BMW X3 is around since 2011, now with the facelift version which BMW India has launched on 28 August 2014 with several interior and exterior changes will be looking to eradicate its 2011 faults and to improve its market share. X3 will take on Audi Q5 and Mercedes ML class with its promising specification than its previous versions. Now let’s see what new X3 is offering which could prove it competitive in the SUV segment and among its rivals.
Price:
BMW India has launched the facelift version of X3 with two variants one is BMW X3 xdrive 20d Expedition with price of Rs. 44.90 lakhs and another is BMW X3 xdrive 20d xLine at the price of Rs. 49.90 lakhs. X3 is at par with its competitor Audi Q5 in terms of pricing and lesser priced than Mercedes ML class.
Engine Details:
Expedition and xdrive both the variants are powered with 2.0L 1995cc Twin tower turbo Diesel engine which can produce 190BHP power with exceptional 400nm of peak torque.
Diesel engine is equipped with 8 speed automatic transmission with an automatic hold function and has option of Eco pro, comfort and Sports modes.
X3 can reach 0-100 km/h in 8.2 sec with the top speed of 210 km/hr, it has an improved fuel efficiency of 18.56 KPL which better than its competitors.
Space and Dimensions:
Bigger and Better X3 is 4657mm lengthy, 2089mm wide and 1678mm Tall. X3 is better than Audi Q5 dimensionally but X3 is shorter in length than Mercedes M5. It offers seating capacity of 5 persons and exceptional boot space of 550 liters which can be extended to 1600 liters all seats folding. It has a decent ground clearance of 212mm and wheelbase of 2810mm.
Interior and Exterior:
BMW expedition X3’s Cabin beautifies with multi function leather steering wheel, Fine wood touch with pearl chrome finish, royal upholstery with several optional colors, X stamp on head restraints, idrive 16.5cm display, bluetooth connectivity and USB. It also has features like Cruise control, 2 zone automatic A/C vents, electrically adjustable Front seats, front and rear armrests and ample storage space.
BMW xLine contains all of the above mentioned features plus there are several features which adds up to its beauty which are, xLine interior and exterior packages, Hi-fi music system with 9 speakers, two cup holders with cover at rear and two 12V sockets at rear.
Sporty BMW X3 facelift has attractive looking outer appearance as well. Most beautiful thing about X3 is its refreshed front and rear bumpers; front side is equipped with Bi-Xenon headlights with washer system. Panoramic sunroof, aluminum roof rails, Reflective LED fog lights gives X3 the stylish look.
Side profile of X3 is decorated with B, C pillars with black color, glossy ORVM’s, big 18 inch alloy wheels and aluminum lining at the side makes the car sophisticated.
Colors:
Sporty BMW X3 is available in eight royal colors which are Alpine White, Melbourne red, sparkling brown, mineral silver, space grey, Black sapphire, deep sea blue and Glacier Silver. Black and white looks more eye catching among others.
Safety:
X3 is loaded with safety norms like set of 6 airbags, crash sensors, CBC (cornering brake control) which balance the brake power at corners, front-rear and side impact protection which minimizes the impact of collision, parking brake with auto hold ,BMW intelligent maintenance system are its special safety features.
Other safety features are ABS with brake assistance, electronic immobilizer, 3 point seat belt tensioners, Run flat tyres with reinforced side walls, first aid kit with warning triangle, day time running lights and dynamic braking lights etc.
Carzoom’s take:
New design, revived interiors, improved fuel efficiency are X3’s plus points and high maintenance cost, less number of dealer access and absenteeism of some of features in expedition which are standard features in other cars of this segment. BMW has done almost everything right in X3 whether it’s competitive price or improved engine performance. Now let’s wait for some time to see it’s on road performance.
