CAN'T MISS THIS

 The diesel X3 is one of the most appropriate BMWs for India yet, finds Ouseph Chacko
BMW launched the X3 in India a year ago but you could have missed it. With only the high-revving but thirsty 2.5 petrol on offer, demand was bound to be limited. SUVs must have a diesel engine if they are to stand a chance and thats exactly what BMW is now offering in its junior 4x4.

The X3s two-litre diesel, the same as in the 320d develops 177bhp, which gives this compact SUV enough poke to breech the 10-second barrier to 100kph. What is even more useful is the generous amounts of torque accessible from as little as 1500rpm to make the X3 driver-friendly in traffic. Add to this, the well-matched gear ratios and a responsive gearbox and town-driving is a pleasure. While the 2.0d will never invigorate the driver in the way a smooth petrol six-cylinder can, in-gear performance is strong 20-80kph takes only 5.7sec, which is good for a car weighing 1825kg. It doesnt fall short on the highway either. Theres enough grunt from the engine and it can effortlessly maintain triple-digit speeds.

The 2.0-litre displays few of a diesel engines less endearing characteristics. There is a slight clatter from cold, but once the oil is warm this engine is mostly refined and at cruising speeds, it is barely audible. Its only under hard acceleration that you can feel the ever-so-small vibration through the steering wheel. Even at the rev limiter, where most diesels sound agonisingly strained, this engine seems unstressed. It does lack the cultured, mechanical whirr of the BMWs six-cylinder diesels though.
BMWs diesel motors have earned a fine reputation for low consumption and the X3 delivers an impressive 9.3kpl in the city and 12.5kpl on the highway, which is pretty good considering its weight and large frontal area.

The X3 also handles like a BMW should. It sits on an E46 3-series saloon chassis, which is not a bad starting point. There is no ladder-frame chassis or air springs here, only a set of MacPherson struts suspending the front wheels and trailing arms tying down the rear, with anti-roll bars at both ends. It also has BMWs xDrive, a permanent all-wheel-drive system. Working via a multi-plate clutch, it divides power in a 40:60 ratio between the front and rear axles under normal conditions. It is also able to re-direct almost all the power of the engine to one single axle, if conditions demand it. Clubbed with the traction and stability control systems, grip is outstanding and the way you can hustle it through twisty roads is not quite believable.

The X3s hydraulic steering rack comes as a pleasant surprise too. At parking speeds, it requires less effort to twirl than a 3-series. Speed up, and it becomes amazingly accurate and confidence-inspiring. It doesnt have the saloons sharp off-centre responses, but this may be a concession given to make it friendlier off-road. With 201mm of ground clearance and hill-descent control, it can handle a bit of the rough stuff too, but ultimately youll be restricted by the lack of a set of low range gear ratios.

Pleasant surprises continue when you discover the not-so-BMW ride. Yes, the set-up is stiff and at lower speeds, sharp vertical movement over bumps is a tad excessive, but the ride is never harsh and the suspension never crashes through craters. This is largely due to the Pirelli Scorpion road-biased tyres, which are not ride-corrupting run-flats. And yes, the X3 gets a full size spare wheel.

The interior
Stepping into the X3, youll find the seating position is midway between climbing up into an SUV and sliding down into a saloon. You wont like the patchy cabin quality either which stints on essentials like the iDrive. The layout itself is sensible and attractive, but the shiny, finish of the centre console (especially the wood finish) is not good enough for a car of this price. That aside, the interior is fine. The high seating position provides the X3 driver with a clear view ahead, making it easy to place the car in tight traffic, yet it is low enough that you feel in touch with the road.

The X3 has more room than youd expect, even for rear seat passengers. The seats are supportive, with enough shoulder room for three. The cavernous boot is a surprise too it has a low sill and a humongous 1,560 litres of space with the rear seats folded. The Nevada Saddle leather brown seat upholstery on our car was a point of contention between the testers, but BMW has an extensive options list to suit your taste. Of course, some of the options are exorbitantly priced, such as the panoramic sunroof, which costs a cool Rs 1.5 lakh, or the Xenon lights package, which costs Rs 1.1 lakh.

The equipment list is generous though. The drivers seat is powered and has seat memory, theres a six-CD changer in the centre armrest, parking sensors, climate control, auto lights, wipers and cruise control come standard. Theres no iDrive system though.
The X3 2.0d costs Rs 47.41 lakh. Its a negligible Rs 1 lakh cheaper than the petrol X3 but to put it in perspective, its a whopping Rs. 11.5 lakh pricier than the 320d saloon with which it shares many bits. The price difference would have been less if, like the 3-series, the X3 was assembled in India but like all imports it is subject to punitive duties.
The X3 diesel is brilliant. The handling, interior space, ground clearance, power and ride are what really appealed to us. The fact that all this is wrapped in a compact, easy-to- anoeuvre package only sweetens the deal. We may even prefer this car over the 3-series as a drivers car, sacrilegious as it may sound. There are downsides though.

For some, for whom size and presence are important, its compact dimensions may work against it. BMW also forgot to tick the box marked affordable its an import, so it costs Rs 47.41 lakh after duty, and thats expensive.

Still, if you can ignore the price and get behind the wheel, you will find the diesel X3 to be the most appropriate BMWs for India yet.