Updated Land Rover freelander challenges German premium crossovers. We decided to compare it with one of the best representatives segment, namely with Audi Q5 and BMW X3

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Crossovers are by far one of the most popular vehicle classes. The first generation BMW X3, for example, sold over half a million copies around the world in seven years, after which the demand for it began to gradually subside. At the end of 2010, it was replaced by the second generation X3.

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Growth Benefits (X3 xDrive35i; Drive20d) Test Drive

Contrary to modern fashion, dictating a reduction in dimensions even in a large format, the Bavarian crossover "BMW X3" in the second generation has become noticeably larger than before. And more powerful. And more dynamic. That does not prevent it from being at the same time more economical and more environmentally friendly than its predecessor. In addition, he received a new chassis, four-wheel drive as standard and other technical innovations.

The segment of small but powerful luxury crossovers has emerged as a class quite recently, but it is these cars that are now rapidly gaining popularity. They are a welcome purchase for many car enthusiasts and the best gift for car enthusiasts. Drive your doubts away from yourself and take the queue before it's too long ..

Reconciliation of contradictions is the basis for creating new cars. Consumers want each succeeding generation to be more spacious, safer, and better equipped. At the same time, the manufacturer must take care of reducing weight and fuel consumption, while maintaining a reputation and profitability.

Bmw x The second generation 3 is a typical mid-size SUV. Its length is 465 cm, and its wheelbase is 281 cm. It is somewhere between the BMW 5th and 3rd series.

The BMW X 3 Series F 25, which debuted in 2010, is a clear example of tough compromises. In comparison with the previous generation BMW X3 of the E83 series (2003-2010), the crossover has increased by 7 cm, and the wheelbase has grown by only 1 cm.

The main innovation is the transfer of production in the United States to the BMW plant in South Carolina. The predecessor was going to Austria. It may seem to some that this does not matter. However, the result of the comparison of the interior quality is not in favor of the new model. Customers from overseas are not so demanding on the quality of plastic. For Russian market local assembly was organized at the Kaliningrad enterprise Avtotor.

In the photo it seems that the car is practically new. But there are already 160,000 km on the counter. No significant wear marks are visible. The only thing that gives out the mileage is the wear of the protective layer on the central display.

For the whole family

When it comes to practicality, the X3 F25 can be used as an example. Despite the longitudinal arrangement of the engine behind the front axle, which is typical for BMW (which should reduce the length of the cabin), passengers find no reason to complain. The seating position of the driver is high - in an off-road manner without a shadow of sporting ambitions. The seat has a wide range of adjustments, as does the steering column. Two adults will sit comfortably in the back. Behind the driver's seat (taking into account the meter distance from the pedals), 73 cm remains. This is very good result... Few rivals can beat him, except perhaps Honda cr-v or Subaru forester... Mercedes GLK is much closer.

Wide interior BMW X 3 is comparable to the Honda CR-V, and is only slightly behind the Japanese in terms of legroom.

The owner also has a huge 550-liter trunk. The load capacity can be increased by partially or completely folding the rear sofa with a backrest divided into three sections (40/20/40). There is a small compartment under the boot floor where the battery is located. On the right side of the trunk, the possibility of emergency opening of the filler flap is provided fuel tank... Many vehicles have an electric boot lid. True, the drive cylinders wear out over time.

Left BMW X3 E83 and right F25.

Most crossovers are richly equipped, but the configuration of each instance is different. It's just that almost all the equipment required a surcharge, and the list of options itself consisted of several pages in small print. The most popular item is the iDrive controller with a 12-inch center screen. Poorer configurations have an 8.8-inch screen.

Comfort bet

It should be noted that rich equipment is not the main thing. Better to focus on finding low-mileage vehicles than lavishly equipped ones. A calm driver will hardly appreciate the Dynamic Damper Control active damper system or steering with variable gear ratio. But attention is paid to copies with front seats of the Comfort series and active cruise control.

Gasoline or Diesel?

All 4-cylinder petrol units are turbocharged and rated at 184 or 245 hp. (20i and 28i). The second option turned out to be less successful. Recently, more and more often, owners have to deal with premature wear of the oil pump drive. The only symptom is extraneous noise (howl) during the increase in speed. The defect leads to accelerated wear of the turbocharger, increased oil consumption and, in extreme cases, to engine seizure. The naturally aspirated 6-cylinder 3-liter engine (258 or 306 hp) is completely devoid of serious shortcomings. But there are very few such modifications, and transport tax hardly anyone will please.

Share of ads with diesel versions F25 goes up to 60 percent. That's a lot. Among diesels, versions with a 2-liter turbodiesel with a return of 184 hp prevail. For your information: Europe is the weakest diesel modification developed 143 hp and had a drive only to the rear axle.

Diesel's main enemy is too big service interval change of oil, which loses its viscosity much earlier. This has a particularly negative effect on the condition of the timing chain, as many European users have seen. There, the recommended oil change interval is an incredible 30,000 km. The problem is compounded by the fact that the chain is located on the box side, which significantly increases the cost of repairs.

If you travel frequently over short distances (for example, in the city), problems may arise with particulate filter... He simply does not have time to complete the self-cleaning process. With too frequent unsuccessful starts of the DPF self-regeneration filter, surplus fuel is formed, which gets into motor oil... Its lubricating properties are lost, which leads to wear of the turbocharger, the engine itself and the timing chain. An alarming sign is an increase in oil level between replacements.

The 3-liter turbodiesel of the N57 series, for the same reasons, is not tolerant of frequent short journeys. The timing drive is also located here on the side of the box. Fortunately, chain problems are much less common than in 2.0d. Among the disadvantages: the low resource of the belt pulley of the ancillary units and the EGR valve (exhaust gas recirculation system).

Transmission

Unlike other BMW models, the X3 F25 has a slightly different design. transfer case systems all-wheel drive xDrive. Instead of gears, a chain is used here. According to experts, this solution is more reliable, and any problems are associated only with neglecting oil changes. All-wheel drive system malfunctions will be indicated by jerks (jerks) when driving with completely turned-out wheels. Mechanics recommend changing the oil as often as possible - every 40-60 thousand km. Subject to regular oil changes (every 60-80 thousand km) for a long time there are no complaints about the operation of the 8-speed automatic box Steptronic transmission.

Not everything goes smoothly again

The trade-offs mentioned at the outset are likely to have resulted in excessive cost savings. BMW Owners X3 often complain about various malfunctions. For example, for many, after several tens of thousands of kilometers, it begins to knock steering rack... The ZF unit is a real wreck. According to the spare parts catalog, it has been modernized several times already, but complaints about knocking appear again and again, regardless of the model year of the car. Some were lucky enough to install a third rail.

Like most modern carsThe X3 does not tolerate long periods of inactivity. The battery drains quickly, which can lead to startup problems and electronics errors. Fortunately, the suspension does not pose a major problem - repairs are expensive.

The above is also confirmed by mechanics dealership BMW, which claims that the main problems of the X3 F25 are the steering rack and oil pump malfunctions of the 2-liter N20 series petrol engines (245 hp). Everything else is rare, and little things about electrics are usually caused by dirty contacts.

Conclusion

On secondary market the beginning of a sharp decline in prices for the second generation BMW X3 is already noticeable. Some proposals have even broken down the psychologically important mark of 1,000,000 rubles. So is the X3 F25 worth your attention? Is it really optimal family car - roomy, excellent steering and superbly equipped? Probably not, unless you are an ardent BMW fan and you are willing to bear the costs. The reliability level is significantly lower than the first generation model, and the cost possible repair will cause a heart attack. When purchasing a second X3, first of all, you should be ready to restore the steering rack. All the rest? If we get lucky. Service history is paramount.

Crossovers have been very popular lately. Take the first-generation BMW X3 for example, which has sold over 500,000 units. And after the demand for it began to gradually fall by 2010, the new generation X3 came to replace it.

BMW X3 review

Speaking of the new bmw x3 f25, it's worth mentioning right away about its, perhaps the only drawback. Despite greater clearancethan the previous model and a flat bottom without protruding parts, the "triple" passability is not good enough. And all because there is no downshift and rigid differential lock. Of course, this car is not designed to overcome difficult off-road conditions, but still the cross-country ability should be at the level. And this is where the disadvantages end, and this car has a lot of advantages.

Let's start with the look. The car is larger than its predecessor, but does not look massive thanks to the embossed elements on the side of the body. Front bumper The headlights may sound a little crude and underdeveloped, but they do not violate the overall aesthetics of the new BMW X3. In general, the appearance of the new "troika" does not cause any complaints, however, this applies to almost all Bavarian cars.

Now let's talk about the salon. Previous bMW model The X3 has often been criticized for its cramped rear seats and relatively small trunk. This has been fixed in the new F25. Even a person under 2 meters tall will not feel uncomfortable in the rear seats. The boot volume has been increased to 550 liters, which is more than many other cars in its class.

Continuing the review of the BMW x3, it is worth talking about the ergonomics of the driver's seat and the technical stuffing of the car. The driver's seat is impeccable as always. All the necessary adjustments for the seat and steering wheel, an informative dashboard, intuitive control of the electronic systems of the car: everything is present. The start-stop function is somewhat unusual. It stops the engine when braking and starts it when you release the brake pedal. Agree, it's a little scary to decide to leave the secondary road on the main road with the engine turned off. Fortunately, this feature can be disabled with a dedicated button. Of course, fuel consumption will increase slightly, but driving will be somewhat more familiar.

On the central tunnel there are buttons for selecting the driving mode: Sport +, Sport and Normal. The higher the "sportiness", the stiffer the suspension, the sharper the reaction to steering, the gearbox operating mode changes. But the suspension doesn't get too stiff or turn the car into a stool. Even the creators of the BMW X3 admit that the previous model was too stiff and in the F25 this excess stiffness is eliminated. Now even the suspension of the new "troika" in sport mode is noticeably softer than on old model in standard mode. In Sport + mode, the stabilization system is turned off, but it will not work to disrupt the car into a sharp skid, the system that prevents rollover will work.

Hydraulic power steering is a thing of the past. Now all modifications of the BMW X3 are equipped with an electric booster. The steering wheel has become noticeably lighter, while not losing its information content.

If you close your eyes to the lack of a downshift and differential lock, then new bmw The X3 is practically no criticism. And there are rarely any remarks about BMW cars.

BMW X3 specifications

The new five-door crossover has the following dimensions: 4648/1881/1661. The volume of the trunk, as already mentioned, is 550 liters, but if you add rear backrests seats, it will more than triple. The vehicle's ground clearance has increased compared to the previous model and is 212 mm, which is enough to overcome light obstacles. It is not worth overcoming heavy off-road conditions on this car, because there is a risk of skidding due to the lack of a differential lock. The capacity of the fuel tank is 67 liters, which should be sufficient for a relatively low consumption. Full mass the car - almost 2.3 tons, while the dynamic characteristics and handling are at a height thanks to powerful engine and numerous electronic systems... In general, bmw x3 technical characteristics do not stand out with something special and are characteristic of many cars of this class.

BMW X3 F25 - configurations and prices

In Russia, the base is the BMW xDrive20d with a 184 hp diesel engine. The acceleration time to 100 km / h is 8.5 seconds, which is a very good result for a crossover. BMW xDrive20d is equipped with a 6-speed mechanical box or an 8-speed automatic. BMW x3 price in this configuration starts at 1,795,000 rubles.

The BMW X3 xDrive28i and the top-end BMW xDrive35i will cost a little more and will cost between 1,870,000 and 2,130,000 rubles, respectively. Both cars are equipped with a 6-cylinder gasoline engine power of 258 and 306 hp and an 8-speed automatic. Acceleration to 100 km / h is 6.9 seconds for the BMW X3 xDrive28i and 5.7 seconds for the BMW xDrive35i, while maximum speed the first has 210 km / h (electronically limited), and the second has 245 km / h. Externally, the BMW xDrive35i features 18-inch wheels instead of 17-inch wheels in less expensive trim levels.

Video test drive BMW X3

The car is being assembled in Spartanburg, (South Carolina (USA) and Chennai (India)).

Design

Dynamic appearance The X3 F25 was created by Adrian van Hooydonk and compared to the E83, the 2nd generation looks more elegant. The front part of the car with an oblique radiator grille, large xenon headlights, a powerful front bumper with fog lights, chrome exterior trim and crisp bonnet contours characterize the sporty crossover.

The side view also characterizes the unique interpretations of the X Series design lines. These include highly flared wheel arches, short front axle spacings and dashboard further emphasizing the dynamic appearance.

The rear is characterized by horizontal lines that emphasize the robust character of the F25, while the precise lines and expressively modeled surfaces create an attractive effect of light and shadow.

Salon

The modern interior of X3 F25 is made of high quality materials. The front and rear have plenty of roomy compartments and cup holders, while the three rear seats offer exceptional travel comfort. Volume luggage compartment - from 550 to 1600 liters, and is the best in its segment. Backrests rear seat can be divided in a ratio of 40:20:40 and can be folded together or separately.

Equipment

Also, for comfortable driving, the Auto function is installed on the F25 Start Stop, braking energy recovery, EPS electric power steering, intelligent lightweight design, low rolling resistance tires that help reduce fuel consumption and emissions exhaust gases and additionally a gear shift indicator.

The F25 X3 has a completely redesigned suspension with "NORMAL", "SPORT" and "SPORT +" modes. Supplied as standard with permanent drive on four wheels BMW xDrive, and its the electronic unit control is interconnected with the dynamic stability control DSC.

The safety system includes front airbags, side head airbags, three-point automatic seat belts on all seats, belt force limiters, belt pretensioners, crash-active front head restraints, and ISOFIX child seat anchorages in the rear ...

The innovative BMW ConnectedDrive system offers a range of comfort and safety features, namely automatic 2-zone climate control, panoramic sunroof in the roof, high quality audio and navigation system with hard disk, Head-Up Display, adaptive headlights, control system high beam and a rear view camera including from above.

For even more exclusivity, the X3 crossover is available in 2 packages special equipment - and.

Specifications BMW X3 F25

Engines and model range

Video review of the BMW X3 F25 from the "Big Test Drive"

Videos of BMW X3 F25