Photo: BMW
Previously unavailable in diesel guise in the US, the facelifted 2015 BMW X3 will from now on be available with an oil burning engine. The only such model on sales in the USA will be the xDrive28d but don’t expect it to be the same model as the European one.
Oh no, because for some interesting marketing reason, BMW decided to boost the names of the diesel units sold across the ocean, to make Americans feel like they have more power than they actually do.
For example, the European BMW X5 xDrive30d is being sold in the US as the xDrive35d, for no apparent reason. Both of them use the same N57 3-liter single-turbo diesel engine making 258 HP and 560 Nm (413 lb-ft) of torque. However, this phenomenon seems to be happening only with diesels, as the another example are the 328d models that are sold in the EU as 320d.
Even so, the offering of a diesel X3 in the US is welcome as it will allow Americans to see its advantages over the petrol alternatives that lack all that needed torque such a big car needs.
The xDrive28d, however, might’ve not been the best choice. Using a 2-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine making 190 HP and 400 Nm (295 lb-ft) of torque, it could be called underpowered.
What’s even more interesting is that the EPA rating is miles away from the manufacturer’s claims. The American agency rated the xDrive28d model at 30 mpg combined (7.8 l/100km), nowhere near BMW’s claim of 45.2 mpg (5.2 l/100 km). Inside the city, the xDrive28d will do 27 mpg (8.7 l/100 km) while outside it will do 34 mpg (6.9 l/100 km).
While, even so, the numbers are not that bad, it’s a disappointing result for those looking for fuel efficiency as well as torque from a diesel powerplant. Maybe, the better choice would’ve been a 3-liter diesel, like the xDrive35d model that has two turbochargers and is the fastest of the range.
That model has 313 HP and 630 Nm (465 lb-ft) of torque at its disposal and it’s more than impressive on the road. With it, the undecided diesel amateurs would’ve surely been swayed over.
Getting back to the model at hand here, we should also point out that even though disappointing, the results of the EPA tests make the X3 2 mpg better than its closest rival, the Mercedes-Benz GLK250 Bluetec diesel. Prices for the xDrive28d start at $42,825
For example, the European BMW X5 xDrive30d is being sold in the US as the xDrive35d, for no apparent reason. Both of them use the same N57 3-liter single-turbo diesel engine making 258 HP and 560 Nm (413 lb-ft) of torque. However, this phenomenon seems to be happening only with diesels, as the another example are the 328d models that are sold in the EU as 320d.
Even so, the offering of a diesel X3 in the US is welcome as it will allow Americans to see its advantages over the petrol alternatives that lack all that needed torque such a big car needs.
The xDrive28d, however, might’ve not been the best choice. Using a 2-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine making 190 HP and 400 Nm (295 lb-ft) of torque, it could be called underpowered.
What’s even more interesting is that the EPA rating is miles away from the manufacturer’s claims. The American agency rated the xDrive28d model at 30 mpg combined (7.8 l/100km), nowhere near BMW’s claim of 45.2 mpg (5.2 l/100 km). Inside the city, the xDrive28d will do 27 mpg (8.7 l/100 km) while outside it will do 34 mpg (6.9 l/100 km).
While, even so, the numbers are not that bad, it’s a disappointing result for those looking for fuel efficiency as well as torque from a diesel powerplant. Maybe, the better choice would’ve been a 3-liter diesel, like the xDrive35d model that has two turbochargers and is the fastest of the range.
That model has 313 HP and 630 Nm (465 lb-ft) of torque at its disposal and it’s more than impressive on the road. With it, the undecided diesel amateurs would’ve surely been swayed over.
Getting back to the model at hand here, we should also point out that even though disappointing, the results of the EPA tests make the X3 2 mpg better than its closest rival, the Mercedes-Benz GLK250 Bluetec diesel. Prices for the xDrive28d start at $42,825
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