BMW X3

Our verdict

The BMW X3 is a small SUV that tries to be an X5-lite; and fails. Too hard on-road and terrible off it, it ain’t BMW’s finest hour.

Comfort

There's plenty of space but rear legroom is lacking. And then there's the biggest issue with the X3 - the ride. Bounce, bounce, bang. Young people, and Zebedee off the Magic Roundabout, may be able to cope, but older patrons will hate every hip-loosening moment.

Performance

Four engines to choose from: a 2.0-litre four-pot and 3.0-litre straight-six diesel and a pair of petrol sixes that range from 2.5 to 3.0 litres. Diesel power suits the car best - the lower-end 2.0d has 177bhp, gets to 62mph in a tidy 8.9 seconds and hits 128mph. At the other end of the scale, the three-litre achieves 62mph in just 6.6 seconds and 149mph. Faster than you'd want to go in an X3...

Cool

About as cool as the Argyle sweater your colour-blind auntie bought you, worn in the height of summer while working in a bakery. In Uganda.

Quality

Some bits look and feel cheap - unusual for a BMW. Nothing actively falls off, but it doesn't feel like there's been loving attention to detail...

Handling

Remarkably, the X3 handles pretty well - it's just that in doing so it becomes one of the hardest-riding cars on sale. Beware your spine - it may look like it should be a compliant SUV, but it's more like a skateboard.

Practicality

The X3 remains a fairly practical car, but it's not as huge as you might think given the dimensions. If you need big and want a Bimmer then a second hand X5 is a better bet.

Running costs

Expensive to run really, but the 2.0d is the best bet day-to-day. It has a 22 percent tax hit, gets 43.5mpg and has the lowest insurance group at 15. Residuals are safe though - saved by the badge.