Before we start, I've got to admit I wasn't a fan of the original BMW X3. It might have been a sales success, being the first mid-sized SUV with a BMW badge and have excellent driving dynamics but the Bangle styling in my view looked weird and unattractive.

Enter the X3 Mk2, which is bigger, quicker, greener and now only available with diesel power. However, the SUV market has changed quite a bit since the first X3 went on sale; can this car compete in this busy marketplace? I spent a week with the £31,140 2.0d SE to find out.



This X3 gets off to a good start by being far better looking than its predecessor, in fact it now almost looks like a scaled down version of its bigger brother the X5. It's 83mm longer and 28mm wider than its predecessor, but it's 13mm shorter and sits on a slightly longer wheelbase.

At the front, there's the usual massive kidney grille, but more interesting is the way the faired-in headlights are angled slightly downwards and the fog lights mounted high in the front airdam.

Strangely, this X3 looks lower on the road, but this is an illusion, as in fact the ground clearance is unchanged. The sculpted flanks certainly give the side of the X3 a more muscular look.



I think it's from the back that the X3 looks most similar to the X5, with the curvy rear quarters, large rear light clusters and the chunky rear bumper.

Inside the X3, the interior design and quality is as good as any other model in the BMW range. The dashboard design is fairly upright and centers around the screen for the latest version of BMW's iDriver controller.

Like the dashboard, the driving position is fairly tall, giving a commanding view of the road. The optional front sports seats are comfortable and there's enough range of adjustments for the seats and steering column for even the tallest drivers.



Space in the back is no better than average, as taller front drivers and passengers might have to make compromises so that two rear passengers can get comfortable. Another plus point of the X3's longer wheelbase is the bigger boot. With more than 70 litres than the first-generation car, boot space now totals 550 litres.

All X3's including our test car are in SE specification, this means that classy Nappa leather trim, 17-inch alloy wheels, front and rear parking sensors and the latest version of the still fiddly iDrive are standard.

So what's the X3 like to drive? Well, the latest 181bhp 2.0-litre turbo diesel impresses with the performance, the 0-62mph time of 8.5 seconds is respectable and the top speed is 130mph. This engine mated to a smooth, slick-shifting six-speed manual gearbox is a pleasure to use.



This engine is refined too, with the classic diesel rumble only heard from cold at start-up.

BMW's X models aren't known for their off-road ability and the X3 is no different. However, what the X3 loses in off-road ability, it more than makes up for in driving appeal.

Our test car was fitted with upgraded 18-inch wheels and optional run-flat winter tyres (Pirelli Sottozeros, an £1800 option) and £910 of variable damper control system with Normal, Sport and Sport Plus modes.

Yet with all this choice, it felt best in Normal mode, where its body control could shame some hot hatches. Despite the winter tyres and 18-inch alloy wheels, the ride wasn't too hard either, but the trade-off was more road noise.



Optional Servotronic steering (£175) was also fitted and works by varying the level of power assistance – and variable-ratio sports steering (£370). Personally, if I was ordering an X3, I'm not sure either of these would be high on my options list, as it's no sports car. The steering also was too sharp at times, making the X3 sometimes feel a bit twitchy. Still, the X3 was very stable on the motorway.

So has this X3 changed my view of the past? Yes, as it looks like some of the driving magic from its bigger brother the X5 might have worked its way down the range. The X3 impresses by just how car-like it is to drive and with BMW's clever EfficientDynamics it shouldn't prove to be any more expensive to run. So if you can afford it, the X3 is definitely worth a try.