2024 BMW X3 review: A boulder on the road

If you do an image search for the word “monolith,” you might see a visual of the Roman Pantheon or the Colosseum. Motor vehicles are unlikely to be present. However, BMW’s designers want you to believe that the new X3 has an overall design!

You’ve got to hand it to them, though, because the new fourth-generation X3 is certainly a very clean design and really does look like it’s made from a single piece of high-strength steel. In fact, they do seem to be deceiving the eye, with the X3 being 34mm longer and 29mm wider than its predecessor, but taken individually, its proportions are almost smaller than the outgoing model. The cleverest trick they’ve pulled is actually at the back, where there’s not only a new taillight signature, but a rear bumper that’s seamlessly integrated into the tailgate.

There is one odd aspect to the design, though. Sure, the kidney grilles are larger, but they also have vertical and diagonal lines running through them. That being said, while this may seem incongruous at first glance, maybe it’s one of those design features that you’ll grow to like over time. Or maybe it’s just a “look at me” element in a clean design. Another eye-catching element of the grille is that it lights up at night – which is definitely not discreet.

The perfect BMW SUV?

But enough about looks, after all I am by no means an arbiter of taste. But I’m a former X3 owner, so I know a thing or two about the car’s legacy. And, for me, the X3 has always been the perfect BMW SUV. Or in BMW terms, SAV – Sports Activity Vehicle. Indeed, in a sense, they really brought driving fun and a sporty element to the SUV segment with the launch of the X5 in 1999. The X3 dutifully follows this benchmark and even builds on it to a more compact size – a size that I’ve always found more suitable for our conditions. I own an X3 30d, which has a 3.0-liter turbodiesel engine that produces 276 horsepower. To say it’s a powerhouse is an understatement. Unfortunately, the 3.0-litre diesel has been discontinued from the Indian market and we are left with the 2.0-litre petrol and diesel variants – both of which continue in this generation as well. The difference is that they now also come with a 48V mild hybrid system, which adds an electric motor between the engine and transmission to provide both a power boost and improved fuel economy.

The car we drove was the 20 xDrive, which has a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine producing 208bhp and 330Nm of torque, enabling the model to sprint to 100km/h in 7.8 seconds. The power isn’t amazing, but it’s sufficient at all times. Electric assist, which accounts for less than 20 of the 208 horses, is seamless and most welcome during quick overtakes. The gearbox is still a ZF 8-speed, which is probably the best automatic gearbox out there. Our test car was the M-Sport version, which had huge 20-inch wheels and an equally huge 285-section rear tire.

The end result is an X3 with tremendous levels of grip, and once you add electronics into the mix you’ll quickly realize that it’s nearly impossible to destabilize the X3, no matter how stupid your inputs are. However, one aspect of the X3 that is very different from the BMW is the steering feel. In Comfort mode, you always have the steering trimmed in the neutral position because it’s so far away from the front wheels that it’s a bit disconcerting. Once you start turning in either direction it loads up nicely and feels very direct, but in the straight-ahead position you always have to make slight adjustments because of how vague it is. It’s slightly better on the sporty side, but overall, it leaves a lot to be desired – especially because, even if actual steering feel is a thing of the past, BMW’s steering always inspires confidence and engages the driver.

In that sense, the X3 is clearly aiming to be more modest, perhaps to appeal to a wider audience. Regardless, it loses that element of driving appeal that I used to enjoy so much.

Also read: 2023 BMW M2 vs. 1992 BMW 325i – the last old M cars

Focus on design and technology

However, you can tell that BMW engineers put a lot of effort into the design and technology – especially in this car’s cabin. In fact, you could even define the cab as continuing the overall design concept. After all, it’s also very clean. The dashboard is dominated by BMW’s huge wraparound screen, with no buttons – even the volume control knob has been moved to the center console. The visible portion of the dashboard appears to be molded from a single piece of stone. Our test car came with what BMW calls Econeer interior, which is made from recycled materials and actually has very nice patterns and fabrics on the dash and door panels. Talking about India, I am sure that the X3 will be available in leather options – genuine or synthetic.

The X3’s dash, center console and doors are also dotted with beautiful illuminated panels that change color depending on which driving mode you’re in. iDrive 9 is seamless and easy to use – it’s certainly still an industry standard for ease of use – and now it also features augmented reality navigation, which is really helpful when you’re using BMW’s built-in navigation. But, like the driving experience, there’s one element inside this car that’s very un-BMW – and that’s the hard, sharp and rough plastic used for the door pulls. It’s weird because it’s such a daily touch point. After all, BMW set the benchmark with its cabin plastics 25 years ago, so I simply can’t understand how this particular part passed quality control. Fortunately, as you’d expect, the quality elsewhere is very good.

Also read: BMW 5 Series LWB 530Li review: Is the Indian luxury sedan war yet to begin?

As a former X3 owner and BMW fan, I honestly think the X3 has lost a bit of its appeal from the driver’s seat if you ask me. Maybe that means it does appeal to a wider audience. It’s certainly cutting-edge and comfortable. The design is simple, full of technology, and very refined.

It will be launched at the Bharat Mobile Expo in January next year, so if it’s a boulder on your desired road (albeit a new-age one), stay tuned.