BMW X3 Series

An agile diesel is perfect for India, and this engine is as good as any out there. At long last BMW decided the petrol-only X3 wasn't working as well in India as they'd like, and plugged in the sweet 2.0-litre turbo diesel from the 320d. And it works, oh it works. It's both muscular and smooth, and the 1,995cc motor manages to whip out its 177bhp and 350Nm with astonishing quietness too.
This engine should have turned the X3 from a bit to a nonentity in BMW's lineup to a star, but sadly the car's niggling flaws remain.
BMWs are supposed to be many things. Exciting, for one. Fun to drive. A bit snooty-MBA too. What they aren't supposed to be is vaguely disappointing. Which is what the X3's always been, a sort of"Oh, well, all right, maybe I can live with it" member of the BMW tribe, trying to cash in on the soft-roader trend and not entirely succeeding. It's never quite right, never really been able to get out m under the shadow of its brethren-and unfortunately, this continues.
It's a combination of things. For one, this isn't one of Bangle's better designs: it's fussily detailed, too eager to try new things at the expense of actually looking nice. The interior's better, though I'd advise you to stay away from the carroty leather we had in our test car. Also, don't think about taking a fifth person on long drives.
Handling is also a problem. Body control is excellent, but the steering doesn't weigh up as much as I'd like, and feels a bit vague through corners, which is unforgivable in a Beemer, and the brakes, through strong are squishy and have no feel.
The central problem though, is the ride. On concrete, it's fidgety. On wavy tarmac your neck hurts from all the bobbing, and over potholes your teeth clack together. It gets better at high speeds and on very smooth roads, but this sort of car is mostly used in the city, where badly laid tarmac keeps drumming at your thighs and buttocks. It's particularly bad at the rear, which bucks and kicks over speed-breakers and ruts.
See, it's not a bad car: it has a lot going for it, but it just never comes together. The other problem is that there are just too many alternatives. Want a nice, slick soft-roader? The Outlander is about 80 per cent as good for 50 per cent of the price. Want a luxury soft-roader? The Q5 and XC60 will be along soon, and being much newer, should be better sorted. Want a BMW? The 3-Series is pretty good. Want a BMW SUV? The X5 is pricier but much sweeter.
So no, The X3 in any form is not quite the car that I'd break down a BMW dealer's doors for, but if you think otherwise, the wonderful new diesel might just seal the deal.
Price: Rs 39.9 lakh (ex-showroon New Delhi)
Performance: 0-100kph in 8.9 seconds