BMW X3 xDrive 20i 2014 Review

The BMW X3 is often forgotten in the mid-sized luxury SUV race, but as our latest drive in Western Australia proved, it's a capable and versatile machine. Equally at ease transporting the family around town as it is hacking down twisting and turning coastal roads, the entry-level 2.0-litre turbo-petrol X3 is sharply priced too, at just under $60,000.

What's to make of the BMW X3? The second-generation X3 is far from fresh, arriving here in back in 2011, but after more than a week behind the wheel it's clear the luxury SUV can still hold its own.

Beautifully finished inside, enjoyable to drive, easy to load and featuring several time-saving features, the X3 proves to be a versatile vehicle, and workable for small families too.

With an optional M Sport package ($5154), it looks suitably athletic too, with big 19-inch alloy wheels and a subtle body kit.

Although the X3 doesn't quite have the visual charisma or chunky proportions of its bigger sibling, the X5, it's got ample room for a family of three, two weeks’ worth of luggage, a fair whack of beach gear and an Esky.

Being a high-riding SUV, loading child into the baby seat is easy, likewise dumping cargo into the boot. No bending over required! The higher load floor is also one of the chief reasons my wife refuses to consider the idea of a regular wagon. But I digress.

Despite its modest (for an SUV) proportions -- 4648mm long, 1881 wide -- the X3 seemingly has a space for everything. Its 550-litre boot (expanding to 1600 litres easily enough) features flip out shopping bag hooks, floor plugs for securing larger loads and a good-sized elastic harness on the right side, big enough for holding a small parlour palm upright for example.

There's even a little cubby for a single rear head restraint, useful when you need it out of the way to fit a tall-backed baby seat.

The mid-sized US-built SUV provides ample space for passengers and feels roomy even for adults sitting in the back. At the same time it isn't cumbersome in tighter situations, its reasonable girth making it simple to slot into car parks.

Convenience features like automatic headlights and wipers, keyless push button engine start, idle stop-start, parking sensors and a rear-view camera are common on many cars half the price of this $60K luxury SUV, but are welcome additions nonetheless.

The climate control means one-touch cooling the moment you hop in the car, and opening all windows and the panoramic sunroof (a $2308 option) via the key fob is a godsend when the sun's been baking the car all day.

Ergonomics throughout the X3 are fine, the cockpit especially so with easy to use controls, from the steering wheel to the iDrive input dial. The dash doesn't look particularly glamorous but it all works well; connecting both iPhone and Android smartphones wirelessly via Bluetooth is a breeze, and the infotainment interface is generally good.

The satellite navigation proved reliable and concise, with a good level of detail, and there's cup and bottle holders front and rear, a decent-sized glovebox plus storage cubby under the centre arm rest.

Attention to detail is also surprising (in a good way). After vacuuming all the sand out of the car from several beach trips, it became clear how well finished the car is. Carpeting throughout is of a high quality and the plush pile mats that Velcro in securely are very nicely trimmed. Even the way the plastics line up is impressive.

Small things, sure, but it's a level of quality you don't get in many cars.

The driving position is first-rate and seat cushioning is supportive but comfortable. The view of the road is superior compared to a sedan and driven southward from Perth to Yallingup, about 300km, the X3 didn't miss a beat.

Granted, it was a relatively boring cruise, but the car is quiet in operation, the cruise control intuitive and the engine, transmission and brakes responsive when a hasty acceleration/deceleration manoeuvre is required.

The entry-level BMW X3 xDrive 20i features a clever all-wheel drive system that ensures confidence-inspiring levels of grip on both sealed and dirt roads, and the eight-speed gearbox is a smooth operator.

In general driving situations -- highway cruising, heading to the shops -- the X3 is a compliant, easygoing vehicle, even with the firmer sports suspension of the M Sport package. Ride comfort is decent and as mentioned it's easy to park thanks to its relatively small size, reversing camera and proximity sensors.

BMW's 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine cranks out 135kW/270Nm but considering the car weighs 1720kg, acceleration isn't what you'd call fabulous. BMW says the 0-100km/h dash takes 8.6 seconds.

Despite DOHC, VVT, and a twin-scroll turbo, the X3 is not nearly as rapid as a Forester XT turbo. Engaging the steering wheel paddle shifters or the tiptronic shift improves response somewhat, and it's a more involving vehicle to drive when manually shifting gears.

Don't let the revs go beyond 4500rpm either, as it runs out of puff. Clearly tuned for a meatier mid-range torque band in this SUV application, the four-cylinder engine becomes breathless and loses power between 5000 and 6000rpm.

Compounding the engine's lack of punching power, at idle it's loud and almost diesel-like with its clatter. Inside the car it's not so bad.

BMW claims the car uses 7.5L/100km, but with fully laden with luggage, people and refreshments, it struggled to use less than 8.0 on the freeway at 113km/h. If I hadn't seen the claimed fuel usage figure, I would have been fairly stoked with 10.8L/100km for a petrol-powered all-wheel drive SUV after 10 days and 760km of driving.

Giving the car a proper fang without passengers and luggage reveals a very tidy chassis. The X3 drives a lot like a 3 Series in that it's easy to steer, turns in sharply and handles well thanks to direct steering.

In fact it's one of the best-steering SUVs not only in its class, but in general.

In a market segment that is rapidly evolving, with the likes of the three-door Evoque (and upcoming BMW X4) changing how we see -- and use -- SUVs, not to mention vehicles like the Subaru Forester XT edging closer to the premium segment, the X3 has its work cut out for it.

But for all the intensity in the segment, the BMW still ticks a lot of boxes.

Priced at $59,000 for the standard X3 xDrive20i on test, the BMW is more affordable than both its Range Rover Evoque and Audi Q5 competitors, and though the engine isn't as free-revving as some, it's still a capable and versatile machine that feels solidly built.

The pros far outweigh the cons in the X3's case, and considering the car's certainly not the newest kid on the block, it might make it easier to nail down a sharper price.

2014 BMW X3 xDrive20i pricing and specifications:
Price: $59,990 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 135kW/270Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 7.5L/100km (combined)
CO2: 175g/km (combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP

What we liked:
>> Ease of use
>> Standard features
>> Versatile, quality interior

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