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Having a runaway hit on its hands with the X5, it was natural enough for BMW to look around for other 4x4 niches to fill. And so the mini-me X5 was born, set to attack the Land Rover Freelander segment with a vengeance. Problem was, the X3 went into battle lacking the one crucial weapon that any off-roader range must have to be competitive: a diesel engine.
Now, six months after the launch of the 2.5 and 3.0-litre petrol models, that chink in the X3's armour has been filled by the 2.0-litre diesel unit which normally resides in the 3-Series. This new entry-level X3 2.0d costs £26,175 and packs 150bhp and a very useful 243lb ft of torque. There's no question that BMW's 2.0-litre diesel does sterling service in the 3-Series, but the 3-Series weighs 1490kg compared with the X3's rather more portly 1890kg.
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So is the X3 capable of getting out of its own way? Well, the quoted figures are 0-62mph in 10.2secs and a top speed of 123mph. That's perfectly acceptable on paper, but more importantly, the X3 also feels like a responsive performer. That's mainly due to the engine's generous torque, the maximum of which is developed at a low-ish 2000rpm. In practical terms, that means a relaxed cruising manner where speed can be maintained without the driver having to constantly drop down a gear. So while the X3 2.0d is slower to 60mph than its two petrol siblings, it is faster than either when it comes to the 50-75mph sprint in fourth gear (a six-speed manual gearbox is standard fit).
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