Patience Rewarded: The 2.0d A/T is the best bang-for-the-buck BMW X3 model

MANILA, Philippines - Let’s not mince words here: the BMW X3 is essentially a six-year old car. Its replacement is imminent (the X1 Concept has already been shown at this year’s Frankfurt Auto Show), and yet each time I get to spend with the X3 ends up as a refreshing experience. It’s certainly not a perfect product, but there are still a lot of things to like. This is especially true with the 2.0d A/T variant, which I consider to be the best in terms of bang-for-the-buck in the entire X3 line-up.

Being made prior to BMW’s rather controversial design philosophy of convex and concave shapes, the X3 is unashamedly wedge-like in its profile. The “engine forward” design evokes a sense of sportiness that’s often copied with other, much newer luxury compact SUVs. Generally, the shape is holding up pretty well, perhaps with the exception of the lamps, which are now too plain compared to the artfully designed lights we’ve seen in newer BMW models.

As ageless as the exterior is, the X3 shows its age when it comes to the interior. Though the construction and build quality are still faultless E46 3 Series bits are a constant reminder of just how old this car is. You can gripe about the lack of cubby holes for sunglasses or cup holders, but the biggest shortcoming is the prehistoric-looking center console. The sea of buttons is hard to navigate, and once you do get comfy with them, you realize just how poorly equipped this car is for the price. And when we say poorly equipped – we mean that you don’t even get a CD changer with your stereo. Thankfully though, at least the entry-level X3 is now equipped with automatic climate control.

Another quip against the X3 is how it mismanages the available interior space. Though fitting five is no problem, the interior is no bigger than the much more affordable 3 Series. The biggest advantage of the X3 over BMW’s sedan though is when you need to haul luggage to the airport or do a month’s worth of grocery. The X3 has a cavernous loading bay.

Despite the less than stellar cabin, the X3 cannot be faulted for providing one of the best driving positions in its class. Adjusting the seats require some elbow grease (there’s no power seating on this model), but once you get your position right, everything falls into place. The seats offer excellent support, while the large-diameter steering wheel has the right thickness for grip and comfort. The gauges, though stylishly done, can be hard to read to those with less than 20/20 vision. The seating position is high, but it manages to maintain its “connected” feel. And like any BMW sedan, the X3 hits the bulls-eye when it comes to handling and on-road refinement.

Prominently displaced on the front fenders are the words “2.0d”, and this means that a 2.0-liter common rail direct injection inline-4 sits inside this X3’s engine bay. However, instead of the 150 horsepower, 330 Nm of torque figures found in the M/T variant, the A/T model gets a bump in both horsepower and torque: 177 horsepower and 350 Nm. This means the X3 is no slouch, and in almost any given situation, it has enough trust to satisfy that need for speed. Plus, there’s no trade-off when it comes to fuel mileage as it can register 10.86 km/L in pure city traffic – that’s 40 percent getter than the petrol-powered X3.

The raised nature of the X3 tells you that there’s some handing trade-off even before you start driving; but they’re more advantageous when it comes to the Philippine setting. You see, the X3 exhibits the same quick and responsive nature of the 3 Series, but it’s less prone to road undulations and low-speed bumps because of its increased suspension travel and softer tuning. This is at the expense of road feel, which isn’t too important for regular drivers. In fact, for all intents and purposes, the X3 can still dart through corners and do gymkhana exhibitions, without causing your wife or kids to complain about the bumpy ride. With vented disc brakes all around, the X3 brings itself to a halt very well. The X3 sheds its run-flat tires in favor of standard 17-inch V-rated Pirellis, which explains the 2.0d’s more compliant ride compared to before.

Despite its age, the X3 still exemplifies BMW’s panache for providing excellent handling cars with equally excellent drivetrains. However, the P3.89-million price tag is a lot of money to pay for what’s essentially a compact SUV in all but badge. The prohibitive price tag highlights several faults of the X3 which cannot be dismissed such as its old cabin and the lack of “basic luxury” items such as the barebones BMW Business radio system and the lack of electric seat adjustment. It can’t be helped that the much better equipped and much newer Volvo XC60 sits at P200,000 less than the BMW X3, and you have mainstream cars like the Subaru Forester XT which provide just about the same levels of driving excitement and features for less than P1.8-million. The BMW X3 is still a good drive, and if you need to get one, you can’t go wrong with the 2.0d. Unfortunately, the zeitgeist has moved on, and the X3 is starting to get left behind.