It was one thing when people buy 4X4 cars and used them to ferry the kids to school. It is something else when manufacturers actually design 4X4s that are unlikely to ever see a muddy field. Why would anyone put up with the monstrous machines when there is no reason to do so? Is it the size? There are bigger estate cars, which would probably cost a lot less and be more convenient to load. Well, here is BMW's contribution...the X3. It is obviously designed to behave well on the motorway with its range of engines with 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0ltr petrol and 2.0 and 3.0ltr diesels (most with a number of power variants). Six-speed manual boxes are standard across the range other than for the 3.0ltr versions, which have the six-speed semis as standard.
Inside is a mixture. It is as though someone didn't want to make the interior so plush that it was obviously not intended for the rougher life so used some tough, but utilitarian materials here and there for show.
Despite its semi-plushness, the X3 could be very practical, with a huge boot and space to do all those jobbies like taking the rubbish to the tip, if you don't mind putting rubbish in the back of a car you just paid 30 odd grand for.
Insurance groups 14-18.
Use our free car insurance comparison tool to find the best policy for your
BMW X3.