The BMW X3 is Bavaria’s best-selling crossover by miles. It’s also the second best-selling model in the lineup, which is why the all-new model is crucial to the brand.
We’ve driven it already when we went to Munich back in September and walked away impressed. Now, it has made its way to Southeast Asia.
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The fifth-generation BMW X3 has made its ASEAN premiere at the Thailand Motor Expo. Sales are set to start there soon, and it’s only a matter of time before it lands in the Philippines. After all, it’s a popular model here, too.
We’re likely to echo the engine lineup from Thailand. Over there, there’s a choice of the familiar 2.0-liter diesel and a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six. Both use mild-hybrid technology to eke out a few more kilometers out of the tank.
The X3 20d xDrive makes 197hp and 400Nm that’s then mated to an eight-speed automatic and xDrive all-wheel drive. Meanwhile, the X3 M50 uses that boosted straight-six that punches out 398hp and a whopping 580Nm. It uses a specially calibrated eight-speed automatic and tuned all-wheel drive system.
What we drove in Munich was the 2.0-liter tubopetrol, so we can’t tell you how the diesel performs just yet. What we can tell you is that it drives even better than the outgoing model and offers a supple ride. That said, we’ve driven the M50 and it’s a solution for parents who’d like a near-400hp family car.
Prices are yet to be released even in Thailand, but it’s safe to say that it’ll be more than the current model. Presently, the X3 xDrive20d starts at P4,190,000, and given what we’ve felt and experienced with the latest version, we might be looking at about P4.5-M or more for it.
What about the iX3, you ask? We'll have to wait a little bit longer for that as it will ride on a different platform from the fuel-fed X3.
