When its predecessor was launched, it was the 'small brother' to the X5. Now it is 'big brother' to the X1, and part of a family which also includes the X6 large coupe.
The car, which sold some 600,000 units globally in its previous incarnation, is now larger, cleaner, and offers better drivability thanks to new engines, auto gearbox, and suspension.
The launch engine is a 2.0 diesel outputting 184hp, in the C tax band here and providing a potential 8.5 seconds sprint to 100km/h. Against its predecessor, the X3 has dropped two full tax bands, is 4 percent more powerful but uses 14 percent less fuel.
Prices start at €45,810, which is less than what was the entry level for the previous car.
The new technologies on the X3 include BMW's 8-speed automatic gearbox, which makes the car more economical in its auto format than in its 6-speed manual version.
The car also has the first stop-start system in an automatic gearbox, and electric power steering is new to the nameplate -- this feature alone saves a third of a litre of fuel every 100 kms.
An M-Sport version will be added to the range in coming months, as will a 3.0d version. All X3s at the moment will have xDrive AWD.
BMW Ireland's allocation has already been sold up to July delivery. The company expects to sell 150 units this year.
