BMW X3 Luxury Line Road Test Review

This is the third generation BMW X3 and the company has for the first time introduced a “Luxury Line” variant in the BMW SAV line-up.  We were only too keen to find out whether this Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) had become savvier.

EXTERIOR DESIGN AND FEATURES OF BMW X3 LUXURY LINE

The new BMW X3 Luxury line is a smarter version of the earlier generation X3. Apart from the fact that it has an intelligent all-wheel drive system, its intelligent lightweight construction ensures that the car is 55 kilograms lighter as compared to the predecessor.

On the looks front, it has a very sporty appearance. Since it’s an SUV, though BMW calls it’s a Sports Activity Vehicle, it’s been made to look aggressive. There is a lot of chrome all around, be it the slats of the kidney grilles, the chrome plated front, and the tips of the tail pipe. Not to miss are the air flap control with thin chrome trims. Then there are these decorative mouldings in the sill cladding and door sill finishers with ‘BMW Luxury Line’ designation. LED lighting is plenty too with accent lighting with turn indicators, low and high-beam in LED Technology, hexagonally shaped DRLs and two-part LED tail lights.

The exterior mirrors are electrically foldable, with automatic anti-dazzle function. Rain sensors, automatic driving lights, welcome light carpet which is very pronounced at night, automatic operation of tail gate for opening and closing, panorama glass roof, roof rails and a low slung roof spoiler make up the external features of the car. The car sits on 19 inches light alloy double-spoke style wheels. The tyres are run flat but with reinforced side walls. These are 245/50 R19.

INTERIOR DESIGN AND FEATURES OF BMW X3 LUXURY LINE

Now once you get into the driver’s seat and start looking around, you notice a lot of features borrowed from the BMW top end sedans for the X3 Luxury Line.  There are 3 climate zones here, one for those seated at the back and two for the driver and co-passenger in front. The rear back seats are foldable and are split 40:20:40. It can be lowered with the press of button in the boot area or can even be pulled down from the rear seat area too. The rear seat windows have roller sunblind which can be operated mechanically. The rear seat back rest can be adjusted by around 9 degrees. The luggage compartment has a capacity of 550 litres extendable to 1,600 litres thanks to rear split seats.Ambient lighting with six dimmable light designs set your mood for a perfect outing.

The two seats in front get electrical adjustment with memory function. Like an upmarket five series and seven series sedan, this SAV too gets loads of luxury. The X3 comes with two sets of key, one a display key the other a normal one. The display key, however, does not have the function to move your car by remote from outside, like it does in the BMW 5-series and 7-series.

But those buying the Luxury Line get the BMW Connected iDrive. Again, the rectangular screen and the large knob on the centre console help you navigate through a lot of functions, whether it is your Driver Profile settings, Vehicle settings, Audio selection or your navigation. Wherever, one has the function to type in letters there one can write too. The writing can be done with your finger and though it may look and feel a bit juvenile, it’s a function no doubt. That’s the iDrive Touch with handwriting recognition. It’s as if to cock a snook at the competitors, telling them that here I have a function that you guys do not have! Innovations are pouring in from car makers by bucket loads!

Then there’s Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth with audio streaming, handsfree and USB connectivity. There is also a rear-view camera, park distance control, front and rear, parking assistant, camera and ultrasound-based parking assistance system, a 600W Harman Kardon Surround Sound system (16 loudspeakers) , a DVD drive and integrated 20GB hard drive for maps and audio files, wireless Charging, etc.  The smartphone holder integrated into the centre console allows inductive, wireless charging for mobile phones and the BMW Display key.

There is plenty of storage space for your small items. There is one folding compartment below the driver’s side, power socket in the rear centre console (12V) including USB adapter and storage nets behind the front seat backrests.

Since it’s an X3, the smartly embossed X logo in chrome is located on the doors and the centre console. The cabin is well insulated and it’s very unlikely you can make out you are driving a diesel car. The grunt from the diesel engine is not at all audible within the cabin.

The Luxury Line model comes with leather upholstery in Vernasca while the dash area issensatec-covered with contrast stitching and fine-wood trim.

SAFETY AND PERFORMANCE OF BMW X3 LUXURY LINE

Unlike a BMW sedan, this Sports Activity Vehicle is meant for a bit of rough so I took it on a path less travelled. Here a vehicle is not about speed, but about the way it handles the rough. And I was very impressed by the vehicle’s suspension which ensured that a lot of rough was not passed into the cabin.

Adaptive suspensions, electronically controlled Automatic Differential Brakes and locks and Dynamic Traction control all come into play to make my drive through rough land a treat of sorts. The vehicle also has features like Hill Start Assist and Hill Descent Control.It is the BMW xDrive, an intelligent all -wheel-drive system, in this all-new BMW X3 which gets to work by distributing the engine’s power between the front and rear axle perfectly to suit the driving needs.

Once you are on city roads, the X3 becomes a well behaved lad. The two-litre four-cylinder diesel engine of BMW X3 xDrive 20d produces an output of 190 hp and a maximum torque of 400 Nm at 1750 – 2500 rpm. The car accelerates from 0-100 km hr in just 8 seconds. The eight-speed Steptronic automatic transmission performs seamlessly with power delivery perfectly matched with your driving modes. The steering wheel paddle shifters allow you to explore speedier drives. The driver can choose between different driving modes like Ecopro, Comfort and Sport to suit different driving conditions. There is also an Adaptive mode too which I presume once chosen automatically engages the Comfort and Sport mode, as the need arises while driving.

The all-new BMW X3 comes with six airbags, Dynamic Stability Control including Cornering Brake Control, electric parking brake with auto hold, side-impact protection, electronic vehicle immobilizer and crash sensor, among others. There are also ISOFIX child seat mounts in the rear seat area.

VERDICT

The new BMW X3 Luxury Line is definitely a technologically superior car compared to its predecessor and it offers loads of comfort, safety and practical features. All in all, this SAV is definitely a lot savvier than I imagined.