It's incredible to see how much has changed since the first generation of X3. This already is the third generation.
The first one arrived in 2004, and it didn't have any rivals at all.
It really was one of a kind. We weren't able to think of a multitest,
because there just wasn't anything to compare it with.
With a little bit of wishful thinking, we could've chosen the Alfa Romeo 156 Q4,
but that wasn't a real SUV.
So how about now? Audi Q5, Volvo XC60,
Alfa Romeo Stelvio, Jaguar F-Pace, Mercedes-Benz GLC, Lexus NX...
And that's only the premium segment. SUV's have gone through the roof,
and everybody's making one.
Compared to its predecessor, the exterior hasn't changed a lot when it comes to size.
It's about the same, but the wheelbase has been extended a little.
On paper, that means the handling is now improved.
We'll try that in a little bit, but what's also important with an SUV: spaciousness.
It's a little higher up this, so let's start with the trunk.
Of course it's all electrically controlled with your foot in this segment.
Basically, it's quite a royal storage area. 550 litres to be exact.
If we fold down the seats... You get 1600 litres.
It's easily done by these buttons...
It's big enough. The seat is stuck there because the passenger seat is a little far back.
What's also handy; you can take the shelf and put in under here.
That way, you won't have to fiddle around with it.
Here are some additional storage compartments... On vacation, that could prove to be very handy.
And I can tell you guys, if I were to sit in the back,
I would be quite alright.
If we take a look at the back, we find the same button to move the seats forwards.
That way, you won't have to move to the boot constantly.
When it comes to space, I'm behind myself right now.
Usually I'm quite far forwards, because I tend to sit up straight as a driving position.
Look at this though. Knees and head have enough room,
even though it's got a glass roof.
It's still a D-segment SUV, but those keep getting bigger.
Also, what's important, my feet fit beneath the seats.
It's not too low, so I'm not uncomfortable.
The seat is quite high as well.
SUV's tend to have high bottom plates, which make you sit like this.
That isn't very comfortable, but luckily that isn't a problem in here.
I'm alright in here. There's a nice screen for climate control and heated seats in the back.
I also like the finishing back here, especially on the top side here.
Usually, it isn't as good in the back. Down here, the amount of plastic increases.
That same amount of plastic is found in the front as well.
At the launch of a new model, it's usually easy to say the predecessor wasn't too good.
You guys often complain we say that. But it shouldn't come as a surprise.
If you read the tests from the magazine, you'll know what we don't like about the car.
In this case, a new X3, so what can I say about the previous one?
It actually was a very good car, if you ask me it didn't need a replacement.
The old one was still very good. I felt the same about the previous 5-series,
it still was the best in its segment. I'll admit the Mercedes-Benz E-Class was very good as well.
And the new X3 is about the same. The previous one was very good,
as opposed to the first generation. That was out of balance, way too hard,
and it just didn't drive well.
Anyway, they have to move forward, because the competition moves forward as well.
The Mercedes GLC, very good car that, the new Audi Q5, very good seller in the Netherlands,
the new XC60, which really is a sales wonder. And that's when you have to move forward as BMW,
even if you only reduce CO2-emissions, or to be a frontrunner when it comes to safety features.
The same goes for multimedia technology, and connectivity with internet and mobile phones.
But what did BMW want to achieve with this car? What were the things that had to be improved?
BMW states it was mostly about the appearance. It had to look more rugged,
according to consumer wishes. BMW is heading that way anyway,
just look at the X7 Concept on the IAA. That was designed to look rough with a bigger nose and bigger gills.
It isn't boring.
Also, multimedia had to be improved. So they improved the ergonomics,
the online connectivity has been improved. So you can tell your phone where you need to go,
the car then calculates how for it is to your car, what the traffic is like, what the weather is like,
and it adjusts the route according to those specifics. BMW really is frontrunner when it comes to that.
Enginewise, everything is clear. We've got two diesels; a 20d and a 30d,
and two petrol versions; a 20i and a 30i. The 30i is a 2.0-litre nowadays, just like the 20i.
It starts a 186 horsepower. But, there's an engine above that.
This M40i.
It isn't a real M, but a M-Performance.
In the past, it would've been the 40i.
It's a 3.0-litre with twin-scroll turbo, producing 360 horsepower.
It's very good, I'm driving it right now.
I actually wanted to drive the 2.0-litre diesel or petrol, but as always with introductions, that wasn't available from the start.
So we'll have to wait, because the 2.0-litre diesel will be the most important version for the Netherlands.
This engine then... It's incredibly quick.
It only takes 4,5 seconds to get from 0 to 100, the 8-speed ZF-automatic still is great.
I didn't have any complaints with its predecessor, and they've improved it a little,
so there still are no complaints.
The handling then. I don't feel a lot of change.
The previous generation was a lot more comfortable than its predecessor, but this in its turn is mostly the same.
It's a M40i so it means it's got a sporty chassis, and you can feel it's being forced to be harder.
It isn't entirely the balance they want in a X3, because that would be more comfortable.
I asked the engineer what they wanted to achieve with this car exactly, the 3-series became a lot more sporty after the facelift,
but the X3 didn't. What gives? He said that the bandwidth had to increase.
So if you press the "Comfort"-button, it becomes more comfortable than its predecessor,
and if you press the "Sport"-button, it becomes more dynamic than its predecessor.
BMW has a great adaptive mode, which adjusts the suspension and the drivetrain according to the satnav-map.
It can see if you're driving in a village, or a mountain road.
Accordingly, it adjusts the throttle response etc., and that works pretty neat.
Relative to the GLC, which I think is the benchmark until this X3 came along,
Where does BMW lose points? Well, it's about the weight and smoothness in the drivetrain.
But mostly, it's the ergonomics. Or the interior really.
The Mercedes just looks amazing. E-Class level in a GLC.
BMW has clearly made a step in the right direction. Ergonomically speaking, BMW is the benchmark.
i-Drive is amazing. Why? It's all about the combinations.
The system itself works very fast, because it's important that it's not too slow,
and efficient. You can also control it with your fingers,
because it's a touchscreen as well. You can use voice control,
you can even use gestures if you want to be quick. And because you can choose between those options...
If you're stationary, you use the touchscreen. If you're driving over a bumpy road, you use the i-Drive button,
otherwise your finger moves too much. BMW really understands this.
Of course, it's on the shortened 5-series platform. The new 3-series will be, the new X4 will be in time as well.
And all technologies have been passed through. So we've got the key with a seperate screen,
which shows all options of the car, on which you can change the temperature in the car.
We've got big forms of autonomous driving, with automatic cruise control, with auto braking,
with lane assist in the future, which helps you with changing lanes.
When it comes to technologies, BMW quickly offers them to lower segmented cars.
That's why they have a lot to offer, and that's fun when you're buying cars like this.
The new Q5 is already selling quite good, the new XC60 will be just as good if not better,
and BMW is pretty good on par with this car. They're expensive though,
especially with options. You really pay the price, even if you're just having a 4-cylinder diesel.
But if I see how much new Q5's are around, how much previous X3's and even X5's are around...
There's a clear market for them in the Netherlands, and the buyers can have some fun with this...