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Despite a less than auspicious debut in 2004, the BMW X3 medium SUV has gone on to become one of the mainstays of the German brand, particularly in SUV-mad Australia.
The X3 was BMW's second SUV after the X5, and the success of both these vehicles prompted the once conservative car-only BMW to launch a family of X-branded SUVs.
The five-door five-seater had a period of lagging behind rivals like Audi and Mercedes-Benz in the sales race, thanks mainly to a limited model line-up and the fact that the second-generation (F25) hung around for too long.
Since the launch of the 2018 X3 (G01), the still "mid-size" SUV dwarfs even the first-generation X5. It also now sits on BMW's 'CLAR' global platform which underpins everything from the BMW 8-Series to the A90 Toyota Supra.
Generally the cost will depend on the variant and year. You can get more information on quick and cheap key replacments from dealers or automotive locksmiths here.
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You’ve pretty much covered the field there, so it should come down to what you want from your car. Do you want comfort, safety, fuel efficiency, offroad capability, cabin space? If you are mostly driving on the highway, then a diesel SUV is probably the best bet. I would rule out a dual-cab ute because of comfort, unless you need the flexibility a ute gives you. I would rule out a hybrid, they’re not at their most efficient on the highway; they’re better suited to town use. Based on your annual mileage I wouldn’t keep the car any more than 3-4 years, that way you’ll have a decent resale value when you get out of it.
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The diesel is fine around town. Being just three years old there shouldn't be anything wrong, so apart from overall condition of the body, paint, and interior make sure it has been routinely serviced.
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The current-generation BMW X3's interior is what you'd expect from the German company. There's lots of tidy trim elements, you can get it with sumptuous leather finishes if you option it up (part-leather is standard on lower grades), and the dashboard has a predictable layout that we've come to know from other BMW models. It's tidy, and spacious, too - check out the images to see how much space is on offer.
The following BMW X3 comes with five seats. The Base variant is available with ‘Hevelius’ black cloth seats as standard. The Base variant is available with leather seats as an optional extra, in Black, Mocha, Oyster, Cognac or Canberra Beige. The xDrive, Luxury Line and M Sport variants are all available with leather seats as standard, with the choice of standard ‘Vernasca leather’ or optional ‘Merino’ leather.