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2015 BMW X3 First Drive Review

Being the second SUV-like car ever launched by BMW, the X3 was initially welcomed with an unexplainable cold. Unlike the X5 that was already popular by the time the smaller Sport Activity Vehicle hit the markets, the X3 took a bit longer to convince people. However, it did manage to prove its worth over the next 11 years and slowly but steadily became the best selling SUV the Germans are currently making.
2015 BMW X3 11 photos
Photo: Original image by autoevolution
2015 BMW X3 rear seats2015 BMW X3 interior2015 BMW X3 off road2015 BMW X32015 BMW X3 dash2015 BMW X32015 BMW X32015 BMW X32015 BMW X32015 BMW X3 dash
Therefore, when they announced that the current F25 model will be getting a makeover in the shape of what the Bavarians says is a 'Life Cycle Impulse' (LCI or facelift as other manufacturers call it) its target demographic was more than curious to see what was new.



The first things you’re going to notice are the exterior details, of course. The biggest changes happened in the front, where the headlights now meet with the kidney grilles and new details showed up around the air intakes on the sides. Round the back, the changes are less noticeable and seem to be focused on the bumper.

Depending on what trim level you choose, the new design could be more or less impressive. Unlike its predecessor, the LCI X3 has only two trim levels available: the new xLine and M Sport. The former brings the biggest changes while the look of the latter is more common, reminiscent of other models previously launched. Considering the demographic aimed by the X3, the M Sport alternative doesn’t even make much sense but we’ll get into that later.

Inside, things are roughly the same. New trims and finishes welcome you but compared to the X4 we tested earlier, at least in the front seats, nothing is different. In the back, the practical advantages of the SAV are obvious. No longer you have to worry about headroom and you finally get handles above all windows so you don’t have to roll around in the cabin due to sudden 'sporty' maneuvers.

The iDrive system received the brand new touch-sensitive controller that will help out while using the infotainment system, especially for those people not accustomed to it. You also get to choose out of an impressive array of safety systems both active and passive like pedestrian warning, city collision mitigation and adaptive cruise control amongst others.



There are two new engines in the line-up and we were lucky enough to have one of them under the bonnet of our tester. Called xDrive20d in Europe, this model uses BMW’s brand new B-family of engines that share up to 40 percent of their parts between diesel and petrol versions.

Codenamed B47, this plant makes more power and torque than the previous model used to but only marginally. At 190 HP and 400 Nm (295 lb-ft) of torque, you might scoff at its performance but you should keep in mind that this kind of numbers seemed unreal not too long ago. To put things in perspective, imagine that this 2-liter 4-cylinder diesel engine has just as much torque as the previous gen BMW M3 that had a 4-liter V8 to do so.

It’s also more refined than the N47 unit that came before it with its 184 HP but the difference is, once again, barely noticeable. Being EU6 compatible surely helps its case, when trying to convince people that it’s worth the extra money.

Make no mistake about it, though, this car is all about efficiency and not a sporty kind of driving as we were telling you. Sure, as a BMW, it’s more planted than you’d expect from such a big SUV but due to the engine and its tall center of gravity, you can’t really expect it to perform on a proper track. No, it’s more of a toned down car that wants to work with you at keeping your expenses down.



Combined with the 8-speed ZF gearbox that has become an industry benchmark in the last few years, it’s a match made in heaven. Don’t get the sport transmission option though as it will be utterly useless, with its paddle shifters and launch control. This is not a racer!

It’s a great family car. Space in the back is more than generous and the boot can be fitted with all sorts of features that make carrying stuff around easy. Our tester was fitted with the Advantage Package that at €4,070 brings you the multifunction steering wheel, automatic opening boot, luggage-compartment net, anti-dazzle mirrors, storage compartment package, seat heating, headlight washing system, park distance control, rain sensors and cruise control with brake function.

We wouldn’t really recommend getting it though, as you won’t need all of those features. For example, the X3 offers plenty of visibility front and back that allows you to park it without the help of a camera or even parking sensors, unlike the X4, with its sloping roofline and minuscule rear window.

What you will want though, especially if you drive a lot at night, are the Adaptive LED headlights that are a work of art. They might cost €1,884 but they make driving at night so effortless that you’ll never want to drive any other car without them. It’s also really interesting to watch them work, creating a cone of shadow around the cars in front of you, to protect the other drivers while also keeping you safe.



Since we’re talking about the open road, we should mention that the X3 has a firm ride but not taken to the extreme. It felt more composed than the X5 and yet similarly comfortable despite having sport seats in the front that are known for being a bit harsh on your back.

The diesel engine will return decent mileage as well but not exactly what BMW claims. Keeping your car steady at 62 mph (100 km/h) outside the city will eat up, on average, around 5 l/100 km (47 mpg) when loaded with luggage and 3 passengers, a more than honorable result for a 1.8 ton car with a 2-liter engine. Inside the city, our average result was 9.6 l/100 km (24.5 mpg) driving it in Sport+ mode 50 percent of the time and ECO Pro and Comfort the other 50 percent.

There’s an explanation for our hooliganism too. The car was designed to be as efficient as possible, therefore, when you start it up it defaults into Comfort mode. That brings about what we call ‘the dreadful gear change’ that simply takes the life out of the car.

When going around town in Comfort or Eco Pro mode, the car will shift gears extremely fast, keeping the engine at around 1,200 RPM most of the time. While it might do wonders for the fuel consumption, it will drive you mad, making you think that the engine is going to stall and sending uncomfortable vibrations throughout the cabin.



Get it in Sport or Sport+ mode and things go back to normal. The gearshifts are great and the car feels alive and well, even though it might appear to be slightly underpowered in certain scenarios. Don't worry though, it will get the job done 99% of the time.

The 2015 BMW X3 LCI will remain a success in the next 3 years until the new model comes out, having too many pros working for it. It’s bigger than the compact X1 and smaller than the X5, making it the perfect size for most families.

It’s also cheaper and easier to run and the new diesel engines make a pretty strong case for themselves. Sure, you could go with the M Sport xDrive35i model for that trademark inline 6-cylinder smoothness but you won’t be needing the extra horsepower in 90 percent of the situations. The only problem that remains to be solved is the pricing.



The X3 starts at €37,200 in Europe for the sDrive20i model and $38,400 for the xDrive28i model in the US. The best choice, if you were to ask us, is the xDrive20d that we had for reviewing purposes. Our tester’s price tag was over €65,000 but that was with €23,000 worth of optional features. If you can choose only the absolute must haves of the list, you can have a perfectly good X3 for €50,000 which is still pretty steep but acceptable considering the prices of  its direct competitors, the Audi Q5 and Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class.
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