Test drive: BMW X3 xDrive 20d Highline

When The BigChilli went to a large BMW dealership in Bangkok and asked a sales manager who had been driving the X3 diesel for several weeks if the car has any negatives, he quickly replied: “Absolutely not! The only problem we have is that our customers must wait a few months for delivery due to the hundreds of bookings. The orders have exceeded expectations.”      

The popularity of the X3 shouldn’t really come as a surprise. In February, only weeks after its international market launch, the car was selected as the “Off-Road Vehicle of the Year 2011” by German magazine “Off-Road.” In March, it also won the title of “Four-Wheel Drive Car of the Year” from the specialist German car magazine “Auto Bild Allrad.” Both awards were decided by reader surveys.

Therefore, I was more than pleased when BMW Group Thailand offered me the BMW X3 xDrive 20d Highline for  a four-day test drive. I was again joined by my regular partners in these wandering endeavors, Nina Hastings and Adam Purcell from The BigChilli.

I soon came to regret my negligence and was given a lesson that I will never forget. After driving out of the BMW facility and stopping a short distance down the road for a traffic light at a busy intersection, the engine suddenly cut off. I was in a state of panic. Chills passed through my body as cars piled up behind me and I imagined the deafening blare of horns to come if the light turned green and the car wouldn’t start.

I was at a loss. My first impulse was to call the factory and scold them for giving me a faulty car, but there was no time to do that or anything else because the light did turn green. Seeing this I instinctively took my foot off the brake and stepped on the accelerator. To my enormous relief, the engine immediately purred to life.

I drove off down the road feeling as if the gods had interceded on my behalf, until I arrived at the next red light, where the whole episode was repeated. At the first opportunity I drove into a hotel car park and called the sales representative.

After listening to my frantic description of the ordeal I had just been through, he said calmly: “There’s nothing wrong with the car. You have just experienced the Auto Start Stop function, which is an innovation installed only on the BMW X3. No other model or brand in Thailand has it.” He explained that the function was designed to prevent excessive fuel consumption by stopping the engine whenever the car is not moving, for example at a traffic light or in a gridlock situation. The engine is automatically switched off if the brake is pressed when the vehicle is stationary with the ignition switched on. The engine starts when the brake is released or when the accelerator is pressed.

He added that there are certain situations when the Auto Start Stop function will not engage, such as if the engine is not up to operating temperature or if the vehicle battery is very low. What’s more, the system can be switched off at any time.

Anyway, after a long phone call I turned the system off as instructed and  spent the next four hours in a much more relaxed state of mind, crawling along congested Bangkok streets, speeding on expressways and navigating dilapidated country roads outside the capital. I occasionally pushed various buttons and switches to test their functions. All went smoothly and without any problems.

To my surprise, I had to agree with the sales representative – there was absolutely nothing to criticize about the car.              

My partners reached the same conclusion after I picked them up the next day, Nina sharing driving duties and Adam playing the role of passenger. The three of us scrutinized every inch of the car, inside and out, except for opening up the engine or gear box.

To give an example of the X3’s reliability and safety, when I drove on a wide highway just outside Bangkok during a storm with heavy rain and strong winds the X3 handled the elements with ease. Other cars struggled and crawled along at about 40 km/h, but thanks to good visibility afforded by the X3’s effective wipers, plus the overall behavior of the car in such inclement conditions, I was able to maintain a speed of 120km/h and comfortably zig-zagged my way between the slower vehicles. Flooded roads were no problem either.

I found some of the critical comments quite hilarious, and some seemed to be complete fabrications. For instance, one article said: “At speed there were un-BMW sounds – a squeak was noticeable in the dash, while a rattle in the driver’s side window appeared on more than one of the test cars. There was also some noticeable wind noise from the windscreen pillars…”

Another report claimed that “the X3 is crumbled at the rear in terms of leg and knee room.”

One gentleman wrote: “It might be strangely lacking in some key BMW attributes…” without elaborating. He then added: “One other road tester in the office found the 3-series-alike dashboard a bit too cheap.”

We couldn’t detect any of these “faults” in our test car.

According to the sales rep, most customers in Thailand still opt for a black or white exterior and brown interior. In fact, the X3 comes in seven exterior and four interior colours. Our test car was space-grey, a new colour, with a brown interior, which Nina and Adam didn’t mind but I don’t like. I would have preferred any other colour to brown.

Now for a few key observations on the car: The diesel engine is the quietest of any BMW model, or for that matter any other brand that I have ever driven.

However, you will still recognize it is a diesel when standing outside with the engine running because of the typical rattling sound. I wouldn’t worry too much about that, though, because it’s inaudible inside the soundproof cabin.

The acceleration and braking are very impressive, as is now expected for all BMW vehicles. It handles well at high speeds and the steering is perfect. The seats are very comfortable and there’s lots of space for passengers in front and back, with plenty of head room. The 18-inch runflat tires are excellent. I was surprised by the sound coming from the speakers, probably the best I have ever experienced in any BMW.      

You can close the doors with one finger, which I really like. All switches and buttons inside the cabin are easy to see and reach. The side mirrors are large and well designed. The storage space is quite large and can be increased by folding the rear seats forward.

Nina couldn’t stop praising the car while driving or as a passenger. She gave a summary of her impressions: “I really liked the colour of the car both inside and out. I love the lights on the car’s exterior handles – very cool!

“The X3 is not too high so it makes stepping into the car easy – suitable for people who have children or elderly parents. There’s plenty of leg room in front and back.

“The car accelerates quickly, with easy steering for women drivers, which is always a plus! I can see the road easily from the side and rear mirrors. I would be very happy driving or riding in this car on long-distance road trips.”

After all those ‘pros,’ Nina said she couldn’t come up with one major con. “If there is one,” she said, “I guess it would have to be the price tag of 3,599,000 baht. Not cheap, but definitely worth every penny if you can afford it.”

Adam, who didn’t drive but was either sitting or lying down on the seats, scrutinizing everything around him, had this to say about this car: “I loved the electronically adjustable front seats. The fact that you can adjust the height and pitch of the seats means you can sit in a cradle position, which is very comfortable.

“I was also impressed with how the car reaches top speeds without a whimper. Going at 140km/h the ride is smooth and the cabin quiet. Because of this the car feels solid, safe.

“The interior of the car looks great, too. Compared to the smaller X1, everything feels more polished and solid, more expensive. And when you consider the X3’s hefty price tag – almost one million baht more than the X1 – this is exactly the way it should be.”

My colleagues’ high regard for the X3 was matched by my own. I was impressed that the car isn’t crowded with fancy hi-tech gadgets or useless innovations that might cause more trouble than help for the driver. Instead, the special features are all really needed and appreciated.

These include the Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), which prevents the driven wheels losing traction when you accelerate. It also identifies any unstable operating statuses in the car. For example, when cornering at excessive speeds a vehicle is prone to swerving. DSC identifies this status and helps to stop the vehicle from doing so.

Dynamic Driving Control adjusts the suspension character of the car, so the suspension will be softer when you drive in the city. When driving on the highway you can adjust the suspension to be sportier.  

The Runflat Indicator identifies any loss of pressure in the tires while the car is being driven and reports it as a “tire failure.” This is a very useful feature.

The Hill Descent Control function automatically regulates speed when you drive along steep inclines. So if you are going downhill and push the button, the system will help you descend more safely. I checked this at several Bangkok car parks and it works well. I am sure that motorists driving in mountains will appreciate this one.

Some other useful features and equipment include the keyless entry, voice control system, large door bins, cruise control, superb 8-gear automatic transmission, anti-lock brake system, rain censor wipers, front, side and head airbags (six of these altogether), bluetooth, navigation, onboard DVD player, and a hard disc that allows you to record CDs.

Finally, if you need to know something about the car, you don’t even have to call the dealer. Everything from A to Z is described on the car’s menu, displayed on the control display. Some functions are illustrated in short video clips.

Commenting on the intended purpose of the X3, the sales rep said that people who drive the SAV are looking for greater utility in a vehicle, such as increased height and more carrying space. These advantages were clearly demonstrated during the recent floods as many people used SAVs such as the BMW X3 to navigate flooded roads and carry their belongings to safety.

He also pointed out that this car is very good on fuel consumption for a 4-wheel drive. “The vehicle comes with a better, more advanced technology. These are the most important sales points for this car, all at a reasonable price,” he said.

Some people may argue this last point. The price for the X3 diesel in Britain starts at about 1.5 million baht, and in New Zealand about two million baht. The sales rep said that if imported from Germany the car would cost close to five million baht.

All X3 models sold in this country are locally produced at a plant in Rayong by BMW Manufacturing Thailand, with a price tag of 3,599,000 baht. I’ll leave it to the reader to decide if this is reasonable. I will say that when you consider the savings on fuel, together with the safety and pleasure of driving this car, not to mention the prestige, I believe it is well worth a look – for those who can afford it, of course.