The BMW X3 grows in size and gets ready to invade the Indian suV segment this month. We drive the car in Munich to get a foretaste
Story & Photography: Sarmad Kadiri
The weather in Munich was unusually pleasant and the BMw Group centre was quieter than usual. then, with the push of a button, the roar from the all-new X3 broke the silence and i darted towards Frankfurt. this new suV is coming to india later this month and here’s a quick peek at the yet-to-be-launched BMw. the car-makers are not keen on launching petrol variants yet and would be introducing just two diesel variants: the xDrive30d and xDrive20d. and, yes, car india got an opportunity to drive both.
The X3 xDrive30d is the fully loaded, sports variant powered by a 261 Ps, 560 nm, 2,993-cc engine that promises a 0-100 km/h sprint in 6.2 seconds. Driving on the reputed autobahn did feel so, but let’s wait for our road test to confirm that. Meanwhile, the xDrive20d has a smaller and more frugal 1,995-cc motor that can produce a decent 186 Ps and 380 nm. Both the variants look more or less identical and have similar cabin room, but the 20d would have a price advantage and will also offer better fuel efficiency.
From outside the X3 still resembles the X5, but it has squared off headlamps and strong crease lines on the side panels, which make it easier to identify. the xDrive30d has more aggressive bumpers and air intakes, not to forget the distinctive blue-and-white ‘M-technik’ badge. the suV has grown in size and is now closer to the X5 in terms of its proportions, even though it has just a 2,810 mm wheelbase. the all-new X3 is now 79 mm longer than the outgoing model, while the width has increase by 28 mm. however, the height has come down by about 13 mm. the increase in the above dimensions in combination with a more muscular body make the X3 more sporty than before and creates better rear legroom that can now fit adults comfortably.
The 30d had an all-black interior, while the 20d has beige internal hues and i preferred the latter. the dash layout is solid with wooden trims and some brush metal highlights. the material used looks good and built to last. however, i wasn’t too happy to see the manually adjustable steering. the standard equipment include iPod and usB interfaces, Bluetooth connectivity, rear camera, an anti-theft alarm and an all-wheel-drive system. the 6.5-inch screen doubles up as an infotainment display for the MMi system and uses the rear camera for park assist. the head-up display is optional, but great for those who use satellite navigation system.
The re-tuned suspension with new multi-link rear suspension and 17-inch wheels with tall 50 profile tyres have improved the ride quality without affecting the car’s agility. it comes with three driving modes: normal, sport and sportPlus. i preferred the normal mode as it was most comfortable for a long drive. this mode also ensured that the steering was reasonably well weighted and still gave good feedback. sport and sport-Plus made the response of the steering faster, but the entire suspension and steering set-up also became much firmer.
The 30d comes with an eight-speed auto box that is remarkably quick and smooth, with shift timings reducing in sport and sport-Plus modes. however, BMw gave us the 20d, which was fitted with a six-speed manual gearbox, which felt neither quick nor slick. i would have gone for the eight-speed auto-box if i had an option.
In a nutshell, i feel the X3 xDrive20d with the eight-speed automatic transmission would make better sense in india, but all depends upon how BMw price the suV and how the competitors react to it.car
