We are with the BMW X3.
The X3 has been facelifted and come in front of us for the first time with petrol engine and two-wheel drive system.
Let’s see if the X3 has become more assertive this way?
Let’s analyze it together.
There are not many differences on the appearance of the X3.
The new headlamp group and the bumper that has its lower part changed achieve to make the X3 look more ill tempered.
Although it looks as if there are no changes at the sides, the design of the mirrors has been altered a bit.
The sDrive20i lettering on the front doors reveals that the car has petrol engine.
Even though at the rear of the car there are small alterations to the taillights and the bumper, it is not easy to recognize these.
Although not full-scale, but some changes have been made in the interior of the X3.
The foremost among these is the multimedia screen whose resolution has been raised.
It is very easy to command the multimedia system from the buttons next to the gear lever.
The interior of the X3 offers quite large and comfortable living space in the front.
There are sufficient areas offered in front of the gear lever and also inside the armrest for your small items.
The door bins are large enough to take your extra articles.
The adults can also travel comfortably at rear seats.
The knee and headroom offered here is quite extensive.
550-liter loading capacity under the boot lid, which opens electrically, succeeds to meet the expectations to the full extent.
Let us consider the engine and driving features of the X3.
After the facelift, 1.6-liter petrol engine, with tax advantage, that we are accustomed from the 320i, is started to be used in the X3.
The turbocharged petrol engine develops 170 HP and 250 Nm of torque and can only be purchased with 8-speed automatic gearbox.
As it can be understood from the sDrive20i inscription the X3 is a two-wheel drive, in other words, a rear wheel drive car.
All right, let us come to the query that all of you have in your minds; can this engine carry the 1.7 tons body?
All in all the body of the X3 is 200 kilograms heavier than the 320i.
Therefore to expect it to be as agile and as economic as the 3 Series will be unreasonable.
But I can say it clearly that it does not evoke any deficiency as far as performance is concerned.
Of course as long as you do not compare it to the 2.0-liter diesel engine version with 400Nm of torque.
The only issue that draw my attention is that not only due to low torque
but also by the choice of high gears, when you want interim acceleration the gearbox has to lower 1-2 gears
and this consequently diminishes the smoothness of the drive.
The most favorable thing I will say about the engine is, compared to the diesel version which works like a tractor, it is very quiet…
The X3, even though it is an SUV with a quite high ground clearance succeeds to make you feel very dynamic when driving.
The suspension’s impact absorption is generally good...
If you are not interested in going off-road, there is no disadvantage that this car is rear wheel drive.
By putting in, winter tires in the winter you can overcome any hardship.
All right, what does the petrol engine of the X3 promises about fuel consumption?
Let me say it like this, for one thing, if you think of a small capacity turbocharged petrol engine and 1.7 tons body,
you can more or less guess that the X3 will not be able to be an economic professor.
The truth is not much different anyway.
I have been driving the X3 for 3 days and covered 300 kilometer.
The trip computer at the moment indicates 11,3-liter fuel consumption averages.
This value, of course, is high but when you take it into account the 70.000 TL price difference with the diesel engine version,
I think it can still be accepted.
In my opinion the X3 has become more handsome after the facelift.
Even though the petrol engine version is not very assertive about performance and economics,
due to the tax advantage its price is much cheaper than its premium rivals and that makes the X3 highly desirable.
See you…