The new X3 has bulked up a little and is now only slightly smaller than the first X5. Apart from the extra brawn there are loads of other improvements as well. But Gerrie van Eeden realised it all comes at a price.

In a nutshell:

The new X3 is longer, wider and higher than the previous one and is only slightly smaller than the first X5. And it also has two new, more powerful engines – the xDrive20d turbo diesel and the xDrive35i petrol turbo – as well an automatic eight-speed gearbox. There are no plans to bring the six-speed manual gearbox to South Africa.

The xDrive four-wheel drive, which is standard on the X3, was designed for slippery conditions on the icy European roads, and not to tour through Africa. If you decide to exchange the tarmac for a level piece of gravel road, you could do it in relative comfort – if you use your head and don’t drive too fast.

It’s what you would expect from a BMW: a comfortable, luxurious softroader. BMW calls it “Dynamic”, which means it is built for good road handling.

Inside:

Thanks to the bigger luggage bay there is more legroom at the back. The luggage bay can also be increased by folding away the back seats.

The standard models only come with automatic air-conditioning and a sound system that can play MP3’s.

Other than that, it is luxury from top to toe. The catch is that most of the clever electronics that make him stand out from the crowd are optional extras. And of course they come with a hefty price tag.

Extra electronics, which allow you to connect to the internet through your Blackberry or iPhone and that can also read emails for you with a tinny voice, cost R30 000 extra. The navigation system with 8GB of storage space for music will set you back an extra R21 300.

Everything is controlled by the iDrive button on the centre console between the front seats. It is very easy to use – if you can look what you are doing.

For an additional R14 100 you can add heads-up display to your vehicle that projects information like speed and navigation instructions onto the front window so you never have to take your eyes off the road.

For nearly R11 000 you can have electrically adjustable front seats, and an extra R5300 will enable you to open the tailgate with the press of a button.

But you don’t need to buy all the electronics that turn the X3 into a Boeing 747; the “basic” X3 is still a comfortable and luxurious set of wheels.

Under the skin:

BMW listened to the drivers of the previous model before launching the new X3.

The previous X3, for example, had the suspension of the previous 3-Series BMW sedan. The new X3’s custom-made suspension makes driving on corrugated gravel roads more comfortable.

The X3 offers two options: the xDrive20d, a two-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel that produces 135 kW of power and 380 Nm torque; and the xDrive35i with a three-litre straight-six petrol turbo that produces 225 kW and 400 Nm. The International Engine of the Year, the last-mentioned engine is used in the 335i BMW sedan.

The X3 35i has a top speed of 245 km/h and it accelerates faster from 0-100 km/h (5.7 seconds) than the new Volkswagen Touareg 4.2 V8 TDi. Not bad, but then it is much lighter than the Touareg.

For peak traffic, the X3 now features Auto Start Stop technology. The engine switches off automatically when the vehicle is stationary for three seconds – and switches on again when you remove your foot from the brake pedal. However, you can switch this feature off.

The X3 comes with optional Damper Control with which you can adjust the firmness of the suspension. The vehicle can also be tuned for three driving modes: Normal, Sport and Sport+.

When you select Sport or Sport+, the accelerator reacts quicker and the power steering is sharper and more sensitive than otherwise.

How it drives:

On tar, it feels just like a luxury sedan. The petrol engine has loads of power and the diesel engine is not far behind. The Servotronic steering makes it easier to keep it in a straight line at high speeds and the Dynamic Drive stiffens the anti-roll bars in sharp corners and reduces the power to inside wheels during cornering.

Made for the open road, it is an extremely fun ride on tar. After sorting out the bumpy ride of the previous model, it’s even more comfortable than before.

The eight-speed gearbox helps to reduce the fuel consumption. BMW claims that, at 5.6 litre diesel per 100 km, you can drive over 1 000 km on a single tank of diesel with the 20d.

Off road: Everybody knows BMW is not in the market for hardcore off-road vehicles. The test models had 19 inch tyres, but with the standard 17 or 18 inch wheels to conquer the gravel road, it would do even more for comfort and road-holding.

The xDrive’s power distribution works like a charm to ensure that it grips, and you will be able to drive on moderate gravel roads and perhaps even a jeep track – if you drive with the tyres and vulnerable belly in mind.

The ground clearance of 21.2 cm is an improvement on the previous model’s 20.1 cm.

One thing will hold you back: run-flat tyres are great if you stay on tar roads, but if you come across a gravel road and you want to let out some air for better control, you can’t. Thick sand will stop you in your tracks and rocky terrain will shake you silly.

You may consider changing the run-flat tyres for some offroad tyres that may improve its off-road ability.

But I would think twice before changing anything on my BMW. Just accept it isn’t made for much more than the gravel roads to and on the game farm.

Key stats

Engine: 2 979 cc six cylinder; 1 995 cc four cylinder |
Power: 225 kW @ 5800 rpm; 135 kW @ 4000 rpm |
Torque: 400 Nm @ 1200-5 000 rpm; 380 Nm @ 1 750-2 750 rpm |
Top speed: 245 km/h; 210 km/h | 0-100 km/h: 5.7 sec | 8.5 sec
Transmission: 8-speed automatic; full-time four-wheel drive
Suspension: Double wishbones with multi-link front and back
Brakes: Vented discs
Tyres: 245/50 R18; 225/60 R17
Ground clearance: 21.2 cm;
Approach angle: 25.7º;
Departure angle: 22.6º;
Wading depth: 50 cm
Mass: 1 805 kg; 1 790 kg
Fuel tank: 67 litre; Fuel consumption: 8.8 litre/100 km; 5.6 litre/100 km (combined cycle)
Warranty/ service plan: 5 year/100 000 km; service intervals are determined by the driving style
CO2 emissions: 204 g/km; 147 g/km
Price: xDrive35i – R598 000 (without extras and CO2 tax); xDrive20d – R463 000 (without extras and CO2 tax)

We like...

• It looks better than before
• The 35i engine gets you there in a flash.

Yes, but...

• More than R800 000 for an X3? Rather expensive.
• The run-flat tyres stop you from really going off-road.

Competitors

Audi Q5 3.0 TDI Quatro S tronic R549 000; Subaru Forester 2.5 XT SportShift Premium R452 000; Volvo XC60 D5 Geartronic R-design R527 700

Drive Out says:

It was made to be safe on a tar road with some ice on it, and just a bit of gravel road every now and then.