BMW X3 verdict

This might be a whole new model generation of BMW X3, but you won’t find anything particularly radical here. But that’s not really a bad thing: it’s a sign that the firm had a solid, well-engineered platform to work from, and it has targeted developments at areas where it can offer a tangible improvement.

Certainly, both the exterior and interior makeover give the X3 a fresh new look and some extra character. As ever, the brand’s recent design work has the ability to be a touch divisive, although to this tester’s eyes the X3 avoids the worst of the kidney grille excess, and even if the interior lighting won’t be to everyone’s taste, it’s a welcome effort to avoid bland design.

More significant, of course, is the work done on the chassis and powertrain, and in all aspects there are notable improvements. In M50 form the X3 has a good dynamic edge, but without the compromises in ride comfort that sometimes occur when a manufacturer attempts to produce a performance SUV.

By ramping up the qualities that BMW has always excelled at – driving dynamics and premium feel – the latest X3 is able to hold its own in a large pack of premium SUVs that ranges from the Mercedes-Benz GLC and Porsche Macan to the Volvo XC60 and Range Rover Evoque.