Certified CenterWhen BMW announced the replacement of its original and segment-founding X3, a nervous tension filled the air. You see, BMW's original X3 was polarizing to look at - to be kind. And while it drove well and met the economic and utilitarian needs of a large market segment, many snubbed its ugly duckling looks and held on to their wallets. The stakes were high as Bavarian executives pulled the silk off of BMW's all-new 2011 BMW X3.
Would it be handsome in the flesh? And equally important: would it retain its excellent driving dynamics, utility and value? In our latest drive review, BMWBLOG evaluates the subtleties of the new X3 xDrive35i. Join us as we bring you to the racetrack, the open road, metropolis gridlock and steep grassy hills in BMW's middle 'x' brother.
Now casting a shadow roughly the same size as the original X5, the X3 has grown and matured in its effort to fill its big-brother's old shoes. Spreading the tent pins further apart, the X3 now measures 4.6 meters (183?) in length - a gain of 7.8 cm (3.1?), 1.9 meters (74.1?) in width - a gain of 2.7 cm (1.1?), and 1.7 meters (65.4?) in height - a gain of half an inch. Swallowing over 1.6 cubic meters (55 cubic feet) of goods with seats folded flat (0.7 cubic meters (26 cubic feet) with rear seats upright), the X3 should be able to tote just about whatever you can fit through the rear hatch. While this increase in interior space goes a long way to increase utility, it also adds comfort to the spacious cabin. Those who've never driven an X5 would be forgiven for thinking the new X3 was based on the same platform - it's not, but its poise, comfort and luxurious cabin would have you fooled once seated inside.
Gone is the darty handling and harsh ride of the E83, replaced with a more relaxed approach to steering input and plush dampening over bumps. Setting off from a standstill, the 8-speed ZF transmission is very close-ratio, feeling almost motorcycle-like in its short and frequent gear changes. This is by no means a bad thing: besides feeling rather sporty, it significantly increases efficiency, allowing to the X3 to squeeze 630 km (391 miles) from its 65 liter tank. Our observed fuel mileage ranged from 10.8 L/100 km while hypermiling through the city, to 14.5 L/100 km after spirited driving. EPA fuel mileage is stated as 9.0 L/100km (26 mpg) highway / 12.4 L/100 km (19 mpg) city, impressive numbers bestowed upon any 300 hp SUV.
Gasp! Did I write SUV? Quite right, and while I would normally bow to the marketing guru's "Sports Activity Vehicle" (SAV) moniker, in the X3 I will not. Behind the wheel of this vehicle, the lines are less blurred between sports car and beast of burden. The X3 is now sharing the same platform as its soon to be released F30 3 series sibling, and the chassis is a brilliant starting point: rock of Gibraltar solid and impossibly stiff. But in the X3, BMW has placed the cross hairs on plush comfort and composure, less so on sports car feedback and handling.
This is not necessarily a blemish, depending upon your needs. Do you have a hankering for track time? It's unlikely you'll chose an X3, although as we learned in our testing - it can still hold its own on the racetrack (more on that later). Are you focused on finding a vehicle that will safely and comfortably transport you and your precious cargo with the latest tech, great practicality, and in fresh necktie style? Look no further. Still, if you fancy a few fast on-ramp blasts, you may do well to consider the optional M sport package. It not only adds welcome suspension tuning and larger wheels for more grip, it also adds a rakish exterior aero kit. It makes us hot under the collar and looks downright naughty in Alpine white - our preferred color on the X3.
So on to the daily driving stuff: what does a typical drive consist of? It all starts with key-in-pocket as you enter the X3 and engage the ignition with a push-button mounted on the dash, just right of the steering wheel column. A brilliant burble exits the exhaust and the inline-six hums away at idle - what a sound! I didn't expect such auditory stimulation from an otherwise subdued SUV. Place the gear selector in drive and pull away; the throttle is very smooth and easy to modulate for graceful parking lot exits.
The X3 exudes a feeling of solidity, and as it consumes bumpy pavement with poise, its suspension tuning makes good sense. Especially if you live in Toronto - a city where most roads resemble moonscape. The commute is much less stressful when you're not being beaten on the backside by unmaintained roads. Speaking of your backside, the seats are very comfortable and supportive, this time offered in black leather.
All of the familiar BMW technologies are at hand, including a brilliant parking assist system that guides your path while reversing via an on-dash video screen with a plethora of parking distance sensors at the ready. BMW's much-loved iDrive is also on duty, connecting your phone calls on the fly, and legally at that. Keyless entry is easy to get used to, and always difficult to part ways with when handing back the keys to various test cars. The sound system was well tuned and had an affinity for modern rock, and generally any music that favors mid-range clarity and power over chest-thumping bass. The system still managed R&B, but with some low-end distortion, forcing us to dial back the base.
It appears that BMW designers have been reading BMWBLOG reviews, because one of our major and incessant complaints has finally been addressed. We've long complained of the intolerable noise generated by the wind diffuser featured in BMW's panoramic sunroofs. These sunroofs have previously been installed with a mesh material that hisses and whistles in the wind until you're numb in the tympanic membranes. It's not just the amount of noise that used to bother our ears, it was the sound itself - enough to keep the sunroof shut when we would otherwise have enjoyed it open. We have good news for your ears: the latest panoramic moon roof in our X3 featured a new mesh material that generated little to no noise while cruising at speeds that would previously have required earplugs. Even up to speeds of 90 km/h (55 mph) noise levels in the cabin were pleasant and we subsequently enjoyed every minute of fresh air and blue skies that we could.Of course the great new features that make this BMW unlike it's predecessors is what makes this one stick out and say "Look at Me", and "Drive and Have Fun!!". I can tell you that because everyone keeps up with these cars due to all the bimmerheads around it has been tuff keeping them on the lot here at Grayson BMW, but that is the beauty of the designing your own and order process that we are known for. For more information on having a test drive or going ahead with ordering your 2012 X3 call Andrea DeMarco 865.209.7273 or ademarco@graysonsales.com