Test drive BMW X3 E83 since 2007 SUV

SUV selection problem up to $ 65,000

Alexander Glutkov, 33 years old, works as the head of the Department of External Communications. Rides to Toyota Avensis. He wants a spacious all -wheel drive crossover with handling and comfort of a car. Budget $ 65,000.


I have no special reason for changing the car. There was simply a desire to have a new, more spacious and roomy car, which is at least not inferior to my current Toyota Avensis. And since the yard is not a month of May, I wanted to enlist the support of all -wheel drive.
 

For the past three years, I have been actively operating the 2.0 -liter Toyota Avensis. In principle, there are no complaints about the car. It is controlled great, it looks modern, it does not particularly require investments. But for 36 months this is already a decent time so that the real feeling develops into a habit. So, frankly, I wanted something new. At first I thought about a full -fledged SUV, but what really like is prohibitively.


And then a friend bought a crossover of one famous brand, and I had a chance to ride all day. I have not felt such a buzz since I first ended up in a driver’s place. First of all, the car is quite large, roomy, for a family with two children is perfect. Secondly, SUV is comfortable and easy to control, I did not feel a fundamental difference compared to a car. However, the most pleasant feeling of confidence that infects all -wheel drive on a slippery or wet road. So, having analyzed my sensations and counting the assets, I came to the conclusion that it was time to get something like that and myself. What do you want to get from the car? Definitely automatic box, roomy trunk and pleasant appearance. There are quite enough proposals in this segment, but the number of horses should be exceeded for two hundreds for the power of the power so that acceleration and acceleration do not cause complaints, significantly narrow the circle of suspects.
 

My requirements for the car:

Image
Modern, not devoid of elegance SUV, powerful and safe.

Style
An aggressive appearance is more interesting, but this factor is not fundamental.

Shodal qualities
Ideally, I would like to feel the usual handling and dynamics of a car. And the suspension should not be too sports.

Economy
Not so relevant. I am aware that a powerful all -wheel drive crossover with an automaton will differ in excellent appetite. And I'm ready for this

Interior
A comfortable and spacious salon with high -quality finishes, roomy trunk.

Equipment in the standard
Automatic gearbox, climate control, sidelines sheathed with skin.
 



Mitsubishi Outlander XL
It was selected because: a fairly new model, a powerful motor, a suitable price.

The young model, about which I heard and read a lot, but there was no time to go to the salon. Frankly, on the Internet pages, Outlander looks more interesting than live. It seems to me, from the point of view of modern design, the appearance of the car is quite unpretentious. Such a bloated station wagon, which once again emphasizes a small diameter of the wheels. I really liked only the LED rear lights that revive the car a little.


Yes, and in the salon they overcome such sensations. The interior looks too simple. Even despite the solid finish and clearly expensive configuration with climate control, MP3 player and leather seats. The hard plastic of the panels will soon begin to creak non -music. The front seats are equipped with good lateral support and sufficient number of adjustments, but at the same time they are quite narrow: I feel frankly clamped. Because of this, the feeling of the spaciousness of the cabin is instantly lost. However, if you sit back, it will not appear at all. There is very little space in height, even a medium -sized person will rest his head against the ceiling.


But the trunk is just wonderful! The stroller will fit, and the place for household bags will still remain. Yes, and the button for folding the rear seats is convenient: I pressed it and here you have a loading platform in half a orphanage.
 

On the road Outlander seemed a real well done. Firstly, it is very convenient to drive a car: you can’t hold ergonomics, and visibility is at a height. The crossover holds the road perfectly and briskly accelerates to overtake and reorganize it is a pleasure. At the same time, the rather soft steering wheel remains informative in any mode of movement. Good words deserve the work of the machine: neatly and at the same time clearly the box alternates the program. But the steering wheel petals cause bewilderment: who only invented them and why?! We are not in the formula car!
 



Style
The appearance of this car does not cause much emotions. Moreover, the design seems outdated to me.

Shodal qualities
For dynamics and controllability, the car can be safely delivered perfectly. Impressed.

Interior
Gently and soundly, all the panels are fitted, but budget plastic does not set up in a positive way. Also, the seats seemed too narrow.

Economy
Judging by the on -board computer, gasoline consumption here fluctuates at a mark of 20 liters. Muchnate, but not fatal!

Equipment in the standard
Of the wishes, only to remove the steering wheel petals, to which I could not adopt. Otherwise, the equipment completely arranged.



Mitsubishi Outlander XL 3.0 4WD AT brand and model
Dimensions 4640/1800/1720 mm
Gasoline engine, 2998 cm3, 220 hp/6250 min-1
Automatic transmission, 6-speed
Max. Speed \u200b\u200b200 km/h
Acceleration 9.7 s to 100 km/h


Like: the work of the suspension, steering, and dynamics, as well as a roomy trunk.

Do not like: exterior and interior design.
 



BMW x3
It was chosen because: the car has long known, there is the opportunity to choose the type of engine.


When I was asked about my attitude to diesel cars, I thought: why the devil is not joking? After all, the company is not afraid to sell such cars in Russia! And I decided to try the Bavarian diesel to taste. Moreover, my wife and I have long known the BMW X3. In appearance, the model is very pleasant. Yes, the young was not young, but cars with propeller on the hood are perceived as a certain classic that does not require constant updates.
 

As expected, except for a certain halo of the specific smell of diesel fuel, I did not notice any difference with gasoline opponents. However, not quite so. X3 with a 3.0-liter diesel was much more dynamic and obedient in management than rivals. It accelerates and gains speed this SUV is simply great. BMW remains true to its principle to bring true pleasure from driving. I once had an old BMW, so he gave the heat.


The suspension is comfortable, no excessive stiffness. That's truly feeling, as if you were sitting behind the wheel of a car. The only thing that overshadowed the trip a little was the steering wheel too hard at speed (convenient, however, cross -section and diameter). Ending informativeness is certainly great! But it is hardly so true for a leisurely city ride.
 

The interior as a whole looks rich. That's just the selection of materials I would hand over to another designer. Everything is solid, expensive and high -quality, and here, bangs, interspersing of budget plastic on the central console. Was it impossible to do without it?
 

But in terms of convenience of control X3, a clear leader. All keys are located where you expect to see them, and to figure out what's what, for a long time you do not have to. To the best of the hard driver's seat is perfectly satisfied and equipped with all the necessary settings. It is a pity that there is not much free space in the cabin, especially from behind. The knees of high passengers rest on the backs of the front seats. Yes, and the trunk is modest. If you put the same stroller, there will be no place.
 



Style
The fact that the car has long become familiar on the roads does not in any way affect my sympathy. The classic does not get old.

Shodal qualities
The fact that the mini X can do on the road can be characterized only by one word: Super!

Interior
Ergonomically and attractive. But I wonder why the upper part of the central console decided to cover with such cheap plastic?

Economy
Sitting behind the wheel of a car, I somehow do not want to be interested in the appetite. Although diesel engines, as usual, are characterized by efficiency.

Equipment in the standard
Do you know people who may assume that the equipment of modern BMW will be meager? Show


BMW X3 3.0D AT brand and model
Dimensions 4569/1853/1674 mm
Diesel engine, 2993 cm3, 218 hp/4000 min-1
Automatic transmission, 6-speed
Max. Speed \u200b\u200b210 km/h
Acceleration 7.4 s to 100 km/h


Like: handling and dynamic qualities, appearance and interior design.

I don't like it: a tight steering wheel, a modest trunk in size.
 



Mazda CX-7
Selected because: modern design, enviable number of hoods.


Needless to say, I liked Mazda. It looks like CX-7 is just great, the design of this car causes much more emotions. It feels a fresh look at the crossovers, without looking back at competitors. Yes, and the interior liked the most. Inside, SUV seems more than outside. The driver's seat is contour and at the same time wide, I am comfortable in it. The materials of the decoration are high -quality, even budget plastic here looks organic. A large number of messages are not an example to the rest of today's rivals. Subjectively, the round holes of the ducts that speak of some kind of primitivism do not please. By the way, at one time it was one of the reasons why Mazde 6 I preferred Toyota Avensis.


The steering wheel is small in size, with joystick-like key control keys and cruise control, which are pleasant to operate. The lamb does not get informativeness a little, but the car holds the trajectory confidently. And since I will use the car mainly in the city, this nuance does not particularly fear me. A hard suspension is much more unpleasant: each bump is noticeably shakes the body. Somehow I had a chance to ride on the American version there the chassis is softer. With a 238-horsepower engine, the CX-7 accelerates briskly, but with an intense set of speed, the automatic box shifts gear with a small delay.
 



Style
The most modern of today's Trinity. The appearance of the crossover most corresponds to my ideas about the future of the car.

Shodal qualities
The suspension is configured so that each small joint in the asphalt is felt in the cabin. But with dynamic driving, this is rather a plus!

Interior
The materials, of course, are not super -expensive, but in general the impressions are good. The interior is spacious, with verified ergonomics. Maybe the shape of the ducts will someday change

Economy
Again 20 liters of gasoline per hundred? Somewhere I already watched this figure today

Equipment in the standard
There are only two sets, and both charged. So in terms of equipment, there is simply nothing to complain about.



MAZDA CX-7 2.3 Turbo AT brand and model
Dimensions 4675/1870/1645 mm
Gasoline engine, 2261 cm3, 238 hp/5000 min-1
Automatic transmission, 6-speed
Max. speed 181 km/h
Acceleration 8.3 s to 100 km/h


Like: aggressive design, high -quality interior, spacious interior.

I don't like it: a sluggish machine, a hard suspension.
 

My choice

No wonder they say that the burden of choosing is a heavy burden. Each of the three cars has its own advantages. Comfort, handling and dynamics of a representative of the German automobile industry are delighted, but its value plunges into despondency. And no matter how I like X3, I do not want to overpay for the brand. There are slightly more complaints about the running qualities and comfort of the Japanese, but I like the Mazda and Mitsubishi pricing policy. And if you choose from the last two, then I give my preference to my CX-7, which, in combination of qualities, is much more suitable for my family.
 

Editor's Choice

Alexander's opinion about the design of Mitsubishi Outlander XL diverges with the opinion of the editorial office. Not least, thanks to an interesting appearance, the model is in demand in our market: from January to October this year, 8761 cars were sold in Russia. Good result! The same can be said about the Mazda CX-7 in two months since the start of sales in August 2007 sold 1,249 cars. Both crossovers seem attractive to us. But we vote for Bavarz. BMW X3 has all the qualities of a real city dweller: attractiveness, comfort, dynamics, efficiency and security.

 
Dmitry Tytyuchenko
Photo: Sergey Krestov
 
 
 
 

Source: Magazine 5 wheel [December 2007]