After pulling a fast one on Audi with the X1, BMW is at it again. This time it’s the bigger brother X3 taking on the Audi Q5. The new X3 teases the prospective Audi Q5 buyer to go for something new and city-friendly. But does that really add up to the extra bucks the X3 demands? Lets find out.

The daytime running LEDs in the X3 epitomise the latest piece of technology looked at in a luxury car. Be it the flowing long sedans or the SUVs, daytime running headlamps add to sharpness of a car’s stance. But the X3 doesn’t look as humongous as the Q5 so it stays behind Audi in the looks department. Nor does it live up to Audi’s brand image of SUVs in the country.

Both cars have 2.0 litre diesels and ample power, but the Beemer wins in handling. The steering is surprisingly meatier and lighter than the X1 or even the three-series. More often than not, you will drive it fast — this comes from the confidence of good handling. Unlike the Mercedes-Benz ML SUV, the X3 feels like it is meant for being roared thanks to it oh-so-sweet and powerful braking.

The Audi Q5 gives similar top speeds and performance, mind you. But, it doesn’t give you that confidence. Most probably you would be coasting slowly than speeding in the Audi. Even at the crowded marketplace, I was planking my foot hard on the accelerator of X3 when I saw empty spaces on the road because I was sure that it would brake just in time and not run over the odd cosco-ball chasing kid, confused dog or deaf aunties on the streets.

The X1, well, can’t really be called a full-fledged SUV — there’s a constant feeling of I want more in the half-SUV. So BMW X3, at best, is a city friendly SUV – in other words, X1 in a bigger avatar, packed with the thrills of a complete SUV. Plus, if you are also looking for a SUV that would make you complain less on highways, pick X3.

The X3 doesn’t just have a sport mode but a ‘sport +’ mode too – that’s even raunchier, rugged and fast. It works well to give at least 9.5 kmpl against the 11 kmpl in normal mode — that’s quite decent for an SUV. At traffic signals, the engine almost turns off and becomes silent to save fuel unless you press the accelerator again. Its sunroof is bigger, making it easier to get out andit feels higher above the ground than the X1.

The new X3’s corners are more pointed rather than the curved one its predecessor had — making it look sharper and more intelligent. This adds to the new urban lifestyle of the cars found in today's times. The placement of controls and equipment inside the car makes it brainier in these times of high traffic – it offers just what you need, with every feature and gadget fitted in a user-friendly manner. But look closely, it’s almost the common equipment found in the X1 or the three-series! Yawn!

The automatic top-end diesel X3 at about Rs 50 lakh on-road doesn’t really set the cat among pigeons afire when you know that the similar spec Q5 business edition costs Rs 40 lakh. It doesn’t feel as luxurious as the top-end Merc ML Class worth Rs 55 lakh. So make your choice — do you want the popular Audi SUV in your garage for status appeal, the ML for sheer class or the X3 for its drivability that also steers perfectly in the modern city traffic conditions.

The car was provided by BMW India for test drive

saahilanant@mydigitalfc.com