BMW X3 review: Tough motor is built to tackle whatever British potholes can throw at it and has top speed of 134mph
Britain's appalling roads are BMW's gain, as the latest incarnation of its X3 does smooth-riding 'family SUV' as well as anything on the market
NOT so long ago I was on a launch for a well-known Korean car brand, talking to one of the senior engineers.
He was German. Of course he was — engineers are always German. That’s what they do best, along with Christmas markets and huge beers.
He said something interesting. He told me that when they are testing cars before launching, they always want to get it on the UK roads to see how it will behave.
Our roads are unlike any others in Europe, apparently.
He said he had never seen so many inputs into the steering wheel — we are constantly correcting and trimming our line.
When asked why he thought this was, he mumbled something about Brexit and shuffled off to talk crankshafts with one of the engineering magazines.
But I know why — potholes. I have become so sick of the state of our roads that I am bored of moaning about it. This country is criss-crossed by a network of Tarmac assault courses, scarred ribbons of asphalt and roadkill.
Our commutes have become a daily ride on the dodgems.
The reasons for the recent explosion in popularity of SUVs are varied and plentiful, but the degeneration of our roads is the one that makes most sense to me.
I hit a pothole the other day in a Ford Fiesta. I thought I had hit a Great Dane.
The steering wheel jerked and squirmed in my hands like a frog being tortured by a cat, the chassis groaned like a listing ship on its way to the seabed. Terrifying.
Now, if I had hit that same pothole in the BMW X3 it would have been a far less dramatic affair.
The X3 has to be given credit for the fact it is a survivor. You might even call it a trailblazer, in that it was one of the earlier luxury vehicles to mimic the good points of a car and marry them to the best bits of a 4x4 (the iconic X5 came first).
It has been around since 2003, and in that decade and a half a lot of competition has arrived.
But the X3 remains undaunted, selling more than 1.6million units worldwide. European sales peaked in 2012 but it is still shifting 41,000 models a year.
Perhaps Britain’s rubbish roads are BMW’s gain.
The latest version is more battle-ready than ever. The ride is kept serene and peaceful by an — optional — variable damper control.
I recommend it. Not only does it cosset from divots and dead badgers, it can be tightened up via driving modes to keep it from becoming yet another sanitised German SUV.
It is possible to throw some serious shapes in this big ol’ car, if that’s what gets the blood flowing to your baby-making bits.
Chances are it isn’t though — you’re buying an X3 as a result of the blood flowing to your baby-making bits. But this car does “family SUV” as well as anything else on the market.
For a start it is roomy. It is 51mm longer than the last model, boasting 550 litres in the boot, or a generous 1,600 litres with the back seats down.
And the interior is unapologetically luxurious, with lashings of soft trim and more touchscreen goodies than an Apple store. All wipe clean, of course.
KEY FACTS
BMW X3 xDRIVE 20i
Price: £39,120
Engine: 2-litre petrol
Economy: 39.8mph
0-62mph: 8.3 seconds
Top speed: 134mph
Length: 4.7 metres
CO2: 163g/km
I have no kids, but if I did the X3 would be a serious contender for my monthly PCP.
And I will be honest, if the UK’s roads get any worse, I will eventually have to give in to the SUV craze. It breaks my heart to keep punishing the Fiesta.
Right now it is between an X3 or a military grade Humvee.
Transit gets a vantastic makeover
LOOKING at the MS-RT Transit Custom, you’d be forgiven for thinking it hides Lamborghini performance underneath its bonnet.
Granted, the Welsh outfit has links to the M-Sport rally team that breathes fire into the WRC Ford Fiesta.
But its latest vehicle – based on the already handsome Ford Transit Custom – is purely a styling exercise.
Beefy side skirts, a redesigned front bumper and fog lights, massive OZ alloys wrapped in special Hankook Ventus S1 Evo2 tyres, and a bespoke exhaust system all set it apart from the crowd.
The result is a van that is less builder’s bum and more Kim Kardashian’s. But this isn’t some aftermarket outfit that merely bolts on some bits and passes it off as original.
Pontypool-based MS-RT is a meticulous hive of quality control and advanced engineering.
This starts at £32,995 for the short wheelbase versions with tailgates, and rises to £36,490 for a six-seater long wheelbase van, with barn doors at the rear.
All models are based on the top-spec Transit custom models, so come decked out with the excellent Sync3 touchscreen infotainment system, and the engine is Ford’s punchy 168bhp EcoBlue 2-litre TDCi unit, developing 405Nm of torque.
Inside, MS-RT decks it out in nappa leather and suede, all painstakingly hand-stitched to look proper premium – while a sports steering wheel tops it all off. It’s classy, and it drives pretty well too.
A slight modification to the rear springs – dropping the ride height – ensures it handles better when not fully loaded.
Of course, we’d love to see a bit of extra power to match the sporty exterior styling, but that would void warranties and cause all sorts of headaches for owners.
Instead, you can order an MS-RT directly through select Ford Van dealers.
Who needs a Ferrari when you can transport five mates and a load of mountain bikes?
Leon Poultney
KEY FACTS
MS-RT FORD TRANSIT CUSTOMPrice: From £32,995
Engine: 2-litre four-cylinder diesel
Transmission: Six-speed manual, front wheel drive
Power/torque: 170hp/405Nm
Economy: 43mpg
CO2: 165kg
Reader's Car of the Week
AS we are talking about robust wagons this week, I had to choose this 1997 Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution, sent in by Brett Evans, from Lincs.
Brett says: "This has a 3.5-litre V6 that pumps out 280hp and a five-speed tiptronic auto gearbox.
"These cars won the Paris-Dakar Rally three years in a row.
"I love this car - it goes like stink and turns heads."
To see your pride and joy here, send a picture and brief description to [email protected].
AN L OF A DAY
STAY sharp – tomorrow is the day learner drivers are let loose on motorways.
Joking aside, it’s a good idea. It seemed strange that the first time you experienced high-speed driving was after your test, potentially with no one else in the car helping.
Learners, who want to try, will have to be accompanied by a DVSA-approved instructor in a car with dual controls.
I’m all for it.
Surface sorter
WHICH ingredients are required for a lap record in MotoGP?
Rider performing out of his skin? Yes. Tyres also need to be top notch.
And it goes without saying the bike has to be class-leading.
But something you might not think about is the track itself. More specifically, the surface.
The Silverstone MotoGP, due to be held on August 26, is regarded as one of the season highlights because of its sweeping, fast corners.
But it’s always had one problem – an unpredictable surface.
Changes in texture and rough bumps have always been a concern, especially for two-wheeled sports.
But this year things will be different. To mark 70 years of Silverstone being open for business, all 3.66 miles of it have been resurfaced.
A couple of weeks ago, British competitor Cal Crutchlow became the first MotoGP rider to try it out, riding the Honda RC213V-S – the road-legal version of his actual LCR Honda track bike.
His reaction? “We will see new lap records this year.
“Before the resurfacing there were lots of changes to the track surface, lots of bumps and it made it a tough track.
“But after riding it, I can honestly say they’ve done a great job.
“I reckon it could take as much as 1.5 seconds from the lap record – a hell of a lot in MotoGP terms.”
The British MotoGP is set to be more exciting than ever.
MOST READ IN MOTORS
Calling young riders
FANCY competing on the hallowed Tarmac of Silverstone? Then why not enter the British Talent Cup?
The scheme provides an opportunity like no other for young riders to progress to top-flight racing.
They race the Honda NSF250R Moto3 bike, and most races take place at existing Dorna-run events, such as MotoGP, Superbike World Championship weekends and the British Superbike Championship.
Once you’ve applied online, if a panel of experts think you’ve got what it takes, you may be invited to a selection event in August.
From there you could make it to the competition stage.
So, if you or someone you know dreams of making it big in MotoGP, don’t forget to register at .