by Kelly Fisher
I’ve never been a BMW person. Not out of disdain. It’s more a mix of disinterest and the belief that BMWs are for other people. People who enjoy explaining torque distribution around the braai. People who get a little too animated about cornering. But then I spent a few days with the all-new, locally built BMW X3 20d and, honestly, it got to me.
Let’s start with the obvious. This is a good-looking car. Gone is the slightly awkward stance of the previous model, replaced with a sleeker silhouette, tighter proportions, and just enough menace up front to remind you this is a proper BMW. It manages that fine German trick of looking expensive without being shouty. And even though I know BMW’s kidney grille design has been polarising in recent years, I’ll say it: this one works.
Step inside and you’re met with the kind of interior that makes you briefly contemplate changing your entire life to justify it. Clean, unfussy, and beautifully put together, the cabin does what BMW does best: quality that feels engineered rather than just styled. It’s comfortable too, with the new curved digital display stretching across the dash and a pared-back look that makes it feel more modern than most of its rivals. BMW’s new iDrive system takes a minute to figure out, especially if you’re a habitual touchscreen tapper, but once you get used to the rotary dial and shortcut buttons, it all makes sense.
Now, about the drive.
This 20d variant is powered by a 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine, and while “diesel” might not stir your soul, this engine is one of the best arguments left for the format. It’s quiet (surprisingly so) refined, and delivers a solid 145 kW and 400 N.m of torque. That’s more than enough for everyday use, from merging onto highways to darting past slower traffic. The eight-speed automatic gearbox is smooth and sharp, and you get the feeling the car is always one step ahead of you.
The X3 handles with typical BMW confidence. There’s an underlying firmness to the ride, but it never feels jarring. You never forget it’s an SUV, but you also never feel like you’re dragging around unnecessary bulk. Fuel economy was decent, too. BMW claims 5.5 l/100km.
So, would I buy it? That’s the tricky part. The X3 20d starts at around R1 million+ now, and that’s a lot of money, especially with so many good options in this segment. But none of them quite feel like this. None are built right here in South Africa, either, at BMW’s Rosslyn plant, a subtle but important detail that makes the X3 more than just another German SUV.
I came into this drive a sceptic, but left surprisingly smitten. Maybe I’m not a BMW person. But I might be an X3 person.