gavsadler
///Member
Short-term review and driving impressions:
I know these are probably long overdue, but at the same time, having spent the extra bit of time with the car makes for a more objective review. My thoughts and comments may come through in a slightly disjointed fashion and in no particular order, so here we go.
From a looks perspective, the jury is out on this one. I quite like it, particularly the aggressiveness of the M-Sport treatment this car has. It is further accentuated by the Xenon headlights, and the corona rings also serve as daytime driving lights, which stand out even more since I blacked out the grilles. Overall I think the car has presence, and doesn’t blend in too much with the 1000s of other SUVs on the road. From a size perspective, there is enough space for our family of 4, and the associated luggage and other paraphernalia we need to transport wherever we go (prams, walking rings, other toys etc.
The interior is also a pleasant place to be. Everything is well-made and fit and finish are good. The only real gripes are the quality of the printing on the switchgear. This has been covered in threads elsewhere. The P button on the gear shifter, as well as the Start/Stop button are wearing away, which is a bit disappointing, but other than that things are good. Headroom is plentiful, even with the panoramic sunroof – my 1.93m frame fits in comfortably. Even in my driving position, I am able to sit in the back seat, without my knees touching the backrest. The windows are large, which provide an airy feel to the cabin. It was actually quite disconcerting at first, because there was no tint on the windows. All our other cars have had tinted windows, so we felt quite exposed, even more so with the kiddies in the back. That’s why it was no1 on the list of things to get done. Our particular car does not have plenty of gadgets and nifty things, but it has what is really needed. To date, the only thing we are really missing is an integrated Bluetooth kit.
Anyway, I think I should move on to what it is actually like to drive. In my opinion, I think it’s great. It is probably the most car-like of the SUVs to drive. It feels solid and planted on the road – typical BMW. Responses are immediate, there is no drivetrain clunking or excessive body roll in corners. The size of the vehicle makes it easy to position, and also relatively straight-forward to manoeuvre and park. This is further aided by the front and rear PDC. Sure a reverse camera would be an added benefit, but visibility is good all-round so it is really not an issue.
Once or twice (or a few more times), I’ve pressed on a bit, and didn’t ever feel worried about what was going to happen next. Handling is predictable, and the 245-50-18 tyres do a great job of keeping 1760kg of X3 on course. At more reasonable speeds, ride comfort is also good. It is not cushy soft and wallowy, and at the same time not horrendously “M-Sporty”. I did go through a phase of considering 19in wheels for the car, but my wife said she likes the current wheels, and the 19s off the facelift apparently look like flowers – so she is not a fan. I also know I’m getting old now, because it makes more sense to have a bigger tyre fitted to the car for better ride comfort. The tyres are also a square setup all-round, so I can rotate front to back to promote more even tyre wear if required.
Throughout this year I have driven many models, and it was a toss-up between the 30d and the 35i. In the end the petrolhead inside me won the procrastination battle and we got the 35i. We’ve had the car about 3 months now, and to date, no regrets. You are probably wondering about the elephant in the room, so let’s address that now – fuel consumption.
I suppose it is all relative, and depends on circumstances. Currently the average consumption is sitting somewhere between 14-15l/100kms. Yes it is heavy on juice, but my wife only travels less than 10kms on a combined trip to work and back, through congested traffic conditions, it starts to make sense. I also believe that she has a heavier foot than I do, particularly on pull-offs. I would also like to think that there are SUVs out there which are down on power and torque by a significant margin which probably get even worse consumption figures. On the open road, I have seen under 10l/100kms at the national speed limit (or just over). So far we are managing, and thankfully I have never really been in a position where I need to budget to the nearest R100 for petrol each month. We probably only do about 800kms/month in the car, which justifies the fuel consumption somewhat. Maybe if things were different where much longer commutes were being performed, it would be a bigger consideration. I am glad the petrolhead inside me can live on in the X3.
Next up – performance. This thing goes! The speed is very deceptive, particularly with the windows closed. Insulation is very good, and the effortless nature of progress means you are doing illegal speeds very quickly (whether through town or on the highways). The 3l motor is a gem. I can’t say that I’ve really noticed any signs of turbo lag. There is just always power on demand. Depressing the accelerator further brings with it a wave of power and torque. It pulls and pulls and pulls, all the way to the red line. And the soundtrack that accompanies the progress is just sublime. It starts off with subdued burble at low rpms, and transforms into a roar as the revs increase. I’ve only given it the beans a handful of times, but it is so worth it when the opportunity presents itself.
What also deserves a special mention is the 8-speed automatic gearbox. It is so refined, and the gear ratios are excellent – there is a ratio for every situation, and there does not appear to be any holes between ratios which could introduce frustration when driving. It is also responsive, much more so than other automatics I’ve experienced. It is almost telepathic in understanding the road conditions ahead and driver inputs. I would even say it is better than the 7-speed DSG box from my wife’s former A3 – which seemed to change up almost too early, and held onto ratios for too long before gearing down – particularly when climbing hills on the highway. Gear changes are also super smooth, and there is no apparent surge when pulling off.
Putting the X3 in sport mode unleashes a different beast. The mapping on throttle response changes quite a bit, and things are noticeably more urgent. It will also hold onto gears when pressing on to reaching the upper limits of the rev range. Each gear change also produces a satisfying soundtrack from the exhaust, which is not as farty as the VAG cars.
To begin wrapping up: we are enjoying the car so far. There is enough space for all of us, and ride comfort is good. Performance is plentiful, whether you are pottering around or pressing on, there is always enough in reserve and it is usable power. Fuel consumption is a bit heavy in town, but is manageable. As a family car, I think that it ticks many boxes.
As a driver’s car, it delivers. I love the soundtrack of the exhaust, which in my opinion sounds different to other x35i models. The sound is further enhanced following deactivation of the flap in the exhaust. The motor sounds great too, with the turbo spool up complimenting the noises up front. Maybe sometime in the future I will fit a downpipe to tickle the aural senses a bit more.
Some people may question the logic behind a vehicle like this. Which mommy needs a SUV which:
— is more road-biased than all-terrain?
— has a fancy body kit and big wheels with low(ish) profile tyres?
— has a toffed up interior with various luxuries and gadgets?
— and perhaps most importantly - 3000cc, 225Kw and 400Nm engine, coupled to an 8-speed gearbox?
My answer to this is quite simple: no mommy realistically needs an SUV like this, but this particular daddy does!
And that is that.
I know these are probably long overdue, but at the same time, having spent the extra bit of time with the car makes for a more objective review. My thoughts and comments may come through in a slightly disjointed fashion and in no particular order, so here we go.
From a looks perspective, the jury is out on this one. I quite like it, particularly the aggressiveness of the M-Sport treatment this car has. It is further accentuated by the Xenon headlights, and the corona rings also serve as daytime driving lights, which stand out even more since I blacked out the grilles. Overall I think the car has presence, and doesn’t blend in too much with the 1000s of other SUVs on the road. From a size perspective, there is enough space for our family of 4, and the associated luggage and other paraphernalia we need to transport wherever we go (prams, walking rings, other toys etc.
The interior is also a pleasant place to be. Everything is well-made and fit and finish are good. The only real gripes are the quality of the printing on the switchgear. This has been covered in threads elsewhere. The P button on the gear shifter, as well as the Start/Stop button are wearing away, which is a bit disappointing, but other than that things are good. Headroom is plentiful, even with the panoramic sunroof – my 1.93m frame fits in comfortably. Even in my driving position, I am able to sit in the back seat, without my knees touching the backrest. The windows are large, which provide an airy feel to the cabin. It was actually quite disconcerting at first, because there was no tint on the windows. All our other cars have had tinted windows, so we felt quite exposed, even more so with the kiddies in the back. That’s why it was no1 on the list of things to get done. Our particular car does not have plenty of gadgets and nifty things, but it has what is really needed. To date, the only thing we are really missing is an integrated Bluetooth kit.
Anyway, I think I should move on to what it is actually like to drive. In my opinion, I think it’s great. It is probably the most car-like of the SUVs to drive. It feels solid and planted on the road – typical BMW. Responses are immediate, there is no drivetrain clunking or excessive body roll in corners. The size of the vehicle makes it easy to position, and also relatively straight-forward to manoeuvre and park. This is further aided by the front and rear PDC. Sure a reverse camera would be an added benefit, but visibility is good all-round so it is really not an issue.
Once or twice (or a few more times), I’ve pressed on a bit, and didn’t ever feel worried about what was going to happen next. Handling is predictable, and the 245-50-18 tyres do a great job of keeping 1760kg of X3 on course. At more reasonable speeds, ride comfort is also good. It is not cushy soft and wallowy, and at the same time not horrendously “M-Sporty”. I did go through a phase of considering 19in wheels for the car, but my wife said she likes the current wheels, and the 19s off the facelift apparently look like flowers – so she is not a fan. I also know I’m getting old now, because it makes more sense to have a bigger tyre fitted to the car for better ride comfort. The tyres are also a square setup all-round, so I can rotate front to back to promote more even tyre wear if required.
Throughout this year I have driven many models, and it was a toss-up between the 30d and the 35i. In the end the petrolhead inside me won the procrastination battle and we got the 35i. We’ve had the car about 3 months now, and to date, no regrets. You are probably wondering about the elephant in the room, so let’s address that now – fuel consumption.
I suppose it is all relative, and depends on circumstances. Currently the average consumption is sitting somewhere between 14-15l/100kms. Yes it is heavy on juice, but my wife only travels less than 10kms on a combined trip to work and back, through congested traffic conditions, it starts to make sense. I also believe that she has a heavier foot than I do, particularly on pull-offs. I would also like to think that there are SUVs out there which are down on power and torque by a significant margin which probably get even worse consumption figures. On the open road, I have seen under 10l/100kms at the national speed limit (or just over). So far we are managing, and thankfully I have never really been in a position where I need to budget to the nearest R100 for petrol each month. We probably only do about 800kms/month in the car, which justifies the fuel consumption somewhat. Maybe if things were different where much longer commutes were being performed, it would be a bigger consideration. I am glad the petrolhead inside me can live on in the X3.
Next up – performance. This thing goes! The speed is very deceptive, particularly with the windows closed. Insulation is very good, and the effortless nature of progress means you are doing illegal speeds very quickly (whether through town or on the highways). The 3l motor is a gem. I can’t say that I’ve really noticed any signs of turbo lag. There is just always power on demand. Depressing the accelerator further brings with it a wave of power and torque. It pulls and pulls and pulls, all the way to the red line. And the soundtrack that accompanies the progress is just sublime. It starts off with subdued burble at low rpms, and transforms into a roar as the revs increase. I’ve only given it the beans a handful of times, but it is so worth it when the opportunity presents itself.
What also deserves a special mention is the 8-speed automatic gearbox. It is so refined, and the gear ratios are excellent – there is a ratio for every situation, and there does not appear to be any holes between ratios which could introduce frustration when driving. It is also responsive, much more so than other automatics I’ve experienced. It is almost telepathic in understanding the road conditions ahead and driver inputs. I would even say it is better than the 7-speed DSG box from my wife’s former A3 – which seemed to change up almost too early, and held onto ratios for too long before gearing down – particularly when climbing hills on the highway. Gear changes are also super smooth, and there is no apparent surge when pulling off.
Putting the X3 in sport mode unleashes a different beast. The mapping on throttle response changes quite a bit, and things are noticeably more urgent. It will also hold onto gears when pressing on to reaching the upper limits of the rev range. Each gear change also produces a satisfying soundtrack from the exhaust, which is not as farty as the VAG cars.
To begin wrapping up: we are enjoying the car so far. There is enough space for all of us, and ride comfort is good. Performance is plentiful, whether you are pottering around or pressing on, there is always enough in reserve and it is usable power. Fuel consumption is a bit heavy in town, but is manageable. As a family car, I think that it ticks many boxes.
As a driver’s car, it delivers. I love the soundtrack of the exhaust, which in my opinion sounds different to other x35i models. The sound is further enhanced following deactivation of the flap in the exhaust. The motor sounds great too, with the turbo spool up complimenting the noises up front. Maybe sometime in the future I will fit a downpipe to tickle the aural senses a bit more.
Some people may question the logic behind a vehicle like this. Which mommy needs a SUV which:
— is more road-biased than all-terrain?
— has a fancy body kit and big wheels with low(ish) profile tyres?
— has a toffed up interior with various luxuries and gadgets?
— and perhaps most importantly - 3000cc, 225Kw and 400Nm engine, coupled to an 8-speed gearbox?
My answer to this is quite simple: no mommy realistically needs an SUV like this, but this particular daddy does!
And that is that.
