BMW releases new entry-level X3

The latest generation of BMW’s X3 that was introduced locally last month has just become more affordable.

Tagged at $65,900 pre on-roads – or $3000 below the AWD xDrive20d model – the new rear-drive, 2.0-litre petrol-engined X3 sDrive20i should build on the already strong sales performance already being enjoyed by the model in the mid-size SUV segment.

In fact, it could position BMW to have a crack at nudging the Mercedes-Benz GLC out of second sales spot and could feasibly see it mounting an attack on the current segment leader, the Land Rover Discovery Sport.

BMW Group Australia’s CEO, Marc Werner, didn’t exactly voice any intentions or provide an expected sales breakdown, but when announcing the new base-level X3 he indicated the company was upbeat about the possibilities.

“We have been strongly encouraged by the X3’s sales performance since it arrived in early November,” he said.

Extending the X3 range to four variants, the sDrive20i is the first of the third-generation models to offer rear-drive.

Similarly-equipped to the four-cylinder diesel-engined, all-wheel drive xDrive20d, the sDrive20i comes with a list of standard equipment that includes a power tailgate, LED headlights (with cornering lights), auto stop-start, head-up display, speed sign recognition, voice control, BMW Driving Assistant with approach control, lane departure and lane change warnings and 19-inch alloy wheels.

The X3 sDrive20i comes with cloth/leather trim, BMW’s ‘business’ sat-nav, wireless telephone charging, three-zone climate-control, auto headlights and wipers, three-piece 40/20/40 split-fold rear seat and BMW’s Parking Assistant with reversing camera and parking sensors.

The four-cylinder 2.0-litre turbo engine drives through BMW’s eight-speed automatic gearbox and produces 135kW and 290Nm of torque. It is essentially the same engine used widely across the BMW range.

The X3 sDrive20i is also available with a $3500 M Sport Package that brings BMW Individual headliner in Anthracite, BMW Individual high-gloss Shadow Line exterior trims, Dynamic Damper Control, Aluminium Rhombicle interior trim with Pearl Chrome finishers, LED fog lights, M Aerodynamics Package, M Leather steering wheel 19-inch BMW M light alloy wheels, Steptronic transmission with gearshift paddles and ‘Vernasca’ cloth/leather upholstery.

BMW has yet to publish fuel economy or CO2 emissions figures for the X3 sDrive20i, but the petrol rear-driver will clearly come in somewhere between the 5.7L/100km and 149g/km quoted for the xDrive20d and the 7.6L/100km and 174g/km quoted for the xDrive30i.