Ahead of the BMW X3 30 xDrive M Sport Pro's official launch in India, we take the new generation X3 for a test. The soon-to-be-launched car maintains the status quo with the racier M Sport Pro variant, which gains a more powerful petrol engine and sharper looks. The power output now swells to a significant 258bhp, and torque climbs to a sizable 400Nm. Paired with a mild hybrid system, the X3 30 M Sport Pro can gallop to 100 km/h in just 6.3 seconds. That is 1.5 seconds faster than the less powerful 20 xDrive M Sport.
That said, numbers only tell half the story as the enhanced powertrain lends the X3 a more explosive personality. It feels much quicker than the X3 20, and the power delivery has a razor-sharp edge. The 8-speed gearbox also responds quickly and puts the driver on the pedestal in terms of the dynamic experience. Coupled with direct steering, the X3 30 xDrive M Sport Pro feels like a sports car trapped in an SUV body shell. The larger 20-inch wheels with red brake calipers are not just for visual drama, as they stop the X3 very well, and it encourages you to push it hard around corners in a way an SUV of this class would never do.
The dashboard comes with new materials that add to the luxury quotient, and the steering wheel has the typical quality plus the heft of a sporting BMW, which you expect. The sporty seats also provide the necessary support and add to the fun factor with enough side bolstering.
Despite its obvious performance, the X3 30 M Sport Pro is very much a luxury SUV topped with all of BMW’s technology and practicality prowess, including the latest infotainment system and a cavernous boot that can take care of your weekly trips to the Golf Club as well.
Equipment levels remain generous with a 15-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, a heads-up display, a 14.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, panoramic sunroof, 3-zone climate control, powered and ventilated seats plus lots more.
The exterior, meanwhile, is a lot more aggressive now with plenty of M badging scattered around the car. Even better is the illuminated BMW kidney grille, which glows at night and grabs plenty of attention on the road. Priced at an ex-showroom INR 74,50,000, the offering positions itself firmly within the luxury bracket.
Overall, there is little doubt that the 30 xDrive M Sport is easily the most appealing iteration of the X3 as it ramps up the drama quotient, along with making it a more satisfying driver’s car.