BMW X3: Pros, Cons And Should You Buy One?

In a luxury SUV segment that spoils you with choices, should you lay your money on a BMW or do its rivals offer a better deal?

BMW brought the third-gen X3 to India in 2018 and priced it between Rs 60.50 lakh and Rs 60.90 lakh (ex-showroom). While the carmaker has made it more luxurious, spacious and tech-loaded than its predecessor, should you consider buying this mid-size luxury Bimmer over its competitors such as the Mercedes-Benz GLC and Volvo XC60? Here are the merits and demerits of the X3 to help you decide whether you should buy one:

Pros

Luxury Inside and Out

With the third-gen model, BMW has completely changed the design dynamics of the X3 helping it stand out in the segment. It now gets a much bigger kidney grille with Active Air Stream that opens and closes the inbuilt air vents to cool the engine whenever required. BMW is also offering it with adaptive LED headlamps and sleeker LED fog lamps. Adding to the sharper and aggressive design, the X3 is seen sporting 19-inch alloy wheels, LED tail lamps, and dual exhaust tips. On the inside, it gets soft-touch leather, black, grey and silver highlights on the dashboard, a 10.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system (with only Apple CarPlay), and three-zone climate control. BMW also offers the X3 with a panoramic sunroof, ambient lighting, and power-adjustable front seats with memory function to add to the comfort and in-cabin experience.

Rear Space

The X3’s wheelbase has grown by 54mm for improved leg and knee room. A relatively flat bench allows three passengers to sit comfortably at the rear, while the seat backrest can be reclined by nine degrees making it more comfortable for longer trips.

Sporty Handling

BMW offers the X3 with both petrol and diesel engines. The xDrive30i Luxury Line variant comes with a 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine rated at 252PS and 350Nm. This engine comes mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission and gets a 4WD drivetrain. You also get up to four driving modes on the X3: EcoPro, Comfort, Sport and Sport+. The SUV feels stable and under control on both corners and long stretches of roads.

Also Read: BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe’s Rs 39.30 Lakh Price Tag Makes It The Most Accessible BMW Sedan In India

Cons

Ride Quality Isn’t Plush

Although the X3’s suspension setup does the job quite well, its ride quality isn’t the best with sharper undulations still making their way into the cabin. Even after large bumps, the suspension takes some time to settle down causing you to move inside the cabin even in the city.

Power Delivery Lag

When driving in the city, the X3 takes some time to pump out power under the 1,700-1,800rpm mark. Although the Comfort mode feels most suitable for city rides due to the gentler gearshifts and linear power delivery, it won’t give you the thrill you would be expecting.

No Larger Diesel Engine

The xDrive20d Luxury Line variant gets the same 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine that powers the entry-level X1 SUV. Although this engine offers quite a comfortable drive in the city, a larger 3.0-litre diesel would have made driving effortless. BMW did offer the 3.0-litre diesel engine on the previous-gen X3 in India but it is now available with the X4.

Should You Buy One?

BMW has certainly got the looks and dimensions of the SUV right. For those who don’t worry much about the driving experience and want a better-loaded offering in the same price range, we suggest you skip the Bimmer and pick another SUV from the segment. However, if you plan to spend most of your time behind the wheel, the X3 is the perfect mid-size luxury SUV.

Read More on : X3 Automatic