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Rarely has BMW gotten a segment as wrong as it did with the X3. For the most part, the original car led an anonymous life, based on a platform that became last-generation the moment it was launched. And it was priced so close to the X5, that the larger one walked away with the cash bags. If the X3 and X5 had different brand managers, their lifestyles would probably tell you who spent more time at the golf course and who at the bar.
But with the new one, there might be a role reversal of sorts. The new X3 is bigger, better equipped, nearly as much fun to drive as the last car and is finally locally assembled. What’s more, the Bavarian has decided to play hard ball and put pretty much everything on the X3 as standard, leaving just exterior colours, wood inserts and seat trim options to play with. Clearly, BMW is leaving no stone unturned with the new X3.
Another road test would have been plain vanilla, so we brought along our current best in the segment, the Volvo XC60 (it bested the Audi Q5 and Land Rover Freelander 2 in a previous encounter) along for some fun-filled jousting, rib tickling and friendly banter. Of course, intent and action turned out to be totally different and eventually, it led to more than just a few punches being traded.
ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES
SUVs aren’t supposed to look pretty, but the XC60 will probably hold on to the title of being the nicest looking in its category, until the Range Rover Evoque gatecrashes the party. There is a sense of Swedish sensuality in the way things come together in the XC60 that makes it warmer looking on the outside. It’s got curves in the right places (like those slick-looking LED tail-lamps) and muscle too (bonnet bulge, waistline). Our test car came in a rather dull grey colour on a wet and cloudy Thursday morning and we couldn’t help but miss the lime green number we tested last time around.
The BMW had a slightly brighter silver finish to the exteriors, though even that couldn’t save it from the inevitable. The X3 in the company of the XC60 looks too quirky in some places and too Plain Jane in others. I’m no fan of the clamshell nose that lacks character and while the profile won’t hurt your eyes, you can’t help but wonder why the new X3 has to look as anonymous as the last one. The tail-lamps have some character and provide relief to the tailgate.
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