BMW X3 2018

Body, cabin and cargo space

The redesigned 2018 BMW X3 mostly reprises the dimensions of the preceding model, except length, which stretches an extra 6 cm. That makes it one of the longest luxury compact SUVs of the segment, nearly equal to the Jaguar F-Pace.

The increased length goes hand in hand with a 5.4-cm gain in the wheelbase. As a result, the cabin is even more spacious than before, with plenty of room for four average-sized adults.

In the purest German tradition, the front seats are firm—too firm for some of our testers. On the other hand, they offer excellent support, notably thanks to adjustable side bolsters and thigh extenders. The driver seat memory feature is provided free of charge, which is nice. Drivers of all sizes find it easy to find a good position thanks to the long range of the telescoping steering wheel and a well-placed footrest.

A word to the wise: there is almost no room to rest one’s right foot when using the cruise control. It can be a major annoyance on long trips and should be carefully evaluated during a test drive.

The rear middle seat position is not too high, for once, but its flat cushions and the high centre tunnel means it is only good in a pinch. The outboard seats are more accommodating but they, too, are lacking in shape. At least the backrests recline this year.

The very easy access to the child car-seat anchor points is noteworthy. That said, we noted that the pressure of the tether straps easily detaches the plastic trim edging the anchors.

The cargo area is roomy for the segment, with good depth below the side windows and luggage cover. The backrests of the rear seat now fold in a 40/20/40 configuration, making it possible to haul long objects on a flat load surface and still seat two passengers. The luggage cover stores easily under the floor, and a roomy compartment occupies the space that formerly housed the spare, now replaced by run-flat tires.

An unusually quick power liftgate and a 12V outlet in the trunk are standard.

Finish and convenience

Quality materials, premium trims, judicious contrasting accents contribute to the luxurious feel of the X3. True to form, BMW lets you personalize the body, cabin and wheels through a wide selection of styles and colours. Some of those options are free, but others are very costly—another firmly entrenched German practice.

Our test model was equipped with all-digital gauges displayed on a colour screen. A growing number of vehicles are making a similar changeover from traditional gauges to a partial or fully digital instrument panel. BMW’s version is perfect, especially when supplemented by the excellent head-up display. Our only grumble concerns the exaggerated difference between actual and displayed vehicle speed: when driving at barely 95 km/h, the indicated speed was 100 km/h.

The BMW iDrive interface groups most of infotainment and configurable functions on a 26-cm (10.2-cm) centre screen. This impeccably clear, crisp display is operated by a large rotary knob on the console. It requires a good period of adaptation, but it finally becomes quite easy to find the main functions. Seven programmable buttons under the screen provide one-touch access to as many preferred functions.

The climate system has completely separate controls, which always makes things easier. But in cold weather the controls have to be adjusted often because the system has difficulty providing both adequate defrosting and warm air at foot level. You find yourself alternating between the two modes and constantly fiddling with the blower speed to stabilize the situation.

That is disappointing, as are non-sliding sun visors that are too short to cover the length of the side windows. On the other hand, the heated seats will reconcile you with winter. They warm you right up to the shoulders, in an intense but non-aggressive manner—similar to the way the exceptional sound of the optional Harman Kardon audio system caresses your ears.

Safety features

• Antilock brakes with electronic brake force distribution, brake assist and automatic brake drying
• Stability and traction control
• Hill descent control
• Front airbags
• Front side airbags
• Side curtain airbags
• Five adjustable head restraints
• Tire pressure monitor
• Rearview camera
• Blind-spot monitor
• Forward collision alert with automatic low-speed emergency braking and pedestrian detection
• Lane departure warning
• Front and rear parking sonar
• Automatic lane keep assist, side collision detection, adaptive cruise control, front and rear cross traffic alert, and surround cameras (included in Driver Assistance Plus package)

Crash test results

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
Overall score: 5 / 5
Frontal impact: 5 / 5
Side impact: 5 / 5
Rollover resistance: 4 / 5

Insurance Institute For Highway Safety (IIHS)
Moderate overlap frontal impact: 4 / 4
Small overlap frontal impact:
- driver side: 4 / 4
- passenger side: 4 / 4
Side impact: 4 / 4
Rear impact: 4 / 4
Roof strength: 4 / 4

IIHS Top Safety Pic+k

Visibility

BMW resisted the current trend whereby the glass area is reduced to satisfy the whims of styling. As a result, visibility is very satisfactory to the front and sides. Even to the rear, the nicely sized window provides a better view than most modern SUVs do. Even so, the rearview camera and parking sensors are a help in tight quarters—and they are standard. The standard blind-spot monitoring system is similarly useful.

Headlights: The adaptive LED headlights on our test model, which include automatic high beams, project a bright, intense beam, not very long in the low-beam position but satisfactory in the high-beam position.

Engine and transmission

When BMW launched its most recent 2.0‑litre four-cylinder turbo engine a few years ago, we found it was a bit too rough and raucous for a luxury vehicle. The 2018 X3 shows that the automaker has addressed the problem.

The engine is smooth, linear and responsive throughout the rev range, thanks to maximum torque available at only 1,450 RPM. As a bonus, it produces a refined and growly exhaust note—quite rare for a small turbo engine. The optional 3.0-litre turbo six-cylinder obviously provides an extra thrill of sound. However, its extra power seems unnecessary on public roads, except for drivers who absolutely want to shave another 1.5 seconds off the 6,3 seconds it takes the base engine to launch the X3 to 100 km/h.

The transmission pairs perfectly with the engine, shifting through its eight speeds with grace and rapidity. It downshifts promptly as required by the terrain or the driver’s right foot. It is undeniably one of the best transmissions with more than six speeds that you can get. It functions so well that you quickly forget about the shift paddles, even in sporty driving.

The all-wheel-drive system transmits power to the wheels very precisely, always prioritizing the rear wheels on dry pavement. The front wheels engage in the blink of an eye in heavy acceleration or when the surface becomes slippery.

The only disappointing aspect of this excellent powertrain is fuel economy. We measured it at 11.8 L/100 km in our test drive, two-thirds of it on the highway. In comparison, Natural Resources Canada announces a combined city/highway average of 9.5 L/100 km. Our test was conducted in the middle of January, but the difference still seems significant.

Ride and handling

In terms of handling dynamics, the 2018 BMW X3 certainly merits a spot on the podium in its segment. Very few SUVs of any size provide a comparable blend of turning aplomb, straight-line stability and body control.

Nothing seems to perturb the trajectory on the highway. Steering is precise enough at centre for excellent straight-line stability, even in strong winds. At the same time, it avoids the hypersensitivity that pushes certain “sporty” vehicles to track ruts.

Road sensation is faithfully transmitted to the driver, which makes steering very pleasant on winding roads. The remarkable braking with the performance brakes included in the M Sport Plus package further enhances the feeling of confidence behind the wheel. Very effective soundproofing ensures serene long-distance driving.

The Comfort driving mode provides an adequate balance of road-holding and… comfort, at least for the majority of targeted buyers. However, owners with higher expectations in terms of comfort may deplore the firm suspension reaction on degraded roads, especially at low speed.

Sport and Sport Plus modes amplify that reaction without notably sharpening the behaviour in normal driving. It is true that the steering becomes even sharper and quicker, but you have to charge into winding turns to reap any real benefit. A good point: Individual Sport mode allows steering, throttle and transmission response to be configured separately. Damping becomes adjustable with the M Sport package or M40i model.

The latter also include high-performance tires that are wider in the rear than in front, mounted on 20- or 21-in. wheels, depending on the selected equipment. This configuration certainly contributes to the dynamic character of the X3, but it does not allow the tires to be rotated. That leads to more rapid wear, especially at the rear, where the all-wheel drive transmits most of the power.

Like several other 4X4 systems, BMW vehicles with AWD must be driven with equally worn tires on all four wheels to avoid potentially costly damage. You must therefore expect to have to replace all four tires more often, at an exorbitant cost, augmented by the run-flat feature.

Fortunately, BMW offers the option of ordering all versions of the X3, with or without the M Sport package, with four identical 19-in. all-season tires. In our opinion, the savings in maintenance largely compensates for the small sacrifice in precision and style.