METRO MANILA IS CURRENTLY A LANDSCAPE OF TORN-UP ROADS, construction debris, and giant cranes straight out a James Cameron script. Even drivers who are fond of sitting close to the tarmac are abandoning their sedans and turning to tall, impervious SUVs. Fun behind the wheel and responsive handling be damned, then. But surely the desired high ground clearance could be combined with the drivability of a sedan.
BMW has been catering to this desire with the groundbreaking X5. With that car’s runaway commercial and critical success, Munich’s next move was surely a no-brainer: extend the vehicle’s concept into the heart of its territory. Master of the compact sports sedan, BMW quickly introduced its second “Sport Activity Vehicle,” the X3.
For the X3, BMW chose the road not taken, instead of just shrinking the X5 or raising a 3-series Touring. The result is a distinctive vehicle, with styling elements that don’t quite come together. The black bumpers and lower body cladding look discordant, particularly on light-colored cars. The result is a face only Hans Lehmann could love. Addressing the issue of styling is the new X3 Sport Edition, with body-colored bumpers, side skirts and tailpipe garnish. It looks much like a grown up 1-series, its scowling face like that of an angry bulldog that’s ready to pounce.
There’s no need to frown when you park your backside on a body-hugging seat, and you smell the rich leather; you’ll know you’re in a BMW even with your eyes closed. The controls are laid out for serious driving, with gauges similar to those in the Z4 roadster. Rear seats are adequate for a pair of adults, and split-fold to increase the luggage space. The trimmings are modern and functional, but still feel disappointing for a P3 million-plus vehicle.
All that is forgiven when you fire up the 2.5 liter 24-valve inline-6. There’s “only” 192 hp and 245 Nm of torque, but acceleration is eagerly delivered. The engine’s ripping-silk soundtrack is always audible, from a soft whisper at idle to race-car acoustics at redline. We searched for any stretch of open road so we could rev it hard and listen to its delightful snarl. The gearbox snaps down a gear or two when called upon, letting the engine spin to its limit.
The engine and transmission speak Sports Car, and somewhat surprisingly, so does the suspension. Despite the car’s raised ride height, body roll and understeer are kept at bay. The surefooted handling and quick steering allowed a group of writers testing the X3 Sport Edition to toss it around a short slalom course. Not only did the car survive, it positively enjoyed it. An SUV that can slalom—that’s the X3.
The X3 feels quite different from the X5. The X5 has a softer ride and a more lenient attitude towards corners. The X3 is in full attack mode, gripping harder and relishing a twisty challenge. That distinction creates a different audience for the smaller car, one that doesn’t mind a few bumps in exchange for richer road feel. The ride is deep in the “firm” part of the spectrum. It absorbs sharp impacts and dips quite well, but the natural crests and troughs of an uneven road surface will find their way into the cabin.
The X3’s natural home is the autobahn, or our closest local equivalent, the North Expressway. With no undulations on the highway’s smooth blacktop, the X3 displays its supreme touring abilities. The SUV has the ability to reach 200 km/h without exerting much effort, and with a reassuring feel of stability. Large disc brakes and 17-inch Pirelli Scorpions haul the car to a dead stop with ease.
All four of the X3’s wheels are driven via the xDrive system. This splits the torque at 50% front-50% rear, with the ability to detect potential slippage at either end and send the torque to the tires with grip.
The X3 is an on-road machine, with enough ground clearance to tackle gravel driveways and the dirt roads leading to your favorite hilltop restaurant. Automatic-braking Hill Descent Control and several other electronic stability programs are included as standard. Remarkably, the X3 has retained the hallmarks of its sports-sedan stable mates—excellent acceleration, handling, and braking—in a type of vehicle that shouldn’t be able to. Wallowing in mud won’t make its day (or yours), but show it a long stretch of open road, and it will leap forward hungrily. It will also eat slalom cones for breakfast.
By Jason Ang | Photos By Ulysses Ang
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