BMW X3 G01

The previous BMW X3, some say, is like being a village idiot in a family of geniuses because while it has some BMW dynamics on this crossover, it doesn't live up to the expectations of being an ideal Bimmer for all kinds. So, now that the BMW X3 entered its third generation, has the crossover ever learned from its past mistakes and made it even better?

2018 BMW X3

Here it is, ladies and gentlemen, your new BMW X3, and while this is basically labeled as the third generation X3, some say it looks and feels almost the same as the previous model. Frankly, it is, sort of, because when you scope closer on the X3's new design, you'll find that the front looks frankly similar to the rest of the BMW SUVs while the back of it looks awkwardly similar to the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class, a crossover where its little brother, the X1, can take care of. Although awkward to look at, there's a good side that the X3 wasn't as daft as its chief foe, the Audi Q5.

2018 BMW X3 interior

2018 BMW X3 interior

On the inside, there's hardly any improvement at all because it dons the similar BMW interior as seen on the 7-Series and as for the tech, you still get some cool gadgets including the gesture control feature that controls with your gesture. Most people tried it on different Bimmers so the experience will be vaguely similar to this new X3 and apart from that, you can expect Voice Recognition which is hard to master for squeaky-voiced drivers, and Heads Up Display that looks like it's almost never existed. On the plus side, it's surprisingly comfortable and has decent space for goods. Although not bad to be practical, there's a clear hint that the new X3 will remind you of the luxury crossover your Auntie drove every day.

2018 BMW X3

What about dynamics? Has BMW improved the X3 to make it more interesting? Well, with an intelligent lightweight design, the new X3 features a brilliant weight distribution which makes it more interesting than Audi's Q5, adding delight to the drivers who are willing to make their new X3 their everyday car for business and for leisure.

To make sure the new X3 is fully prepared for everything, it's got xDrive that makes it capable to handle any road conditions, be it tarmac, gravel, or snow alike. That sounds nice but sadly, that daft Audi Q5 can mince it in terms of cornering stability and that is a bad mark for BMW there. Apart from xDrive, the new X3 features BMW Personal CoPilot ranging from the improved Active Cruise Control and the Driving Assistant Plus safety package, including Steering and lane control assistant, Lane Change Assistant, and Lane Keeping Assistant with side collision protection, and while it sounds nice enough to put some stuff Google's fussing around with self-driving cars, that stuff will drive them mad because these tech features just spoil their driving experience but still, it takes some tough love to get used to those safety features unless they've summoned the new X3 as their courtesy car from their car-sharing service, which is, of course, the enemy of every speedo boys of this generation.

There are so many engines to choose from in the new X3, such as the 2.0L petrol turbo, 2.0L diesel, and 3.0L six-cylinder diesel, but the range-topper of the new X3 is the new M40i variant with the 3.0-liter M Performance TwinPower Turbo technology 6-cylinder inline engine that produces 360PS of power and propels it to a 0-100kph time of 4.6 seconds, making it the fastest accelerating crossover in its class. Most of the engines are mated with the 8-speed Steptronic gearbox, which is pretty much decent to us.

The new X3 starts at 44,000 Euros plus on-road costs and that makes it more awfully costly than the Audi Q5 but we'd better stick to this one because although not pretty to look at, the new X3 is starting to feel more promising to drive than the Q5, although its characteristics still make it a village idiot in a family of geniuses. Would you like this or not. That's your decision now, ladies and gentlemen.

Photo: BMW AG