The medium SUV market has grown nearly 14 per cent and remains strong – competition in the over $60,00 segment strong with Land Rover Discovery Sport the big seller this year displacing Mercedes-Benz GLC with BMW’s X3 a close third. BMW’s third generation X3 has just landed in showrooms with the company suggesting it could well become their biggest seller. The latest X3 arrives with fresh styling, a larger cabin yet with reduced weight, a revamped interior with the latest infotainment technologies, and improved safety. Three engine choices – the 2-litre 20d four-cylinder turbo-diesel from $68,900, the 2-litre 30i four-cylinder turbo-petrol from $75,900 and the 3-litre six-cylinder turbo-diesel 30d from $83,900. Use of high-tensile steels, aluminium, magnesium and plastics have produced a weight saving of 55 kilos over the previous model. The entry turbo-diesel X3 x-Drive 20d turbo diesel boasts fuel economy of just 5.7L/100. Early next year BMW will bolster the X3 range with– the SDrive 20i rear wheel drive entry model and a performance flagship M40i variant.

I’m David Berthon

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