With its re-profiled tail-lamps and a massive touchscreen, the X3, always good at basics, is now exceptional at a few things too
As far as mid-life facelifts go, the new BMW X3 has done a fair bit more than what its rivals have, all the while keeping the X3’s key focus very much intact. Unlike the facelifts to the Audi Q5 and the Volvo XC60, a cursory glance is all it takes to realise that BMW’s well and truly given it a big shot in the arm.
A solid giveaway is the upsized grille which, while definitely not as comically-sized as on some of the other BMWs, gives it prominence over pretty much everything else on the fascia. In terms of functionality, though, it does serve a major purpose, as BMW has incorporated a system it calls ‘Active Air Stream’. How it works is there’s a kind of curtain inside the grille, which opens and shuts depending on the engine temperature. This helps with the air flow and reduces drag, too.