functional classiness that doesnt necessarily go overboard in the aesthetics department. Its seats are wrapped in fine leather that do not necessarily appropriate couch-potato softness, but are comfortable nonetheless and quite frankly, thats the way it ought to be where vehicles are concerned. Score another plus for the Bavarian design engineers.
We decided to take the X3 on two varying test drives over a rainy June weekend. Driving through smooth yet twisting roads in nearby Taytay, we discovered what we had always suspected that the X3 could attack corners as well as any BMW out there. The vehicles center of gravity and intelligent xDrive technology make for an engaging time behind the wheel as far as tackling a smooth yet twisty road goes. Unlike most SUVs, the X3 suffers less from irritating understeer, partly because xDrive can transfer output to the rear axle when the need arises. Maneuvering, therefore, is yes almost car-like. We then took the vehicle offroad where mud and uneven terrain would test the xDrives single speed torque transfer capabilities. This, plus the fact that the X3 is equipped with brake based traction control and a hill-descent function, made tackling the makeshift road made of mud and rocks quite the enjoyable experience.
So, on smooth yet twisting roads, it drives like a car while on rough roads, it reacts like a very competent SUV. Is the X3 then the idea of the mini-SUV made perfect in its corporeal form? Not exactly. This being BMWs first foray into the mini-SUV segment, it still has room for improvement. Heres where suspension. Stiffer suspension than that found in the 3-Series becomes evident when the inevitable pothole comes in the way of the X3 and the road. The vehicle can sometimes be victimized by squeaks and rattles because of this. A bouncier feel is also more evident especially when one is seated at the rear. Place bets that it wont take long for the Bavarian engineers to address this tiny infraction.
As for the engines performance, a powerful straight-six, four-valve 3.0-liter engine pumps enough juice into a five speed automatic gearbox with a tiptronic function to make you feel totally in command of the vehicle. Youll find it easy to overtake any bugger on the road with relative ease (save for that one evil Subaru Impreza who was probably running at around 80kph past the speed limit one Friday night along EDSA). We werent able to strictly measure fuel consumption (so that BMW Philippines could lend the X3 to us again soon hint, hint!) but roughly wed say it was appropriate to the cars performance. It wont save you fuel the way a compact sedan would, but it wont dry your pocket either.
So whats the verdict on the X3? Depends on what your idea of a beautiful mini-SUV is. If you want a vehicle that runs smoothly on crisp roads and can take on an off-road adventure anytime, the X3 should score particularly high on your score sheet. If youre looking for a vehicle thats adaptive to the road conditions of the Philippines, youll have some adjusting to do yourself. If you want a vehicle thats drop-dead gorgeous, the X3 should be high atop your list. If you want an SUV that can accelerate like crazy, heres one vehicle that ought to make your list. Now, how many more high marks than low points did the X3 get in that round-up? Guess you know what the verdict is. Dong Magsajo
Few car manufacturers will bother to place the battery at the back of the car just to improve the weight distribution. This X3, like that winning M3, has the battery back there too. Its all part of finding the perfect handling balance for every BMW model, because a fantastic chassis is as important as a powerful engine. But of course, the X3 is not a sports coupé. Its not meant to post the fastest lap times around the Nurburgring circuit. Its not even a Sports Utility Vehicle but rather, a Sports Activity Vehicle as BMW defines it.
Are they being nitpicky with terms? If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then its not so easy to characterize anymore. Sure, it will wade through floods and happily gobble up muddy trails with that fabulous xDrive system apportioning torque to whichever wheels have traction (even if theres just one wheel left on the ground), but would you honestly stomach scraping its lovely flanks in the jungles? Would you enter it in one of those "Tough Truck" challenges, jump off 10-foot drops for the cameras and the upset insurance agent? Course not.
Heres what youre gonna do with an X3: load up with the family, the Golden Retriever, a weekends worth of gear, and hightail it to the club resort at velocities that will confound the guy in the Japanese SUV behind you whos topped out at 160kph and praying for divine intervention in the switchbacks. Dig deeper, past the kickdown switch on the throttle pedal thatll select the lowest gear possible, and, OMG, youll be miles ahead kissing 200 on the speedometer and, oops, did you just miss your highway exit?
Its insane how this Bimmer does the business of going fast without scaring you to pieces; just predictable, fabulous handling, steering, and braking to complement one of the sweetest sounding, mass production inline-6 motors ever. Lovely, and its not even a sports sedan! The large frontal area isnt as pretty to the wind, though. Get that M3 if you dont like wind noise at the A-pillars the next time you break the Skyway speed limit.
Because its based on the 3-series platform, and because its not supposed to steal the thunder of the X5, the X3s cockpit is purposeful and a tad cozier. It presents just the essentials for fast driving without any extreme-zoot buttons and dials. Those "Dynamic Stability Control" and "Hill Descent Control" buttons are pretty useful too, aside from being full of "Wow" factor for envious friends. Youve got your basic black plastics, leathers, and resins, red instrument lighting, and a touch of lovely maple (well, I think its maple) trim on the door pulls. And you just have to love the automatic tilt-down function for the side mirrors whenever you shift into Reverse.
As for the exterior, half the fun is being seen in one of the most aggressive shapes in the crossover-vehicle category. The other half is knowing it also happens to have a propeller badge on the hood. As crossovers go, the X3 has a stiff ride. Its not bone-jarringly stiff; just firm enough to remind you that near-flat cornering prowess and superb driving dynamics equal to (or better) than most sports sedans dont come free. If the family demands you get a wagon-type vehicle but youve just absolutely got to have a sports sedan before you kick the bucket, this X has got your number. Andy Leuterio
Suffice to say that BMWs kinder-SUV (or SAV for Sports Activity Vehicle in BMW-speak) acquitted itself well in repeated tests of hard acceleration, high-speed cornering and panic braking. Credit went to the X3s inherently good balance resulting from its near-perfect (50:50) front-to-rear weight balance (the battery is mounted under the rear cargo area), its low center of gravity (the front drive driveshaft passes through the oil sump to let the engine sit lower), and sport-tuned suspensions with low-profile 17-inch tires. At no time did it ever feel like a typical tall SUV that would tilt, or worse, tip over, during spirited driving.
Biggest kudos, however, is reserved for BMWs new state-of-the-art xDrive all-wheel-drive system. We were impressed by what it can do when we viewed it in a video presentation but it was nothing to what we felt when we took the car up to speed and started thrashing it around the course trying to make it put a foot wrong. xDrive simply delivered engine torque to the wheels that had the best traction in a fraction of a second (but is rear-wheel-drive in normal high-traction driving). xDrive is so advanced and so competent that BMW fitted it on the more expensive X5.
Break the laws of physics with xDrive and BMWs Dynamic Stability Control or DSC will then intervene. End result? Lots of forward motion with almost zero understeer/oversteer and the resultant tire squeal, even at high cornering speeds. High-performance driving credentials established, it was time to take the X3 to the real world of Metro Manila driving.
This time Prestige Cars BMW in Pasong Tamo Extension in Makati lent me a silver-gray X3 with the more potent 3.0-liter inline-6 gasoline motor. Like the equally high-tech and sweet-sounding 2.5, the 3.0 sports twin cams, 24 valves, infinitely variable bi-VANOS camshaft adjustment with adaptive knock control and individual coils. These high-tech measures are responsible for a heady 231 bhp which enables the X3 3.0 to attain a top speed of 224 kph. Both engines can be mated to either a 6-speed manual gearbox or a 5-speed automatic with Steptronic manual shifting although most of the units ordered and those that we drove are the latter.
Inside, its first-class BMW all the way: high-quality and rich-smelling materials, generous space, lots of passive safety features (front, side and head airbags) and too many bells and whistles to mention.
Gripes? If I really had to look for one, it would have to be the stiff ride which is more felt on smooth roads at low city speeds which sometimes leaves the occupants bouncing ever so slightly. The cure? Just drive fast and revel in the sports car-like reflexes of this go-anywhere vehicle. But seriously, this vehicle seems to have been more designed for those who are genuine Bimmer-philes rather than those who just want to look like one.
All things considered the X3, especially in P4,150,000 3.0 guise, is much more the ultimate go-anywhere driving machine than a rolling status symbol. Its tidier (yet still a true 5-seater) size, potent powerplants, overachieving chassis and drivetrain, and lower sticker price make it a smarter buy than even the excellent X5. Both in terms of price and performance, the X3 simply has no peer. Manny N. De Los Reyes