BMW Australia will have an SUV-packed (or should that be SAV - Sports Activity Vehicle?) year in 2018, what with the all-new X3 already having made landfall and the just-unveiled X2 due to make its local appearance toward the latter half of next year following its public debut at the upcoming LA Auto Show.
Focusing on the X3, which will be populating showrooms this month with a start price of $68,900 plus ORCs, this is Bimmer’s third stab at the smaller high-rider, something that its 2003 original was credited as being something of a pioneer upon debut (especially in the premium segment). Its 2010 successor did much to broaden and increase its appeal simultaneously, being critically touted as a more complete product.
This all-new version, internally called the G01, shares a the same basic architecture and dimensions as before but has had nearly everything else replaced or re-engineered. The new body’s aesthetics are a much sharper blend of BMW’s taut lines, improved aerodynamics, and substantially flared nostrils (called active three-dimensional double kidney grilles), and in M-Sport guise is far better at convincing us of it offering a satisfying drive.
There’s more interior space on offer thanks to a 51mm increase in overall length, a 54mm increase in wheelbase, and should be noticeably more fuel efficiency if only for the fact that it now weighs less than the X3 it replaces despite sharing a very similar cross-section of powertrains from the BMW catalogue.
At launch, three variants will be available before additional configurations join this crew later next year. The lot kicks off with the xDrive20d and continues with the step-up xDrive30i and top-spec xDrive 30d. Plainly, they all have all-wheel drive, but also are powered by turbocharged engines and share the same 8-speed ZF automatic transmission. Less expensive sDrive (RWD) variants are due to arrive in early to mid 2018.
The entry xDrive20d’s 2.0-litre four-pot engine produces a very respectable 140kW and 400Nm, yielding an 8.0 second dash to 100km/h, making it adequately spritely. BMW pairs it with a list of standard equipment that’s quite generous, including 19-inch alloys, leather steering wheel, electric sports front seats with cloth/leather combination upholstery, LED headlights, satellite navigation with real-time traffic info, full colour head-up display, Driving Assistant with Lane Departure Warning, and even wireless phone charging.
Moving up a notch to the sole petrol-powered X3 to arrive - the xDrive30i with185kW and 350Nm from a 2.0-lite turbo-petrol - grants access to 20-inch alloys, ‘Vernasca’ leather upholstery, adaptive LED headlights, Comfort Access (keyless entry), shift paddles for the 8-speed automatic, Driving Assistant Plus, Parking Assistant Plus, an upgraded 10-inch infotainment system with Navigation System Professional, and 12-inch digital instrument cluster.
Choosing the xDrive30d actually brings a larger 3.0-litre straight-six turbodiesel to live under the bonnet with 195kW and phat 620Nm, which is enough to reduce the sprint time to a mere 5.8 seconds while claiming to sip just 6.0-litres/100km on a combined cycle.
Apart from the substantial increase in performance, both the xDrive30i and xDrive30d come with an identical equipment list. Owners of each variant also have the option of selecting the M-Sport pack for more visual punch and some dynamic plusses, costing an additional $4,550 on the entry xDrive20d and $3,800 on the higher pair of X3s. The difference in pricing boils down to the base model lacking the dynamic dampers, larger 20-inch light-alloy wheels, and leather upholstery that comes standard with the xDrive30i/d.
- X3 xDrive 20d - $68,900
- X3 xDrive 30i - $75,900
- X3 xDrive 30d - $83,900
For more on BMW cars, check out our Showroom.
