Driving pleasure is in the genes of a BMW. Here we want to multiply it by three: We face the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé, the 3 Series Touring and the X3
Design
The BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé combines four doors plus a large tailgate with a lively coupé silhouette and frameless windows. Clearly, commitment to design.
The driver feels perfectly accommodated, but when he looks back he stops laughing. Narrow rear windows and huge C-pillars make complex maneuvers difficult, in the second row there are only 90 centimeters between the headlining and the seat.
The BMW 3 Series Touring also has a fair amount of space in the second row, but in this case its seat is quite deep. We prefer to travel in the rear of the BMW X3: here you feel comfortable because the distance between the seat and the floor is the greatest… and you still have plenty of headroom.
The SUV is also clearly ahead when it comes to storage space: With between 550 and 1,600 litres, the X3 packs much more than the 3 Series Touring, where 500 to 1,510 liters fit.
It’s no wonder the Gran Coupe lags behind when it comes to carrying luggage. The sloping tailgate costs the trunk space, and the load sill is 70 centimeters higher than the X3’s. In the end, cubic from 470 to 1,290 liters enter the Series 4.
But in this car, where people like to sit is in the front left: the digital instruments, the center console slightly angled towards the driver, and the iDrive controller in the middle can also be found in the 3 Series Touring, with a identical design.
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BMW has modeled the X3’s cockpit a bit differently: The SUV’s monitor sits higher up, so it sits a little better in the field of view.
Behavior
In terms of sportiness and driving dynamics, the 3 Series Touring and 4 Series outperform the heavier, taller SUV. They are therefore more agile, lighter and faster, and consume almost a liter less than average.
Granted, because of the increased ground clearance, the X3 has advantages when it comes to traversing hills and valleys. And it has a third more towing and payload than its car brethren, which definitely helps with moving or vacationing with the bikes in tow.
Finally, the SUV costs considerably more than its two “short” brothers, far exceeding 70,000 euros, while the others remain at the gates at a very similar price, with a difference compared to the X3 of about 5,000 euros.
Our conclusion: The Touring clearly offers the best mix here. It’s more practical than the handsome Gran Coupe and cheaper than the versatile X3. Chapeau!
