Dusty drifting, BMW-style
Price range: $178,900 (X3 M) to $183,600 (X4 M)
Powertrains: 3.0-litre turbo petrol inline six, 375kW/600Nm, 8-speed automatic, AWD, combined fuel consumption 10.5L/100km, 239g/km CO2.
Body style: Five-door SUV and weird coupe thing.
On sale: Q3 2019
The X4 also felt ever so slightly sharper and more responsive, but given that the difference was pretty tiny and the fact that if you bought the X4 you would also have to look at it meant that the X3 M was our pick of the day.
But in all honesty, while both were massive fun on the dusty, wonderfully slippery track, the total lack of road driving means we really have no idea if either is actually any good or not.
Some overseas reports rave, others hammer them for an overly firm ride and distant steering on the road.
We will have to wait until we get one on the road here in New Zealand for a more definitive idea, but our initial impression would lean towards the more positive opinions, though.
Why would I buy it?
Because you are one of those weird people who wants a performance SUV instead of an M3 or, in the case of the X4 M, because you just like savagely fast, weird-looking vehicles.
Or, more likely, because you want a remarkably fast and accomplished vehicle that is also practical, roomy and incredibly well equipped.
Why wouldn’t I buy it?
Because that ride might be an issue? Because you prefer the more characterful bellow of the AMG (or Jaguar) V8 or you are just a strange individual who really wants an Alfa Romeo?
Or maybe because you realise that for roughly 10 grand less you could have the brilliantly belligerent Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk instead.
Seriously, who cares about inferior build quality when you have 522kW anyway?