Playing second fiddle to one of the finest luxury 4x4s money can buy means the BMW X3 gets something of a rough ride.

After all, if you have your heart set on a Beamer with off-road capability, why settle for anything less than the X5.

Well, for starters, the X3 is obviously going to be cheaper, even though the asking prices start at a reassuringly expensive £29,310 for the cheapest 2.0-litre diesel and rise to £38,910 for the 3.0-litre diesel in M Sport specification. But not even this most expensive model costs as much as a base model X5.

Then there are the practicalities. Winding your way through city streets, you will appreciate the smaller girth and might even feel rather smug about shelling out so much less for a car that still has bags of room and, surprisingly, actually offers more boot space than its big brother.

The seats don't quite fold flat, which is a disappointment, but there is a lot of space in the back and it should more than suffice for most carrying needs. Eight-foot planks I needed to deliver proved no problem.

The M Sport styling adds a touch of drama to what is already a vehicle which - viewed from the front - has presence and looks muscular. The side view is similarly appealing, with a hint of the 1 series on steroids, and it is only round the back that the X3 is something of a Plain Jane and looks a little awkward and narrow.

In the cabin, high-quality materials now abound following revisions in 2006 that largely answered criticisms about the use of cheap plastics in some areas. It is now a worthy rival to the Freelander 2 in the premium quality stakes, although the Land Rover will always win out when it comes to driving over the rough stuff.

While the handling is excellent, the ride is a disappointment on poor surfaces or over bumps. It's fidgety, even bouncy, and at these sort of prices the driver and passengers have a right to expect a more cosseted reaction to the vagaries of road surfaces.

However, put the X3 through its paces on a good road and you can almost forgive its flaws. Despite the high driving position, there is an absence of roll, and you might even forget that you are in an off-roader. Front vision is excellent and the ergonomics up to scratch. You might be reluctant to fork out for the M Sport aerodynamics package, but it should make sense when it comes to re-sale and it certainly adds to your enjoyment. The logo makes an appearance on the chrome door sills and the chunky steering wheel to remind you every time you open the door that this model is a bit special.

The 2.0-litre diesel engine offers more than enough power to do the job, and the performance figures of 0-62mph in 8.9 seconds, maximum speed of 128mph and combined mpg figure of 43.5 should negate any need to go further up the range.

But if you must, the 3.0-litre diesel will hit 62mph in 6.6 seconds and go on to a top speed of 146mph. You will pay for this extra performance with a combined mpg figure of 34.4mpg.

The 2.0d engine was not available in the original X3, but now it is account for something like 70 per cent of sales. Marry it with the Steptronic automatic transmission, as fitted to the test car, and you have a a piece of BMW excellence that seamlessly and effortlessly delivers the goods.


At a glance

Model : BMW X3 2.0d M Sport

Price: £31,575

Transmission: Six-speed auto

CO2 emissions: 172 g/km

Combined fuel consumption: 43.5

Power: 177bhp

Performance: 0-62mph in 8.9 seconds