Simply And X3tremely Better - The New 2018 BMW X3

For Singapore, the X3 gets petrol only engines for 2018. Ranging from the sDrive20i xLine, xDrive30i xLine, xDrive30i M Sport and the high-performance range-topping M40i, there are also diesels available in the range, including the very well-engineered 30d which would have been our engine of choice. But we will not see that reaching our shores, thanks to the new VES.

That said, the 30i drives very well, and responds well to throttle inputs. In-cabin noise is minimal, thanks to the acoustic glass used on the front windshield. There is a certain sportiness to the drive, and the chassis does feel alive when taking on the twists and turns of the mountainous backroads. With not-so-ideal weather, the X3 xDrive system, together with all the safety nets like traction control and ABS keeps the car predictable, especially on moist gravel surfaces, where you can actually feel the individual wheels braking around the bends, doing the necessary to keep the car in its line.

What makes the X3 an important car for BMW, is that there is a global shift, with what would be traditional sedan buyers making the switch to SUVs, for the many different purposes of utility, ease of entry and exit and just plain ruggard styling.

It is true that the bulk of these cars are highly road-biased, but many of them are able to better accommodate for a younger crowd, more keen to explore life’s precious little things, and willing to spend that little extra for that something more, which can take them just a little off the beaten path.

While it is unlikely that we will ever see the death of the traditional sedan silhouette, SUVs have become a mainstay for most manufacturers over the last two decades. And over the time that the X3 has been in existence, it has grown up, and we could boldly say this one will definitely grow into the lives of many.

Credits: