The Star: May 03, 2018

The Star Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Thursday May 3 2018 39
Turbocharged engine
impresses in BMW X3
• By Ross Kiddie
IN AN age when car
manufacture is trending
towards electric power, I
still get a thrill from finding
a vehicle which has an
internal combustion engine
that stands out amongst all
others.
That happened just
recently when I evaluated
BMW’s X3 sport utility
vehicle. I’m not surprised
that the X3’s turbocharged
2-litre, four-cylinder unit
is high quality, if you look
back at most BMWs of eras
gone by, each generation
engine has had its own
qualities.
In the X3’s case, there
are actually four engines
to choose from, two petrol
and two diesel. The engine
in the xDrive30i which
really stood out for me is
a four-cylinder unit which
BMW rates at 185kW.
It also gets 350Nm of
torque all of the way from
1450rpm to 4800rpm, if
you take into account that
peak power registers at just
5500rpm, the figures speak
for themselves, there is a
solid flow of energy from
launch to red-line.
Another reason I’m so
smitten with the engine
is its ability to just sip
fuel. BMW rates it with a
7.4l/100km (38mpg) combined
cycle average, which
were figures close to what
I achieved – 8.1/100km
(35mpg). A 6l/100km
(47mpg) figure is also
showing during a 100km/h
cruise, the engine turning
over slowly at 1500rpm.
These figures are also
assisted by stop-start technology.
The engine drives
through an eight-speed
automatic transmission.
As a consequence, there is
no trouble filling the gaps
between gears, and with
the low and close ratios it
works tirelessly and with
substantial energy.
In fact, the X3 in this
form is downright fast,
according to BMW it will
reach 100km/h from a
standstill in 6.3sec. The
engine is constantly willing
and never seems to fall
off boost, and it is whisper
quiet and smooth in its
delivery. Sure, it isn’t one
of those sultry six-cylinder
units from the past, but its
capability is enormous.
The gearbox, too, is sweet
in terms of shift quality,
really it’s only the position
Motoring
Ross Kiddie
BMW X3: Comfortable on or off-road.
shift of the tachometer
needle that reminds the
driver a gearchange is in
process.
It must be mentioned
that the X3 has drive mode
options. All self-explanatory
really, comfort mode
for day-to-day driving,
sport mode for the quick
trip over the Alps and eco
for when maximum fuel
saving takes priority over
everything.
• Price – BMW X3
x-Drive30i, $99,850
• Dimensions – Length,
4708mm; width,
1891mm; height,
1676mm
• Configuration – Fourcylinder,
four-wheeldrive,
1998cc, 185kW,
350Nm, eight-speed
automatic.
• Performance –
0-100km/h, 6.3sec
• Fuel usage –
7.4l/100km
Why I like the engine
so much is its honesty in
the default standard setting,
you can hasten engine
urgency without the need
for sport mode simply by
just flicking the paddle
gearbox shifters attached to
the steering wheel.
The X3 sits on a fully
independent suspension.
BMW has done well to
offer occupants a firm but
smooth ride, comfort levels
are well balanced with the
type of firming needed
to provide sensible crosscountry
travel.
As its nomenclature suggest,
xDrive indicates the
inclusion of four-wheeldrive,
it’s a mechanism that
will get you in and out of
low grip off-road situations.
With 204mm of ground
clearance, you can be
reasonably confident offroad
but, for my money I’d
see the four-wheel-drive
system more as a safety
feature, providing that little
bit of extra sealed surface
grip that comes with the
all-corner drive set-up.
On that subject, the
X3 sits on huge 20in
Bridgestone tyres; they
are quiet and have a solid
tenure with the road and
that feel is transmitted
through the cabin, surety
and directional stability are
key features with the X3.
With the ski season looming
I strongly suspect there
will be a cluster of X3s in
the Mt Hutt car park, and I
know it would be a perfect
vehicle to tackle that access
road.
The X3 is a capable handler,
it has balance and
performance which seem
almost uncharacteristic
for an SUV, but makes
the driver feel part of the
mechanical elements, such
is the information gleaned
from behind the wheel.
That is also the feeling for
all of those onboard. BMW
has a lot of experience in
the SUV market and it has
built the X3 with an emphasis
on quality. It also comes
with a high list of specification
features, many manipulated
by a centre consolemounted
dial switch.
For many years I’ve
related to BMW’s X5 series.
It’s a larger SUV against
the X3, but not by much.
However, the X3 has grown
in stature to be a competitor,
easily catering for five
adults, rear seat room is
generous and there’s also a
large load space.
At $99,850 in test car
form, the indication is that
it is a high class, quality car.
I’m hoping to have a drive
in other models, especially
the diesel variants. I’ve got
fingers crossed for that.
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