Abu Dhabi Week gets behind the wheel of the smooth, sleek and seriously fast BMW X3 xDrive 35i

Sliding into the sumptuous, leather driving seat of BMW’s latest X3 model, we knew we were in for a different SUV experience. BMW has kissed goodbye to the X3’s boxy, clunky predecessor and delivered nothing but smooth lines, fine-tuning and a reassuring sense of sturdiness and safety – something we’re all grateful of on the UAE’s busy roads.

We’ll bore you with the statistics later, but let’s start with first impressions. In short: usability, silence, size and speed, the first things we noticed about the X3 35i.

The most obvious usability function is the keyless drive system. I know a lot of cars have this now, but as a driver of an old bucket in our spare time we were still impressed. As long as the key phob is on your person you don’t have to look for your keys to open the door or start the engine, you just push a button. The only time you need the key fob is to lock the doors when you leave. Just remember to hand it over when you valet your car or they won’t get very far without it!

The cabin too, we’re pleased to say has been designed for the simpleton (yes, we fall into that category). There are plenty of bells and whistles, but instead of confronting the driver with hundreds of buttons and knobs, BMW have collected the majority of functions into a single control device. They call it the iDrive system and we love it. With one simple dial you can switch between radio stations and the satellite navigation system and even flip through your phone book (safely) after easily connecting your phone via Bluetooth.

Several of these functions also operate via a small selection of easy-to-navigate buttons on the steering wheel – idiot-proof and, more importantly, safe to use while driving.

Safety was obviously a primary concern for BMW’s designers as another wonderful, user-friendly device springs to mind – the heads-up display. Again, making sure your eyes never leave the road, your speed and even the step-by-step instructions from the iDrive’s sat nav system are fed into the heads up display, which hovers in your line of vision as you drive. While driving a car with so much power, we found this device indispensible when trying to remain within the UAE’s strict speed limits.

In all honesty, it really feels as if the X3 drives itself. The smooth acceleration, accompanied by the comfort of the cabin make this model a dream to drive. Don’t get me wrong, if you put your foot down, you’ll feel (and hear) the immense power of the 3.0 litre turbo-charged engine, but while cruising at speed engine noise and wind interference are blissfully absent – even with the sunroof open. A great demonstration of this is the in-built hands free system. We happily chatted with relatives overseas who had no trouble hearing us, even while we were driving on the highway. The silence inside the cabin, even at top speed, is absolute - so much so that we found ourselves having to crank up the stereo on long drives to keep ourselves awake!

Moving on to size. One of the reasons we fell in love with the X3, in the short time we were driving it, is that it doesn’t feel like you’re driving an SUV. To start with, you don’t feel like you’re perched above the road in the X3 so you’re instantly more connected to the driving experience and feel far less of a roll when going round tight corners. The power steering is so responsive that you could literally drive with one finger on the wheel, an added bonus when parking.

Parking the X3 is easy. Yes, it’s almost as big as the X5 and slightly wider and longer than its predecessor, but somehow it doesn’t feel big and easily glides into snug parking bays. The rear cameras and parking assistance system may have something to do with this, but we found we didn’t really have to use them.

In terms of space in the X3, there’s really an abundance of it. We had been waiting to pick up a dining table from IKEA for weeks and as we had the X3 we thought we’d see if it was up to the challenge. No problem at all. The back seats were down in a quick and easy flick of a switch and the dining table and chairs slid in to the back with ease.

Want to go a little off road and sleep out under the stars (but not in a tent)? We took the challenge and happily had enough room to sleep, flat out in the back of the X3. Believe me, with the sunroof open it was almost the same as camping out, just with the added luxury of a duvet, pillows and AC.

Now, down to the bit you’ve all been waiting for, the X3’s need for speed. We can safely say that even though the X3 falls into the SUV category, it’s still a lot of fun to drive. OK you don’t get the responsiveness, raw sensation of speed and control that you might feel in the M series, but the X3 still packs a pretty meaty punch and when you put your foot to the floor, you’ll still be thrown back in your seat while the 3.0 litre turbo engine roars in your ears. The sensation of speed may be a little more staid and elegant, but no less satisfying in our opinion.

In short, if you love the new X5, we suggest you test-drive the X3. We had a hard time returning it and we’re sure you will too.

Safety first

• Euro NCAP crash test: five stars
• BMW Assist Advanced eCall – automatic localisation and accident severity detection
• Tyre Defect Indicator – pressure loss warning system
• Dynamic Control Stability System as standard (braking assistant, cornering brake control and dynamic traction control)

The Stats

Engine:

• Engine Cylinders/valves – 6/4
• Capacity in ccm – 2,979
• Stroke/bore in mm – 89.6/84
• Max. output in kW (hp) at
• 1/min – 225 (306) / 5,800
• Max. torque in Nm at
• 1/min – 400 / 1,200 – 5,000

Fuel consumption:

• Urban in l/100 km – 11.2
• CO2 emissions in g/km –204

Performance:

• Top speed in km/h – 245
• Acceleration 0–100 km/h in sec – 5.7

Megan Wynes