I’ve always been fond of the X3. But I’m one of the few out there I suppose. The X3 has always lived in the shadow of the bigger, more dynamic looking X5, and the smaller but more popular X1. Part of the blame must go to BMW. The first-gen X3 seemed almost like an afterthought. Like BMW had rushed in to make a car to compete with the Q5. Two generations have passed since, and this new one holds its own fairly well.

I have the 30i petrol version with me for a few days. This engine produces a wholesome 252bhp at 5200rpm and 350Nm of torque from 1500 odd RPM. It’s a very very drivable unit. There is so much power on tap at any point of time. The sprint to 100kph comes up in just 6.3s. That’s a quick car, and it makes short work of overtaking. Out on the highways, it’s happy to coast at over 150 all day long. This is a proper cruiser.

What makes the experience more pleasant is the gearbox. It’s a bit sluggish in comfort mode. But really does pick up once you slot it into Sport. Shifts are quick, and smooth, and I never felt a need to take over on the manual paddle shifters. The drive modes do actually work very well.

On the inside, things are very typical BMW. This is a good thing. There are lots of buttons, and I’m rather fond of them. It’s easy to reach and change the AC settings as well as the audio settings. I’m not a big fan of touch screens in cars, and the BMW interior balances both rather well. Even the buttons on the steering wheel are well… buttons, with proper tactile feedback. There’s Apple CarPlay on offer, and yes, you can connect to it wirelessly (Are you listening Land Rover?). There’s also wireless charging on offer, and it works rather well. There’s a small blue light that comes on to indicate that the device is actually charging. Charging is slow, but it serves the purpose.

There are digital dials, and a large touchscreen spanning the top of the centre console. The screens are crisp. The central screen is useful when you’ve connected Apple CarPlay especially. Music, Maps work very well. The screen behind the the steering wheel though, I’m not so sure how useful that is. The point of having a screen is so you can display dynamic information. The digital dials are mostly static. Yes, the design does change with change in drive modes, but that’s about it. The marginal utility of that screen is pretty narrow.

Overall, the interior is a pleasant place to be in. There are dual tone accents throughout. The interior lighting is soft and pleasing. The seats are extremely comfortable, at the front and rear. The rear seats are foldable, and also recline. There’s ample luggage space on offer too. All in all, a great family car. But yes, this isn’t a 7 seater. If you’re looking for more seats, you’d be better off with an X5 or X7.

On the move, the X3 doesn’t disappoint. There is tonnes of grip on offer. The steering is direct, and you feel connected to the road. It’s not got the point and shoot accuracy of a Mini or a BMW 2 Series, but it’s very well balanced for an SUV. The ride is comfortable too. Again, it’s not the feathery smooth ride you get with a Land Rover, but it’s acceptable in a very different sort of way. It’s more involving, more communicative, less soft. There’s more confidence to be taken away here.

I had the X3 for about 3 days, and drove it for nearly 500km. It might be overlooked by lots of other motoring journalists, but I think this car is a worthy of your consideration if you’re looking for a mid sized SUV.