There is plenty of demand for mid-range SUVs that offer a bit of luxury, as the registration figures show.

When we think of brands like BMW and Audi, we think luxury and simply unaffordable. That might be the case in one’s mind but the reality is that the luxury smaller SUV market is alive and thriving, with sales of 715 cars recorded in ROI in 2014. If we take it that these cars come with an average price of around €50,000, then Irish car buyers spent upwards of €35m on luxury SUVs during 2014.

With that much demand, it’s easy to see why brands like BMW are fiercely competitive in this space. The race to produce fresh models with improved features – especially in terms of economy – is at a pace.

ADVERTISEMENT

BMW introduced a new version of the X3 during 2014, with updates to the M Sport model added towards the end of the year. For the X3 upgrade, a new generation of turbo-diesel engines were introduced to boost performance, improve economy and lower CO2 emissions. With these upgrades came some changes to exterior design and claims of more gear as standard, with prices that are considered to be more competitive.

On the road, you would want to have lived a spoilt life not to be impressed. But for those considering the BMW options, I have to rank it against the Audi Q5 and the Volvo XC60. That was my starting point, so I looked at the specification sheets and instantly the BMW X3 came out on top in engine power and torque. That translates into a lively car that’s ahead of the field with an acceleration pace of 8 seconds for zero to 100km/h.

The 2.0 twin-turbo diesel engine was as smooth and quiet as it was impressive. It was matched to an eight-speed BMW automatic gearbox plus a range of technology features that allows the car to deliver a rated economy figure of 20km/litre (52mpg). In practice, this is difficult to achieve; my performance was 30% lower. I’m not complaining because over a range of driving conditions, I got close to 885km from a 67-litre fuel tank.

So, all of the technology failed to deliver an extraordinary efficiency result for me, but overall the use of BMW’s stop-start system with brake energy regeneration and the Eco Pro mode probably helped me not to be a whole lot worse. Relative to the Audi and Volvo competition, the X3 beats the Audi Q5 but is poorer than the Volvo. There are other important performance differences, such as Audi Q5’s better towing ability and slightly shorter length.

The BMW X3 is comfortable and spacious. Headroom and legroom are good, front and back. It has good seat adjustment options so it was easy to get comfortable. The boot is larger than these two competitors and the seats fold easily to give more load space.

The overall styling is distinctively BMW, even if the twin headlights are slightly more rounded. On the inside there are new cup holders with a sliding cover located in the centre console, and a leather steering wheel is now part of the standard equipment. So there is a more luxurious feel. The safety kit is impressive, but BMW still does not offer a knee-level airbag for the driver as other makes do. There are Iso-Fix couplings in the rear seats, but there is no spare wheel, even if BMW claims that the run-flat tyres do the job – not for me.

The five-star Euro NCAP rating is a 2011 rating one, so it needs to be updated. I really liked the surround view reversing system that gave a bird’s eye view when reversing but it costs an extra €783 so it’s expensive but great to use.

The X3 entry price is from €51,980 (£35,995 in NI), which is expensive and costs more than the Audi Q5 equivalent, with the Volvo XC60 the lowest in this group. To add to that, BMW can load on the extras and it’s easy to end up paying €8,000 more.

The Audi Q5 is the bestseller in the group and this year it has been upgraded. The BMW is impressive in luxury, economy and style, but the price is still far too high, making a secondhand X3 worth considering.

BMW X3 xDrive M Sport

Engine 2.0L diesel

Engine power 190hp

0-100km/h 8.1 seconds

Economy 20km/litre

Fuel tank capacity 67 litres

CO2 emissions 131g/km

Road tax band B1 €270

Main service 20,000km

12 months

Euro NCAP rating Five star (2011)

Towing rating 2,000kg

Warranty Three years

Entry price €51,980

NI price £35,995