I got a chance to take home a new BMW X3 for the night from the BMW dealer. So I wanted to share my thoughts about this car.
It was white with a beige and black interior. Sticker was $47,595. Came with the 4 cylinder turbo engine.
Hits:
Handling - This car has a mature and well-developed platform. The handling and road feel is superb. Very sure-footed in all conditions; the steering is responsive and perfectly weighted. The steering wheel had a strong tendency to return to center. This is a trick of alignment and suspension geometry, I believe. This SUV handled like a sporty car.
Performance - The motor never seemed to be at a loss for power. Its turbo is perfectly matched to the motor and never lagged. The 'sport' mode is more than window dressing - it actually really sharpens the car's responses, increases revs, and transforms the nature of the vehicle from luxury cruiser to motorsport contender.
Brakes - Sensitive brake pedal, easily modulated, very little mush.
Interior - Very comfortable seats. Excellent dual zone climate control. Infotainment system is well evolved and intuitive, although I still pine for the CarPlay experience I had with the 2018 Chevrolet Cruze rental I had from National Rent-A-Car. Interior trim was high quality. No rattles or noises were perceived, even in bumpy roads.
NVH - Road noise was minimal. Engine was well damped and very little vibration was transmitted to the steering wheel.
Misses:
Fuel economy - This model returned mid-20s in daily driving. In coast-down testing, the car slowed much more noticeably than others in the segment. BMW might rectify this by updating the motor's valve timing and lift to open the valves when coasting, to minimize pumping losses in deceleration. A 2017 320i I drove earlier had outstanding coast-down characteristics where it felt like it was in neutral while coasting. I wish BMW would apply that engineering to the X3 model. They seem to share the same engine family.
Price - $47,595 is a lot of money. This is a great vehicle, but at what cost?
Blind spot - This was pretty annoying. While the car I drove had a very nice radar sensor system that tracked nearby objects for collision avoidance, I found myself at a loss when changing lanes on the highway. The rear pillars are extremely thick, the windowsills are very tall, and the rear window is narrow. My view of drivers in the blind spot area was severely limited, no matter how diligently I looked over my shoulder. The rearview mirrors are good but I like to see things with my own eyes.
Age - This model has been out for a long time and I think that it will be refreshed next year or the year after that. While BMW has perfected this model after years of small updates, it will become obsolete or 'last-generation' soon when the next series is rolled out.
Overall, I think this car is worth it if you can get it at a good, steep discount. It is a fantastic driver, it is well-built, and with the right option packages it is very nicely appointed.
Special note: This model was built in Spartanburg, SC. My mother's X3 was built in Germany. Comparing the build quality between the two models, I think that the American model is slightly better built. This makes me immensely proud. American manufacturing is awesome when the workers are empowered to make great products.
I look forward to the comments!
It was white with a beige and black interior. Sticker was $47,595. Came with the 4 cylinder turbo engine.
Hits:
Handling - This car has a mature and well-developed platform. The handling and road feel is superb. Very sure-footed in all conditions; the steering is responsive and perfectly weighted. The steering wheel had a strong tendency to return to center. This is a trick of alignment and suspension geometry, I believe. This SUV handled like a sporty car.
Performance - The motor never seemed to be at a loss for power. Its turbo is perfectly matched to the motor and never lagged. The 'sport' mode is more than window dressing - it actually really sharpens the car's responses, increases revs, and transforms the nature of the vehicle from luxury cruiser to motorsport contender.
Brakes - Sensitive brake pedal, easily modulated, very little mush.
Interior - Very comfortable seats. Excellent dual zone climate control. Infotainment system is well evolved and intuitive, although I still pine for the CarPlay experience I had with the 2018 Chevrolet Cruze rental I had from National Rent-A-Car. Interior trim was high quality. No rattles or noises were perceived, even in bumpy roads.
NVH - Road noise was minimal. Engine was well damped and very little vibration was transmitted to the steering wheel.
Misses:
Fuel economy - This model returned mid-20s in daily driving. In coast-down testing, the car slowed much more noticeably than others in the segment. BMW might rectify this by updating the motor's valve timing and lift to open the valves when coasting, to minimize pumping losses in deceleration. A 2017 320i I drove earlier had outstanding coast-down characteristics where it felt like it was in neutral while coasting. I wish BMW would apply that engineering to the X3 model. They seem to share the same engine family.
Price - $47,595 is a lot of money. This is a great vehicle, but at what cost?
Blind spot - This was pretty annoying. While the car I drove had a very nice radar sensor system that tracked nearby objects for collision avoidance, I found myself at a loss when changing lanes on the highway. The rear pillars are extremely thick, the windowsills are very tall, and the rear window is narrow. My view of drivers in the blind spot area was severely limited, no matter how diligently I looked over my shoulder. The rearview mirrors are good but I like to see things with my own eyes.
Age - This model has been out for a long time and I think that it will be refreshed next year or the year after that. While BMW has perfected this model after years of small updates, it will become obsolete or 'last-generation' soon when the next series is rolled out.
Overall, I think this car is worth it if you can get it at a good, steep discount. It is a fantastic driver, it is well-built, and with the right option packages it is very nicely appointed.
Special note: This model was built in Spartanburg, SC. My mother's X3 was built in Germany. Comparing the build quality between the two models, I think that the American model is slightly better built. This makes me immensely proud. American manufacturing is awesome when the workers are empowered to make great products.
I look forward to the comments!
