The BMW "X3" is a staple contender when considering a mid-size imported sport utility vehicle (SUV). People who need an SUV but pursue a more thrilling drive, those who need a spacious family car, and those looking for a vehicle that moves seamlessly between the city and the outdoors turn to the X3. Thanks to this, the X3 series has maintained steady popularity, with 1,973 units sold in the first quarter this year, accounting for 10.2% of BMW's domestic sales. I test-drove the "New X3 30 xDrive" M Sport Package Pro trim that BMW Korea added to the X3 lineup at the end of last year.
The body measures 4,755 mm long, 1,920 mm wide and 1,660 mm high. Compared with the competing Mercedes-Benz mid-size SUV "GLC 300" (4,716 mm long, 1,890 mm wide and 1,640 mm high), it is on the larger side. Overall, it gives a "muscular" impression. The large kidney grille at the front features a geometric pattern of intersecting vertical and diagonal lines. The grille outline illumination "Iconic Glow" is especially striking at night and proved useful for finding the vehicle in a parking lot.
The headlamps are a sharp shape of two thin inverted Ls overlapping. In addition, the M Sport Package Pro's air intakes are larger than other trims, seeming to gulp more air at speed and feed it deep into the engine bay. Finished in glossy black material, it conveys a much more aggressive high-performance look. The hood is relatively long, and the rearward-swooping sportback style sits low toward the back. The arrowhead-shaped taillamps have a visual effect that catches the eye from afar.
Sitting in the first row, the "Interaction Bar" lighting installed on both doors and the center console glows blue, giving a futuristic feel. It changes to red or purple depending on the driving mode and blinks to give a visual alert when a call comes in. It is a feature popular with young children. However, because it is made of plastic, it feels somewhat light and sporty rather than luxurious.
The seats look like leather but are made of vegan materials, and recycled materials are used on the dashboard. Consumers who prefer the traditional premium combination of leather and wood may find this disappointing. The 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and 14.9-inch control display are connected as one, and the curved shape makes it easy to view from the driver's seat.
The fact that physical buttons for hazards, climate and more have been minimized can be polarizing. It can give the impression of a future car, but if you miss the target, you have to tap multiple times. With no tactile feedback at your fingertips, it was also inconvenient to take eyes off the road and look for the button while driving.
Gripping the hefty, thick steering wheel and setting off, it took a bit of time to get used to the sense of front width due to the nearly 2-meter width and long hood. Its bulk means you need to be careful navigating winding underground parking lots despite it being a mid-size SUV. However, assistance systems that finely judge distances to corners and adjacent vehicles made the likelihood of a contact accident seem extremely low.
Even so, if parking is not your strong suit, you can use the automated parking function. When the parking bay lines become sufficiently visible, it asks whether to use the automated parking function. If you lift your foot off the brake as the vehicle instructs, the steering wheel spins quickly to align and completes the parking. It did not, however, end up perfectly straight.
Pressing the accelerator, it was inevitable that the body felt heavy, as it is an SUV. The actual curb weight is 1,930 kg. But it has power to match its size. It brakes well with only a little pedal and the speed shoots up in an instant. The pedal feel is distinctly dynamic, leaving no room for the driver to get bored.
However, because it is a bit removed from smoothness, care is needed when driving with children in the back seat. The stop-and-go function, which turns off the engine when the vehicle stops and automatically restarts when you lift off the brake, delivered smooth halts and takeoffs.
The M Sport Package Pro is equipped with a TwinPower Turbo 4-cylinder gasoline engine that produces a maximum output of 258 horsepower and peak torque of 40.8 kg·m. It takes 6.3 seconds to reach 100 kph from a standstill.
On top of that, a 48V mild hybrid system that delivers up to 11 horsepower is applied, and the light push from the electric motor when building speed at the start felt good. It maintained heft even at high speeds for a sense of stability, and its noise blocking ability was excellent enough not to interfere at all with conversation or listening to music. Fuel economy is 10.9 km per liter (combined), similar to the Benz GLC 300 at 10.6 km/L.
A further characteristic of this model is that, despite being an SUV, it communicates the road surface relatively well. Set to Sport mode, it feels like the dampers are tuned firmly. With the adaptive suspension that adjusts damping force in real time according to drive mode, it can provide a softer ride when driving with family.
Spaciousness is another strength of this car. The wheelbase (distance between the centers of the front and rear wheels), which gives a sense of the interior space, is 2,865 mm. There was ample headroom for an adult male, and the second row also had generous knee room. However, the second-row seatback felt set somewhat upright when seated. The trunk easily accommodated two golf bags and two Boston bags.
The price of the BMW New X3 30 xDrive M Sport Package Pro, including VAT, is 83.9 million won.