Autocar Video Review: BMW X3 xDrive20d

By Horatiu Boeriu. Read Bio
January 7th, 2011 | BMW X3 | 11 comments

Autocar UK publishes their video review of the new BMW X3 xDrive20d.

The most efficient model in the new X3 lineup is available only for the European market and it is shaping up to be one of the best sellers for BMW.

The BMW X3 xDrive20d receives the maximum output of 184 horsepower from a 2-liter diesel engine turbo four-cylinder with aluminum crankcase and direct injection. The engine produces 280 lb-ft of torque between 1750 and 2,750 rpm. 0 to 62 mph is achieved in 8.5 seconds, with a fuel consumption of 42 mpg.

Let’s have a look at the review.

Tags: 2011 BMW X3, 2011 BMW X3 xDrive20d, BMW X3 xDrive20d Email Print 11 comments

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FreudeKing

What ugly red interior leather! Also, I am shocked to see that in this day and age, we still have BMWs without the trademark corona rings to mark its presence on the road.

BMW’s cost cutting measures is really terrible. I mean, I would have expected those parking lights (one little small bulb) to have ended in the E30 BMW generation, or be something on a Tata Nano. Everyone else in the premium segment are using day time running LEDs.

What a shame that they take effort into making a car look cheaper!
- Heddlu_Cymru M5
  
  ”Everyone else in the premium segment are using day time running LEDs.”
  
  You mean, the daytime LED strips like in the Audi? In my honest opinion, no. They actually don’t even look good and nowadays, ricers are also using it to decorate their cars. Makes it look even cheaper!
  - FreudeKing
    
    No, using LED to feed light though light tu\bes to make Corona Rings is what BMW should be doing to ALL its cars. With this stupid little parking lights, I cannot tell the difference between this X3, Toyota, Kia, Hyundai, Tata or VW at night.
vruss

Why is the X3 only available in the Euro market? X5 diesel’s are available in US why not X3′s too since they are made here. More drivers need to experience owning and driving diesel’s.
AKSHAT

This one is great , got 2-liter diesel engine,184 horsepower(little less) but little expensive.
paul

I test drove one exactly like this…the auto box is simply spectacular, but it still has that inicial gap between kick down and actually engaging. A bit scary if ur trying to depart from a roundbout for instance. I guess one might get used to that. The engine suits the car, not very sporty but really loud. I think the negine bay is too big for such a small engine that it exarcebates the sound. The steering is the real let down on this car. Far too light and numb. I used to have the previous model 2d and it sounded alot better than this one and despite the poor interior and harsh ride it was reallly fun to drive on twisty roads…not the case on this new model but I guess thats a sign of the times with every new bmw. I read somewhere a shoot out between the new 5 ser and another class competitor and they said How surprised they were that for the fist time since a 5 ser was launched it no longer was the dynamic choice.
- FreudeKing
  
  Let me explain to you why: BMW’s new management ahs decided to embark on cost cutting strategy and shareholder suck up initiative leading to the following being done:
  
  Loud and proud tsrategy to reduce staff: leading to lack of proper quality controls and poor product designs: BMW broke the recod number of massive recalls in a year in 2010 with 11 major recalls. The new 5 Series is no exception. Not even a few months after its launch, a worldwide recall was made.
  
  The new 5 Series is basically a shrunken 7 Series. No longer do they specifically develop a chassis and make sure that it is perfect for the driving dynamics of the car. What they do now is make one chassis so that you can move parts around like the wheels, etc. to suit the proportions of its different models. How on earth can you make a well tuned car with perfect dynamics like this???? What BMW is doing now is basically a plate with wheels. Yes, it saves them money but will cost them customers in the future as we don’t buy BMWs because it looks great, but becasue of its driving dynamics and quality.
  
  Electric steering: didn’t test them properly before launch. This is an inferior product. It’s like steering a gaming steering wheel that has lag (those cheap ones). They didn’t bother perfecting it and making sure that it is direct, precise with good feedback at all. All they were thinking was efficient dynamics and how to save that extra 0.0000003l/100km with this rubbish steering. I mean if those car designers start throwing words like Efficient Dynamics in their car design, you know the company is messed up.
  
  So here you have it. New management is going to bring this company to the ground… and this is just the start. Soon you’ll see a Toyota Yaris competitor that’s probably made by Toyota with a BMW badge on it. Afterall, let me quote “we are running a business”.
  - paul
    
    unfortunatly u r wrong in 1 point: people will still buy bmw’s and even more as new markets that know nothing about this companys heritage in driving dynamics, keep paying a premium to make there neighbours jealous. If bmw were only purschased by true bmw fans, like us, sales would more than half. starting with me. i have been a bmw customer for almost 25 years and for the 1st time i jumped ship and got a RR to replace my old x3 cause this new one is shit to drive
    - FreudeKing
      
      How ironic Paul, you didn’t think the X3 was good to drive when you test drove it but you jumped down to a RR, which has technology from yesteryears, big bulky, heavy and heavy on fuel!
paul

Just don’t expect it to be the Ultimate Driving Machine. After all, BMWs are about Joy now, and Joy isn’t about responsive driving dynamics or throttle response. Joy, it turns out, is about isolation and comfort and in that, the 2011 BMW X3 excels

edmunds review says it all. hope everyone noted the sarcasm in its comments
- FreudeKing
  
  Joy to BMW now means feeling like you are bouncing on a cloud. See the connection with the cloud between Reithofer’s (new CEO – shareholder suck up) ears