new BMW X facelift

New BMW X3 xDrive 20d Facelift Review: Active Change

new BMW X3 facelift 2015 (5)

BMW X3, what the Bavarian carmaker calls the creator of the compact Sports Activity Vehicle class, has been a global success having sold more than a million units. Brought to life in 2003 and now in its second generation, the family oriented vehicle received a facelift some time back to mark the mid-point of its product life cycle. Here’s all you need to know about the refresh

Images: Chirag Mondal

Another facelift? Should I care?

Well, unlike most facelifts which confine themselves to some visual nip and tuck, the X3 gets an all new heart along with a few other interesting changes. The mid-size premium SUV segment is important for this market, and that’s why it’s a critical update.

You’ve got my attention, tell me what matters

The headline news with the new BMW X3 is its engine. The 2.0 liter four pot motor has been overhauled so drastically, it’s as good as new. In the process, BMW have increased the power by 7 bhp, which now stands at 190 bhp @ 4000 rpm while also having managed to increase the efficiency. Another big change is the reduction in engine noise. The new generation engine is much quieter and feels much better suited for a mainstream car like the X3 which has its application as an everyday machine for families which value comfort and refinement over outright sportiness.

BMW X3 XDrive 20d facelift India

The new generation, all-aluminium 2.0-litre diesel engines uses common rail direct injection with solenoid valve injectors and works with increased injection pressure of 2,000 bar. This has bumped up the torque output by 20Nm and the figure now stands at 300Nm. In conjunction with the eight speed auto transmission and new tyres with reduced rolling restsiance, the X3, even with all its weight and size is claimed by BMW to deliver an efficiency figure of 20kmpl. And we know they’re not bluffing as our very own ARAI have validated their claim by awarding the new car a fuel efficiency rating of 18.93 kmpl.

Those are impressive numbers for a burly SUV meant to lug five with their luggage and sometimes a week’s worth of ration.

So no changes made to the exterior?

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No facelift is complete without some cosmetic nip and tuck, and it’s no different with the new version of this globally popular SUV either. The most remarkable difference over the previous version is the new set of headlamps and the chrome embellished kidney grille. The headlamps have been elongated, given a bigger, edgier shape at the flanks and have been stretched on the insides as well to merge into the grille. The kidney grille, by itself gets some changes, including a liberal dash of chrome, especially on the sides to make direct contact with the headlamps.

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Down below the car gets a reshaped bumper with bigger central and side air dams. The vents also get satin silver highlights to lift the premium appeal that tad bit. There is a new chrome lining around the fog lamps housings too. The shape of the simulated under-guard for the front bumper has changed and so has some lines on the bumper itself

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In profile, the new X3 gets ORVM mounted blinkers, and that’s pretty much it, though at the rear, the bumper, just like the front gets a thorough refresh.

What’s changed inside?

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Not much, except for a new hi-gloss piano black inlay for the center console and a sliding cover for the front cup holders. The tail-gate too now gets an automatic opening feature where it pops open upon you sticking your leg beneath the rear bumper. Good for a time when both your hands are full with wife’s shopping bags.

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The X3 has always boasted a comfortable, spacious interior with quality materials and plenty of cubbyholes. The boot is massive, doesn’t have a loading lip for easy access and the rear seats are flexible enough to fold down into a few useful configurations. All these things make this car very popular in affluent countries, and BMW have decided not to mend what’s not broke.

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