All-new BMW X3 blends utility, performance

By Will Chamberlain - The Times

BMW makes a variety of vehicle classes for all types of utility and performance needs. Whether you’re looking for a sleek and stylish performance sedan or you want utility to take the family on a long road trip, BMW will provide a luxurious and refined vehicle. This week we take a look at the newly designed X3 SUV.

Under the hood is a 2.0-liter TwinPower turbo 4-cylinder that is producing 248 horsepower and an impressive 258 pound-foot of torque that is felt immediately at 1,450 rpm. This means the moment you press the throttle, the X3 dives forward and pushes you into the seat for a firm ride up to 60 mph. I love the feel of a strong turbo engine, and this one is exceptionally smooth thanks to the two turbos helping the engine stay boosted. Not to mention the transmission is incredibly smooth with each shift, maintaining torque all the way to highway speed. You’ll never find yourself dissatisfied with the power this engine makes; I can only imagine what the 6-cylinder feels like.

Exterior styling is improved for this model year with some cosmetic additions, but the real improvements are lighting, wheels and aerodynamics. The X3 is able to close dampers and grill shutters to streamline the shape and allow air to pass over the shape effortlessly. This is especially apparent on highways when it’s windy. The X3 seems to cut through the air and not lose a ton of momentum. Up front are LED headlamps and fog lamps, and around back are the same finished off with dual exhaust tips.

Hop inside for a treat in itself. The typical BMW layout is predictable, but the new design incorporates some well-crafted interfaces and lots of cool tech. Wireless Apple CarPlay, for starters, allows you to use the system without having to be connected to the car with a cable. The rotary knob on the console is incredibly simple to use, and the screen layout is beautiful.

The driver’s instrument cluster is a 3D display with raised and set-in gauges to provide a wonderful show for the driver. There is a heads-up display, as well, but I’m not a huge fan of those in general. Rear seating isn’t too cramped for adults, and I was able to install car seats easily. The trunk area can accommodate a good number of items, including two hockey bags and some smaller items.

On road, the X3 is a pure driver’s SUV. Sure, it can handle extra luggage and has a slightly higher ride height, but the soul of BMW is always around the driving experience and performance. There is no mistake there, and I really enjoy how BMW drives. Throttle input is predictable, and the handling is precise. You can thrash the X3 down a country back road or quietly blast down a highway with no drama. Braking is also solid and capable.

No matter the situation, you can bet the X3 is prepared. I had the opportunity to drive the X3 in some snowy conditions, and it was completely capable. Hardly any wheel slip even when I was purposely heavy on the throttle. No car is good at cornering in icy weather, especially with all season tires, but the X3 does well if driven cautiously.

My overall impression was favorable because the X3 is comfortable, drives extremely well and can get you in places a normal sedan won’t.

The good and the bad

The Good — Wonderful character, good tech.

The Bad — Styling is polarizing, big price tag for a smaller SUV.

BMW claims 25 mpg average, and I was able to maintain 24 mpg during my road test. MSRP for the X3 equipped with the 2.0-liter turbo is $42,450. Adding a laundry list of options, including CarPlay, LED lighting and wireless charging, brought the bottom line to $57,620.