Side Bets NICE DRIVES
A Changing of the Guard It’s not a haul to say these crossovers have come a long way. By Isaac Bouchard
BMW X3
AS CROSSOVERS HAVE taken the place of sedans as normal family transportation, they have become more and more like their four door forefathers. Noticeable trends are smaller wheelto-fender gaps, more aerodynamically friendly shapes, lower step-in heights and more and more car-like interior styling. If one were plopped blindfolded into many current models, it would be hard to tell you were in a vehicle once focused on off-roading or dirty work and hauling. These three clearly illustrate that trend; while they all have more ground clearance than a traditional four door and AWD, none look nor drive like SUVs of yore.
2020 BMW X3 30E
EPA ratings: 60 MPGe; 24 combined 0-60mph: 5.3 sec Price as tested: $65,020 Europe has pushed ahead with strict guidelines for fuel economy in new vehicles; though they measure it in grams of CO2 per kilometer driven, instead of miles per gallon like we do. This has led most car companies to bring plugin hybrids to market as fast as possible, as they score well in testing regimens. Now we are getting a taste of what these gas-electric hybrids can do as well. It is interesting to see if their complex and heavy drivetrains pay real world benefits, either economically or in economy. In the case of the BMWs, coloradoavidgolfer.com
the case seems strong for the latter. Whether it is the 6 cylinder X5 45e or the X3 30e tested here, these “sport activity vehicles” better the fuel economy of their gasoline-only versions, and have the ability to cover short distances (about 20 miles) on electric power only—as long as you charge them every day or so. But even when you can’t top up their lithium ion batteries, the extra torque provided by their electric motors makes them smooth, fast and refined. The downsides are the slight loss of cargo capacity—since the X3’s 12kWh batteries are under the floor of the cargo area—and the feeling of extra weight. This certainly doesn’t hurt ride quality, which is excellent; the X3 is less bothered by bumpy roads than most any other crossover in its class, and is one of the quietest as well. This latter quality is enhanced by the PHEV (plugin Hybrid Electric Vehicle) powertrain. The BMW’s enthusiast-focused heritage is apparent when you select one of the sportier drive modes; in Eco the X3 is somewhat slothful and unresponsive, all so as to generate the longest EV range possible and excellent fuel economy, which it readily achieves. The 30e routinely returned 3-5mpg better than a gas-only X3—and
35
is possible to actually get over 40mpg if one is disciplined and used the Max eDrive setting— yet is very fast when Sport is selected, with instant electric thrust that seamlessly blends with the turbocharged gasoline engine. Independent testing shows it will hit 60mph in 5.3 seconds. Total system power is rated at 288hp/310lb-ft, placing it right between the 248hp X3 30i and 355hp X3 M40i models, just like its acceleration. Likewise, the transition from EV-regeneration to friction braking was nigh on undetectable, something hard to achieve in a plugin. When spec’d with the M Sport package and big wheels, the X3 30e looks every part the performance crossover— and it drives like it too, with skidpad and braking numbers that match the hotrod M40i. As long as you’re willing to pay the premium for the PHEV drivetrain, and aren’t overly concerned with recovering all its cost through reduced fuel usage, it seems a great way to go green. Winter 2020 | COLORADO AVIDGOLFER
