Taking the BMW X3 for a Spin: A Hands-On Review

As we embark on this review, we find ourselves behind the wheel of the BMW X3 30d, equipped with the 3.0-liter diesel engine. With the accelerator pedal pressed firmly down, the car surges forward, reaching 40 mph in an instant. The sudden burst of speed is nothing short of exhilarating, as the vehicle rockets past 60 and 70 mph with ease. Holding steady at this pace, we navigate a steep curve, where the tires begin to understeer slightly due to the wet conditions. However, the X3's impressive grip ensures that it continues to pull through, showcasing the power and capabilities of its engine.

While most people may not need the full extent of the 30d's potential, the engine is undoubtedly powerful. In fact, it can easily leave sports cars in its wake, making it an attractive option for those seeking a high-performance SUV. However, it's worth noting that most drivers will be perfectly content with the 20d, which offers similar performance at a lower price point.

Our test car is equipped with M Sport trim, featuring 20-inch alloy wheels. To handle the vehicle's impressive dynamics, BMW has had to compromise on suspension quality, resulting in a firmer ride than expected. While this provides the X3 with exceptional handling capabilities, it also comes at the cost of comfort. On rough roads or during sudden bumps, the car can feel stiff and unforgiving, much like a high-performance sports car.

On the other hand, BMW's optional Adaptive Dampers can greatly improve the ride quality, smoothing out any harsh movements and providing a more comfortable driving experience. However, this feature comes at an additional cost, making it a decision that drivers will need to carefully consider when purchasing their X3. Ultimately, while the X3 does handle well, its emphasis on performance over comfort makes it less suitable for those seeking a more relaxed driving experience.

One of the standout features of the BMW X3 is its interior design, which boasts a sleek and modern aesthetic. However, upon closer inspection, we can't help but feel that it's a tad underwhelming. The materials used throughout the cabin are certainly high-quality, with a focus on premium finishes and attention to detail. Nevertheless, the overall design feels a bit conservative, lacking the flair and personality of some of its rivals.

The widescreen infotainment system is an excellent feature, offering easy navigation and intuitive controls. BMW's iDrive system is renowned for its user-friendliness, and this particular model does not disappoint. The shortcut keys are particularly well-designed, allowing drivers to quickly access frequently used features without needing to delve too deeply into the system. While the Google Maps display is certainly a notable omission, the X3's built-in navigation system is still impressive, providing live traffic updates and helping drivers avoid congested roads.

In terms of visibility, the BMW X3 is generally excellent, with thinner pillars offering an unobstructed view for all occupants. However, this also means that there can be a noticeable blind spot in the rear quarter, which drivers will need to be mindful of when changing lanes or merging with traffic. Additionally, some may find the rear window to be slightly too small, although overall, the cabin's layout is not too far off from its competitors.

One final consideration worth noting is the noise level within the cabin. While it's certainly not excessively loud, the X3 can feel a bit noisier than some of its rivals, particularly when it comes to tire road noise. However, this is largely mitigated by the car's comfortable ride, which provides a sense of tranquility and relaxation.

As we conclude our review, it's clear that the BMW X3 30d is an impressive vehicle, boasting exceptional performance, handling capabilities, and premium features. While its focus on performance over comfort may be a drawback for some drivers, those seeking a high-performance SUV will undoubtedly find themselves in love with this car. Just remember to factor in the cost of the optional Adaptive Dampers when considering your purchase decision.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enokay then let's go for a quick drive in the BMW X3 now this one is the 30d so it's got the 3 l diesel engine and there we go 40 mph floor it it just rocket 60 70 there just hold it at that and we're going around quite a a steep curve there starting to under steer a bit push wide a little bit but it is wet but this has loads of grip and it just keeps on pulling this engine I do like this engine it's so powerful I mean you can just blow sports cars away with this thing this particular engine but most people most of the time won't really need it they'll be fine with the 20D now the car that I'm driving at the moment it's M sport it's got 20in Alloys and this car in order for it to handle as well as it does I mean BMW has had to give it pretty firm suspension and that does ruin theck high quality so on a broken Services just seems to fidget a lot and I don't know if you can see it on our camera but there's probably quite a lot of shake and yeah it's not quite as comfortable as it should be for an SUV really you do have to pay extra on this car for the Adaptive dampers cuz then it just Smooths out the ride quality makes it much better and you know this car does handle well but ultimately SUVs they're more about Comfort aren't they if you want a sporty Drive you're better off getting some like a 5 Series touring than this car but on the whole it's quite a nice thing to be I think this interior design if you have a look around it it's all a little bit Dr a little bit boring it feels high quality though all the materials and we got the widescreen saav there which is the upgraded satinav and BMW's ey drive system just so easy to use to flip between menus there we go just turn that off so simple and the shortcut keys just intuitive now you don't have a beautiful Google Maps display like you get in the Audi Q7 but it's still a good system and it'll stop you getting caught in the jams with the live traffic updates terms of visibility it's quite good in this car BMWs tend to have thinner pillars this isn't as good as some of the other cars cuz you do get quite a blind spot there but other than that looking around the cabin it's not too bad maybe the rear window is a little bit small but on the whole yeah it's it it's a little bit noisier I'd say than its Rivals you get quite a lot of Tire raw but it it's fairly comfy it's just that suspension which lets it down gives it a jiggly rid and like I say you do have to have the optional adaptive dampersokay then let's go for a quick drive in the BMW X3 now this one is the 30d so it's got the 3 l diesel engine and there we go 40 mph floor it it just rocket 60 70 there just hold it at that and we're going around quite a a steep curve there starting to under steer a bit push wide a little bit but it is wet but this has loads of grip and it just keeps on pulling this engine I do like this engine it's so powerful I mean you can just blow sports cars away with this thing this particular engine but most people most of the time won't really need it they'll be fine with the 20D now the car that I'm driving at the moment it's M sport it's got 20in Alloys and this car in order for it to handle as well as it does I mean BMW has had to give it pretty firm suspension and that does ruin theck high quality so on a broken Services just seems to fidget a lot and I don't know if you can see it on our camera but there's probably quite a lot of shake and yeah it's not quite as comfortable as it should be for an SUV really you do have to pay extra on this car for the Adaptive dampers cuz then it just Smooths out the ride quality makes it much better and you know this car does handle well but ultimately SUVs they're more about Comfort aren't they if you want a sporty Drive you're better off getting some like a 5 Series touring than this car but on the whole it's quite a nice thing to be I think this interior design if you have a look around it it's all a little bit Dr a little bit boring it feels high quality though all the materials and we got the widescreen saav there which is the upgraded satinav and BMW's ey drive system just so easy to use to flip between menus there we go just turn that off so simple and the shortcut keys just intuitive now you don't have a beautiful Google Maps display like you get in the Audi Q7 but it's still a good system and it'll stop you getting caught in the jams with the live traffic updates terms of visibility it's quite good in this car BMWs tend to have thinner pillars this isn't as good as some of the other cars cuz you do get quite a blind spot there but other than that looking around the cabin it's not too bad maybe the rear window is a little bit small but on the whole yeah it's it it's a little bit noisier I'd say than its Rivals you get quite a lot of Tire raw but it it's fairly comfy it's just that suspension which lets it down gives it a jiggly rid and like I say you do have to have the optional adaptive dampers\n"