CAR magazine UK's BMW X3 prototype review – the replacement for its bestselling car globally
After three generations and over 3.5 million units sold, the BMW X3 is about to enter its fourth generation. While the X3 Mk1 was built by Magna in Graz, Austria, the latest version will be assembled in Spartanburg, North Carolina, and theversion in Rosslyn, South Africa. CAR magazine secured an early drive in production-ready prototypes of the new 2024 BMW X3.
Engineered during the Covid pandemic when the world almost ground to a halt, the X3 was – like the 5-series developed around the same time – significantly de-contented in a rushed move to curb costs, CAR can reveal. It’s worth noting the features the newcomer doesn’t have, as much as what it does. Also thanks to BMW OS9, the new X3 can switch from ultimate driving to ultimate parking machine. Simply hit a button on the My BMW app to kick off a sequence of fully automatic moves which stows away this family-size SUV in a designated kerbside space, presto. More impressive still is the chip’s ability to memorise and repeat up to 10 different hardcore parking manoeuvres which may even include extreme stunts like a 600-metre reverse escape from a super-tight underground storage maze.
BMW replaced the trad dual-pinion steering set-up with a brand-new so-called axially parallel design which is claimed to advance handling, response and controllability to a more rewarding level. Supporting the trick steering are the wider rear track, a more rigid body structure, stiffer anti-roll bar attachment points, revised pivot bearings, beefed-up wishbone mounts and an uprated front axle geometry with more camber.
Instead of leaving all systems in Sport, the steering is now locked in Comfort and DSC Off is only one more nudge away. This gives us a bit of extra drama at the exit of the slow corners and also allows a more playful attitude through the long 70-80mph bends where the electronic rear diff permits a broader scope of sidesteps. For cost reasons and to protect the more profitable X5, the smaller X won’t be available with air suspension or rear-wheel steering.
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