What is this?
Since the launch of the last generation X3/X4 in 2017, no fewer than 1.1 million units have found a new home. Just to say that any adjustment had to be applied with caution. After all, the SAV or SAC – as BMW catalogs its highlights – are after all responsible for a particularly large part of the annual turnover.
That is why BMW stayed away from too great technical upheavals. Given the large number of order forms, they concluded in Munich that the customer was apparently satisfied with how the X3 stood on its feet. So the chassis setup was essentially untouched.
There were also few complaints in terms of drive, although the Germans believe that it should always be possible to do better. That is why all engines – in imitation of the diesels – now receive support from a mild hybrid system. In addition, an 11 hp starter generator provides both a (minimal) consumption gain and an additional push when accelerating. He gets the power for both performances from a 48-volt battery.
Technology that does not show itself, however, so who wants to know whether he has to do with a facelifted X3 xDrive30d, will have to sample the lights. At the front, they have been made 10 mm narrower, making them more stretched and therefore threatening. An bad asslook that has to come from the bigger kidneys and the tougher X-Line bumpers. The latter performance level will now come as standard.
At the back there is even a whole new signature for the blocks, which gives it the most betrayal that you have to do with a new X3. Incidentally, the rear bumpers are also a lot more pronounced, while the openings at the bottom are always ‘real’ from now on. In other words, there is always an exhaust pipe connected to the engine breathing through the fist-sized holes.
Inside, the X3 takes over the board board (and therefore electronics) from the 4 Series. In concrete terms, that also in the SUV – excuse SAV – runs the BMW Operating System 7, including the 10.25 or 12.3 inch (optional) large touch screen that goes with it. You can then read the driving info again and again on the digital counter.
BMW also puts some more basic equipment on the X3 from the factory. We have already mentioned the X Line, but also for the three-zone air conditioning, LED spotlights (although they were actually necessary with the new light design), the sports seats and the navigation you no longer have to impose.
Of course, the interior space or the luggage volume has not been compromised either. With its 550 liters (extendable to 1,600 litres), the latter is still very neat. A big thumbs up that also goes to the leg and headroom in the back.
What is changing?
Since little or nothing has changed technically, our opinion about his driving capacities also remains the same. To be clear, that’s positive. The X3 has always charmed with balanced dynamics where ride comfort went hand in hand with BMW-worthy edginess.
A balance that also applies to the motor, especially with the xDrive30d tested here. How wonderful it is to be able to surf the generous torque curve of a six-cylinder diesel! However politically incorrect that statement may be today.
The 3-litre diesel has in any case not lost any of its panache, so that it sprints towards a few drivers license-free weeks if you keep the right pedal down a little too long. The argument that you didn’t realize how fast you were going won’t last long. The 3 liters growl a nice bit away. Never annoying, but always present. And crescendo when the gas goes on.
Fortunately, this drive has few repercussions on consumption. We don’t know to what extent the 48-volt installation has anything to do with it, but with a stated WLTP average of 6.2 litres/100 km and associated CO2 emissions of 162 g/km, you don’t cut a bad figure today. . Not if you can also throw a 5.2 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h on the table.
Conclusion
The BMW X3 simply remains its rock-solid self, albeit that it now delivers that performance in a look that rejoins the rest of the family. In se we can posit the same conclusion for his autoigniter. Although denounced, the 3-litre diesel in-line six is a mechanical gem that combines performance with modest consumption. Agree, you have to take the extra decibels for granted, although – given the virility of the drone – that is actually not such a task.
The only thing you can really rub on this X3 xDrive 30d – or better: BMW – is the starting price of 61,500 euros. though there is even there is a mitigating circumstance in the more extensive basic equipment that is included for that money.
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