BMW X3 xDrive30d SE 5dr Step Auto (2011)

BMW X3 - Big improvement on the last gen model

I had a previous generation BMW X3 (which I think was the mark 1) and I have to say this is a big improvement. The best thing must be the fuel economy, I must be returning at least another 10 miles a gallon now, high 40s, which for a 3 litre 4x4 is fantastic, especially one that must be about 2 tonnes.

Another problem with the last gen one was that it was a bit too unforgiving to drive, just too solid on the lumps and bumps. The new one isn't flabby, doesn't hide feedback from the road surface, but also just makes you much more comfy on the road.

The boot, if you had a first gen BMW X3 and if you can believe it, is actually bigger I think in the new one. The problem in the old one was that I think it was the wheel arches or some other bulk sort of intruded into the boot at the sides. Anyway they've managed to sweep that away in the new one and it's a nice big square box back there.

Just be careful when you're closing the tailgate because the rear windscreen is still at an angle and if you've got a really square load (like a big chest of drawers I had) then it could break the rear windscreen. Let's just say I had a near miss there...

Off the road it's a big big improvement too. Now granted I didn't have the xDrive on my last one, but anyway this new BMW X3 is very much at home on mud, snow, all sorts. During last winter when the snow got really bad, I was getting to work but my neighbour with a pickup truck wasn't. Maybe he was just pretending he couldn't get out of the drive, but maybe not, I remember people with all sorts of powerful cars saying they couldn't get in, people who I knew really would if they could. I did have snow chains though.

Point is, the new BMW X3 fixes almost all the problems that let the old one down. BMW didn't seem like the sort of company to be making an off roader and the old one sort of reinforced that impression, but the new one they've got it right.

The only thing I can't comment on is reliability as I've only had it a few months. There was a little hiccup with the parking sensor when I first got it but that must have been a factory fault and it's fixed now. My old BMW X3 was very reliable so hopefully none of the improvements have affected that.