Skip advert
Advertisement

BMW X3 review - strong engines help make this an impressive SUV - Performance and 0-60mph time

Do you really need an X5?

Evo rating
RRP
from £33,945
  • Decent to drive, strong diesel engines, good interior tech
  • Bested by Macan dynamically, numb steering, slightly stiff ride, dated interior design

With a 0-62mph time of 8.1-seconds, the overall performance of the X3 xDrive20d belies the perception of its meagre engine displacement. In truth, it feels just about warm-hatch quick on the road, with a useful surge of torque for overtaking and when exiting tighter corners. It’s that torque – nearly 300lb-ft of the stuff – that gets the weight moving, and conversely, when you do leave behind its influence at higher rpm the X3 soon feels decidedly breathless. Driving rapidly requires the accelerator pedal to be almost permanently welded to the bulkhead, there not being a great amount of subtlety required to access the narrow performance band on offer.

We know from experience that the ZF eight-speeder is rarely caught on an off day, so it’s a tempting choice in this instance. As a manual, the X3 20d feels responsive to the throttle, but the relatively narrow torque band means that frequent gear changes are required to keep the engine on the boil. The shift itself is pure BMW: direct, but with a ‘notch’ before the gear slots home that can either be forced with ‘thunk’ or more kindly negotiated in a definite two part-action as the point of resistance is overcome. 

Advertisement - Article continues below

Obviously, the performance of the 30d and 35d models is in another league. Despite the latter being the heaviest of the X3 models at 1,860kg, it can still reach 62mph from rest in just 5.3-seconds.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

VW Golf GTI Clubsport for £6k off – Akrapovic exhaust effectively thrown in free
Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport deal
News

VW Golf GTI Clubsport for £6k off – Akrapovic exhaust effectively thrown in free

The Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport in Mk8.5 guise makes for a tempting prospect at the right price
3 Jul 2025
New 2026 Ferrari Amalfi revealed – physical buttons return in the 631bhp Roma replacement
Ferrari Amalfi front
News

New 2026 Ferrari Amalfi revealed – physical buttons return in the 631bhp Roma replacement

The Ferrari Amalfi picks up where the Roma left off, as a more capable, debugged super GT that’s finally brought back buttons
1 Jul 2025
Best used sports cars – proper performance cars for less than a new Golf GTI
Cheap sports cars
Best cars

Best used sports cars – proper performance cars for less than a new Golf GTI

With the sun shining and fuel prices palatable, now is the time to indulge your used sports car desires
1 Jul 2025