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It's turning into SUV week here at Top Gear. We've already seen a blinger VW, an even uglier Audi (didn't think it was possible, huh?) and now we've got a greener BMW X3.
This is the clunkily named X3 xDrive18d, but here's the important bit: it's the most economical X3 ever - and one of the cleanest, most frugal SUVs we've ever seen.
The X3 xDrive18d (no, sorry, we can't keep writing that. How about X318d, BMW?) is powered by a 2.0-litre turbodiesel, which puts out 143bhp and a handy 258lb ft of torque.
It'll see the X3 to 62mph in just over 10 seconds - which, let's face it, is as fast as you ever really need to go in a porky SUV - and, more importantly, will return 45.6mpg and emit just 165g/km of CO2.
That's impressive stuff - in fact, consumption is eight per cent lower than the stop-start Freelander, while emissions are 10g/km lower than the cleanest Audi Q5. That said, the new hybrid Lexus RX will manage 148g/km and is quicker into the bargain, hitting 62mph in 7.9 seconds.
The X318d (yes, we're sticking with that) starts at £27,865. Go and buy one. Or don't. Your choice.
Now watch Clarkson take the X3 off road, with disastrous results:
Open Car Bar
What do you think?
Want to comment on this?
TheStig-wannabe commented on this article
at 02:15 pm on 16 April 2009
well,i don't understand why should anyone buy this SUV??..or the X3,it looks as ugly as it can,not at all practical,not a good off-roader too.And the other part is its bad bad suspension...i think prospective buyers' should rather work hard for 1 more year and then invest their hard-earned money to buy the big brother of the beemer family-the X5..
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heinz commented on this article
at 02:28 pm on 16 April 2009
Yes, it's ugly as sin and probably had to be carried away by an helicopter after that photo shooting on the rocks.
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RealMan commented on this article
at 05:27 pm on 16 April 2009
If that X3 is ugly then there needs to be a massive urgent cull of all SUVs Except X5. Porsche cayenne will be first to the slaughter followed by the soulless classles Q7.If anyone thinks the X3 is as ugly as a sin then we all need a face lift ourselves or perhaps spec savers need to expand their stores in order to admit more visually impaired folks. That is a massive improvement on the early X3. I hate X3 anyway but that is much better. Tiguan, Q5, and co please stay indoors. It is for the best.
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heinz commented on this article
at 07:37 pm on 16 April 2009
Well, a little improvement is that it no longer shows grey plastic on half the outside. But it still has the indicators from another car and that constellation of holes under the headlights is truly ghastly. And at BMW they liked so much the needless twisted c-pillar it's still there. But of course most SUVs look disgusting. The G-Class is no SUV and is all you need if you want a classy off-roader. Or get a Defender a Range Rover o a Lada Niva
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Jasano commented on this article
at 04:15 am on 17 April 2009
that is truly hideous
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