Photo: Car Advice
At first, when you see the nameplate xDrive20i on an X3 you might think to yourself "What are BMW thinking, fitting such a small engine on a huge car like this?". However, that 2-liter turbocharged petrol engine is more than capable of handling the SUV, as Car Advice found out.
It has 184 HP and 270 Nm (199 lb-ft) of torque at its disposal and yet, combined to the amazing 8-speed gearbox from ZF, the car doesn't feel slow at all, at any given moment. Actually, for 1,650 kg (3,637 lbs), the X3 is quite lively.
It still has that BMW trademark feel on the road and it is sporty, sometimes the suspension feel a bit too hard but unless you go down uncharted roads expecting to feel like in a 7 Series, you should be alright.
With a starting price tag of under AUD60,000, the X3 that they had for the test wasn't fitted with every possible optional feature, as German companies use to do, whenever they send out a car for a journalist to test.
It had a standard 6.5-inch navigation system along with the iDrive system, 18" alloy wheels, EfficientDynamics technology, cruise control, hill descent control, parking sensors, rear-view camera, Sensatec upholstery, USB support, automatic headlights and so on.
The driving position is high, just as you'd expect in an SUV, but you'll feel confident behind the wheel, thanks to the suspension settings and the precise steering feel.
Bottom line, comparing the petrol and diesel choices you might want to go with petrol. Doing simple math, you'll find out (just as Car Advice did) that the AUD4,100 difference you'd have to put out for the xDrive20d model will be compensated in around 100,000 km (60,000 miles) and by that time, the car will probably belong to someone else.
Via: Car Advice
It still has that BMW trademark feel on the road and it is sporty, sometimes the suspension feel a bit too hard but unless you go down uncharted roads expecting to feel like in a 7 Series, you should be alright.
With a starting price tag of under AUD60,000, the X3 that they had for the test wasn't fitted with every possible optional feature, as German companies use to do, whenever they send out a car for a journalist to test.
It had a standard 6.5-inch navigation system along with the iDrive system, 18" alloy wheels, EfficientDynamics technology, cruise control, hill descent control, parking sensors, rear-view camera, Sensatec upholstery, USB support, automatic headlights and so on.
The driving position is high, just as you'd expect in an SUV, but you'll feel confident behind the wheel, thanks to the suspension settings and the precise steering feel.
Bottom line, comparing the petrol and diesel choices you might want to go with petrol. Doing simple math, you'll find out (just as Car Advice did) that the AUD4,100 difference you'd have to put out for the xDrive20d model will be compensated in around 100,000 km (60,000 miles) and by that time, the car will probably belong to someone else.
Via: Car Advice
Google News