Page 17 - Motor Trend (January 2020)

BMW X3 M

PRO Quick, powerful • Drifts like an M car • Power-folding second row
CON Stiff, jittery ride • No off-road modes • Jaguar’s take is better
he M division’s take on the the popping, snorting exhaust laggy,” Seabaugh said. “And its seats. Priddle pointed out the
standard X3 stuffs a new note played by the forced- ride is on the rough side.” high-quality stitching and swaths
TS58 503-hp twin-turbo induction inline-six. The X3M’s suspension “really of red and black leather broken
inline-six into the engine bay, Multiple editors are already hates sharp jolts,” Rechtin said, up by splashes of wood and
and adds a performance- pegging the X3M as a compel- and Evans said it has “a lot more carbon fiber, but she criticized
oriented version of BMW’s xDrive ling favorite for next year’s vertical motion than I expected; it the integration of the dash-
all-wheel-drive system. super-SUV comparison—the definitely went for the kidneys.” mounted infotainment screen.
The result is a driving expe- winner of which gets to compete The X3M had no trouble when Priddle also mentioned “ample
rience that Reynolds called in Best Driver’s Car. we took it away from pavement, cargo space and thoughtful
“amazingly fast.” Seabaugh and It didn’t fare quite as well managing our frame-twisting hooks in the back to keep bags
Evans both praised the X3M’s between the fun sections of articulation test just fine and from rolling around.”
willingness and capability for road. “The transmission is faring well in the sand—even So the X3M is not without its
power oversteer and tail-out jerky, and throttle response— sliding around playfully. flaws, but if this is where BMW’s M
antics. Loh said it “drifts like a depending on the mode—is Inside, Rechtin lauded the division is headed, we have a lot
Formula D racer.” Priddle loved either too aggressive or too comfortable and supportive front to look forward to. Duncan Brady

SPECS 2020 BMW X3M Competition
Base Price/As Tested $77,895/$83,845
Power (SAE net) 503 hp @ 5,950 rpm
Torque (SAE net) 442 lb-ft @ 2,600 rpm
Accel, 0-60 mph 4.0 sec
Quarter Mile 12.3 sec @ 117.3 mph
Braking, 60-0 mph 104 ft
Lateral Acceleration 0.95 g (avg)
MT Figure Eight 24.2 sec @ 0.86 g (avg)
EPA City/Hwy/Comb 14/19/16 mpg

Vehicle Layout Front-engine, AWD, 5-pass, 4-door SUV Engine/Transmission 3.0L turbo DOHC 24-valve I-6/8-speed automatic Curb Weight
(F/R Dist) 4,547 lb (51/49%) Wheelbase 112.8 in Length x Width x Height 186.2 x 74.7 x 65.7 in Energy Consumption, City/Hwy 241/177 kW-hr/100 miles
CO2 Emissions, Comb 1.22 lb/mile

BMW X7

PRO It’s how quick? • Third-row amenities • Rich interior
CON Slow-folding second row • Lots of body roll • Oh, that grille

ant a proper third row eight-speed auto, but the sensa-
in your BMW SUV? tion of speed also originates from
WTime to celebrate. The its ponderous body roll.
most capacious BMW ever has Consumers might expect a
arrived. And this 203.3-inch-long bulky driving experience from with a separate climate control sound system complete with
family hauler makes a ridiculous three-row crossovers, but drivers zone, and power-operated tweeters with accent lighting.
entrance by wearing one of the of the Mercedes GLS will appre- backrest controls. All that is great, but this X7 is
most obnoxious, lip-plumping- ciate how their errand run feels The lighter X7 xDrive40i is let down by its polarizing design,
gone-wrong grilles we’ve seen. less tiring than it would in the X7. probably the model we’d pick. excessive body roll, and a glacial
Maybe that’s why the X7 is so Not that second- and Although it never drives as small power-folding second row.
quick—to outrun criticism of its third-row passengers will have as a 5 Series, the fuel economy But as Loh said, “If you want to
imposing front end. Even with its much to complain about. Kids in and range are better than the take the extended family on a
335-hp base engine, the six- to the third row of loaded X7s get Merc’s, and you’ll have more tour, the X7 is your ride.” Rechtin
seven-seat BMW feels swift. heated seats, wood trim, sunroof money for options, including concurred: “The new executive
Some credit goes to a responsive and sunroof cover controls, vents a 1,500-watt Bowers & Wilkins shuttle has arrived.” Zach Gale

SPECS 2019 BMW X7 xDrive40i 2019 BMW X7 xDrive50i
Base Price/As Tested $74,895/$92,895 $93,595/$112,245
Power (SAE net) 335 hp @ 5,500 rpm 456 hp @ 5,250 rpm
Torque (SAE net) 330 lb-ft @ 1,500 rpm 479 lb-ft @ 1,500 rpm
Accel, 0-60 mph 5.7 sec 4.7 sec
Quarter Mile 14.2 sec @ 97.8 mph 13.2 sec @ 107.3 mph
Braking, 60-0 mph 140 ft 136 ft
Lateral Acceleration 0.78 g (avg) 0.79 g (avg)
MT Figure Eight 27.6 sec @ 0.66 g (avg) 27.0 sec @ 0.69 g (avg)
EPA City/Hwy/Comb 20/25/22 mpg 15/21/17 mpg xDrive40i
Vehicle Layout Front-engine, AWD, 6-pass, 4-door SUV Engine/Transmission xDrive40i 3.0L turbo DOHC 24-valve I-6/8-speed automatic xDrive50i
4.4L turbo DOHC 32-valve V-8/8-speed automatic Curb Weight (F/R Dist) xDrive40i 5,466 lb (47/53%) xDrive50i 5,694 lb (49/51%) Wheelbase 122.2 in
Length x Width x Height 203.3 x 78.7 x 71.1 in Energy Consumption, City/Hwy xDrive40i 169/135 kW-hr/100 miles xDrive50i 225/160 kW-hr/100 miles
CO2 Emissions, Comb xDrive40i 0.88 lb/mile xDrive50i 1.13 lb/mile
JANUARY 2020 MOTORTREND.COM 17