BMW X3

Fourth-generation family SUV gets bolder looks, new tech and a longer plug-in hybrid range On sale Winter Price from £46,800

- Darren Moss

WHEN THE BMW X3 first went on sale in 2003, it had precious few rivals - which was just as well, because it wasn't very good. But unlike the dodo, it evolved to cope with the changing environment in which it found itself. And so, far from going extinct, it became BMW's best-selling model, with more than 350,000 sold last year alone. That doesn't mean there wasn't still room for improvement, though, which is why we now have this fourth-generation X3.

It's longer, wider and lower than its predecessor, and this gives it a less boxy look, with hints of BMW's flagship SUV, the XM. LED front and rear lights are standard, while adaptive headlights that can shape their beams around oncoming traffic are optional, as is an illuminated front grille. Depending on which version you choose, the X3 comes with either 18in or 19in wheels, but you can swap these for wheels measuring up to 21in.

Of particular interest to company car drivers will be the plug-in hybrid 30e xDrive model. Combining a 2.0-litre petrol engine with an electric motor to produce a total of 295bhp, its CO2 output of 21g/km places it in a fairly low (8%) company car tax band.