PERFORMANCE BOOST

The BMW X3 has received a more potent petrol engine choice in the form of the 258-hp “30” spec four-cylinder motor wrapped in M Sport Pro trimmings.

- Jim Gorde

THE X3 IS BMW'S BESTSELLER globally, and it did quite well in India, too, thanks to its larger size, long equipment list, and the fact that customers were given a choice of both petrol and diesel engines. However, something felt amiss. Where the 20d turbo-diesel has a chunky 400 Nm of peak torque on offer with a thick spread across the band, the 20 petrol didn't quite bring the same sort of effect and feel to the table. BMW sought to offer the buyers of the brand a more potent petrol option. Enter the X3 30 xDrive.

It's been almost a year since we drove the new X3 with the diesel engine here in Pune. And it was finished in black. This one came in the smoked ice-cream shade of Brooklyn Grey Metallic. And it's quite a cool scoop. The new X3 30's styling is almost identical to that of the X3 20 xDrive and 20d xDrive, but for the embellishments from the M Sport Professional touch. There are now 20-inch M dual-tone alloy wheels instead of 19s, and they get mixed rubber in true M Sport style: 255/45s at the front and wider 285/40s at the rear. The wheel-arches look more filled up, and this makes for a sportier side profile overall. Head on, however, the stance still looks bold.

Though the aggressive design language seems to be wellrestrained in this iteration, it does have a smoother and more premium aura, especially with its XM-like proportions at the rear.

The kit is all there, and it features a high level of connectivity.