BMW X3 xDrive35i 306 CV road test (Part I)

After two diesel city car tests, at Highmotor we momentarily set rationality aside to bring you a vehicle that, besides being tested, we genuinely enjoyed driving. I normally prefer diesels for the low consumption they offer, but there are certain cars that cannot be judged by rational criteria, like this BMW X3 that we tested equipped with the six-cylinder inline petrol engine that delivers 306 CV of power.

Although it looks like an SUV on the outside, the X3’s handling is on a par with a saloon, and this xDrive 35i version is ideal for petrol enthusiasts. Equipped with a three-litre, 306 CV powerplant, it is among the most powerful on the market and leaves virtually all its rivals behind, delivering the sporty sensations for which the Bavarian brand is renowned.

The BMW X3 has recently been updated, becoming a small X5 in scale and featuring a redesigned look; it was not for nothing that it was one of the first luxury SUVs to reach the market. In the first part of the test, as always, we will look in depth at its engine and performance, as well as the behaviour of this 306 CV X3 xDrive 35i paired with an eight-speed automatic gearbox. We begin with the test of this sports car disguised as an SUV.

Engine and performance

Under the bonnet of the X3 we find a three-litre, six-cylinder inline direct-injection engine with a single turbo and the Valvetronic system. Thanks to this system it achieves more restrained consumption and, at the same time, a more immediate response to throttle inputs. All of this translates into a forceful response when we press the accelerator, as it pulls strongly from 2,000 r.p.m. up to nearly 7,000 r.p.m.

As proof of the engine’s power, there is its torque of 400 Nm and its 0 to 100 km/h acceleration in just 5.7 seconds, very good figures for an SUV rather than a passenger car. The most impressive thing about the response was that when in some situation we needed a quick response (such as an overtake), simply pressing the accelerator decisively made the gearbox readily drop several gears to place the car at 6,000–6,500 r.p.m. , with all the available power at that moment. Moreover, the engine is very smooth, both in power delivery and in operation.

Furthermore, as I mentioned at the start, this engine is paired with an eight-speed automatic gearbox that completes the package, responding quickly to our commands. It also features the Sport mode which keeps the X3 at higher revs and is also highly recommended for downshifts, since it holds the car more firmly than in normal mode. As a complement there are the paddle shifters on the steering wheel, although the gear lever is comfortable (it takes some getting used to, but once mastered it is quicker and more functional than a typical one).

Another detail we liked about the engine is its sound, because when you see an SUV you normally assume it has a diesel engine or an uncharacteristic engine note, but in the case of this powerful X3 xDrive35i the engine sound was a fine complement. Without becoming annoying or excessively coarse, it sounded strong and suggested that under the bonnet there was something “big”, and indeed the engine note was what made more than one passer-by turn to look at the car.

Handling

The SUV essence is once again absent in this section, since the X3 behaves just like a passenger car. Its ideal terrain is mountain roads, with bends and constant changes of load, where it shows all its power and we enjoy driving this SUV as if it were a sports car. To control the vehicle’s response we have three different driving modes: Normal, Sport and Sport +.

These three modes act on the suspension, steering and throttle response. In Sport mode the suspension is firmer, throttle response is quicker and the steering is heavier, all designed so that you forget you are driving an X3, as you take the bends of a mountain pass without noticing you are in an SUV. Sport + is intended for fully enjoying the drive: it is a more radical mode that, in addition to doing everything Sport mode does, also delays the intervention of the electronic driver-assistance systems, letting the driver control the car in their own way without interfering much with the driving.

The stability is outstanding in this X3, as was evident on the various routes through roads with bends and more demanding stretches, where it held its line very well, with a correct and, for an SUV, unusual response. But comfort is not lacking either, since it is a comfortable vehicle with a very smooth ride, the engine is never abrupt and the suspension maintains a good level of interior comfort, cradling its occupants and isolating them from the outside, though with a rather firm feel, especially when compared with other SUVs.

Finally we come to the brakes and steering, the braking system is up to the standard of the model and resists fatigue well, while the steering is typically BMW with a somewhat firm and precise feel, which helps keep the X3 under control.

Consumption

The X3 introduces the Start&Stop system paired for the first time with an automatic gearbox, but even so this 306 CV engine and the vehicle’s weight of around 1,900 kg take their toll on consumption. Compared with other models of similar power and size, the BMW X3 xDrive35i has a fairly restrained consumption.

On the motorway with calm driving we averaged around 9 litres per 100 km, while on country roads if you are careful with the accelerator you can get around 12 litres per 100 km, although with this car it is very hard not to press on.

Off-road driving

To finish the test of the BMW X3 we must discuss off-road driving, but we must not forget that this is an SUV. This xDrive version has four-wheel drive, but it has no low-range gearbox or any mechanism for manually selecting the drive mode. Moreover, the vehicle’s approach, departure and ramp angles are not especially good for off-road driving.

That said, off the tarmac it holds its own quite well, and as an aid it has hill descent control that keeps it at the speed we select with the button. In other words, it is a good car for occasionally venturing onto tracks and more demanding terrain, where we benefit from its ground clearance and traction.

In the second part of the test we will discuss the X3’s exterior design, as well as its interior space and the quality of its finish, an area in which the BMW X3 excels.

Photos | David Taboada and the test team