BMW X3 SUV (2010-2017) - Interior & comfort
The latest diesel engine fitted to the BMW X3 xDrive20d is quieter than the old version
Road and wind noise were well suppressed in the old BMW X3, but the new model does an even better job of keeping the interior quiet and relaxing. The revised 2.0-litre diesel engine in the 20d is now on a par with diesels from Audi, and better than those offered by Mercedes.
If you don't mind paying extra, we'd also recommend going for BMW's Variable Damper Control, which makes the suspension more comfortable than the standard set-up. Even without the clever suspension, the car rides well on big 19-inch alloy wheels.
BMW X3 dashboard
BMW has managed to maintain high quality in the BMW X3 and you won’t notice a significant drop off even if you step straight from the classy BMW 3 Series saloon. As with the 3 Series, the X3 gets BMW’s trademark driver-focused dashboard and the interior boasts plenty of expensive-feeling soft-touch plastics, with switchgear that’s precise to use and well damped.
Equipment
All X3s come with 17-inch alloy wheels, sat nav, air-con, cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, heated leather seats and Bluetooth phone connectivity. The standard sat-nav can be upgraded to a more advanced unit with a larger touchscreen, and there's also the option of specifying your X3 with wireless phone charging and a Wi-Fi hotspot feature.
The xLine model demands a £1,500 premium over SE specification and your money buys you a sportier look thanks to 18-inch alloy wheels, extra chrome outside and a sports steering wheel on the inside.
M Sport models sit at the top of the range and as their name suggests are the sportiest versions of the X3. They feature large 19-inch alloy wheels, which suit the car’s muscular M Sport body kit. The high-end X3 also gets sports suspension and Drive Performance Control (which lets you choose from Comfort, Sport and Sport+ settings) as standard.
Options
The X3 has a huge options list that features kit such as adaptive dampers (£940), an excellent eight-speed automatic gearbox (£1,525) – choose popular extras like these and your X3 will retain more of its value when you come to sell it on.
