X3 comes 10th in Auto Bild Snow Test

Uh, yeah, last place. It scored behind cars like the Audi Q5, Mini Countryman, Dacia Duster, and the Kia Sportage.

In the most recent test of various vehicles in the Tirolean Alps, the new X3 xDrive20d was mediocre in deep snow and overall snow capabilities. Auto Bild used a variety of measures such as deep snow, handling, traction, and on-road driving characteristics. There was also a test where the vehicles were given a start and they measured how far the vehicle could drive up a ski slope.

The X3 scored particularly poorly in starting-off and deep snow, and made poor headway on the uphill run. It was equipped with 17" Pirelli Sottozero RFT which is more of a performance snow tire and hindering maximum snow grip. However, the Mini Countryman (4th place) used the same tires and scored substantially better. Drivers criticised the 6MT and remarked that the 1st gear is too long, requiring giving a lot of gas and clutch slippage, pulling only from about 1800rpm.

On the plus side, the DSC and DTC modes are well-sorted out. The DTC mode is the best for performance driving in deep-snow as tested with the best slalom times and 0-50km/h acceleration distance. For most drivers, full DSC on works best and they said it doesn't hinder performance driving much.

That article has a handful of folks in Germany changing their orders from MT to AT for better control and fun in snow driving.

Someone on Motor-Talk was kind enough to scan and upload the article. It's quite big, about 28MB.

http://www.muk1.at/Pdf/SchneetestSUV.pdf

Looks like we should all go out and get that Clubman, eh?

Doug

All vehicules should of had all the same tires to start with.........I wont rely on that test to buy my next SUV, that is for sure

completely agree about the tire choice. Between the low end torque of the diesel and not starting in second gear, the test was rigged against the X3. In my experience Pirrelli snow tires suck. Plain and simple. They are geared for good performance on black top in low temps but lack the broad shoulders and siping for real snow driving. The Clubman does better with a less torquey engine even tho the tires were the same. Its all about low torque and proper gearing to get started. The 6MT in my E83 - coupled with extraordinarily good tires Nokian WR G2's -- are unstoppable in snow.

Well, if the complaint is that 1st gear is too long (not too short), how would starting in 2nd help matters at all? They had to seriously give it a lot of gas and slip the clutch a lot. Of course, a single article shouldn't dissuade anyone, but perhaps the new 8-speed AT isn't such a bad idea after all.

I wonder what tires the Kia Sorento had? Dacia Duster????? Ok, the Dacia Duster is a Romanian Car in the Renault/Nissan group that if it were to be sold in the US would be under the Nissan badge. Looks like it would be a direct competitor to the Rogue, but if they brought it in with a diesel it would be interesting. Not a bad looking car, but nothing special IMHO.

Originally Posted by UncleJ

I wonder what tires the Kia Sorento had? Dacia Duster????? Ok, the Dacia Duster is a Romanian Car in the Renault/Nissan group that if it were to be sold in the US would be under the Nissan badge. Looks like it would be a direct competitor to the Rogue, but if they brought it in with a diesel it would be interesting. Not a bad looking car, but nothing special IMHO.

The Kia Sorento had Bridgestone Blizzak LM-25 (size P235/55R18) and the Dacia Duster had Michelin Latitude Alpin (size P215/65R16). The Suzuki had Pirelli SnowSport 190 tires: a performance snow tire, actually, almost identical to the ones I have on my X3 except I have a 210km/h speed rating versus 190km/h.

They did like the new AWD system in the Kia Sportage, one derived from Magna that works pretty well, better than that in its Hyundai and Kia Sorento siblings.

Thanks for the info. The Kia/Hyundai group remind me a lot of when Honda/Datsun(now Nissan)/Toyota first started out. No one paid any attention to them because the first cars were junk, well not really junk -- well built -- but not suitable for long distance US style driving. Then they kept getting better and better until now they are mainstream and generally lead the J.C> Power rankings. Now we see the Koreans heading that way. I have to get down and actually drive a couple of those just to see if the hype is really true. Anyway its nice to have competition, it does improve the breed!

Originally Posted by UncleJ

Thanks for the info. The Kia/Hyundai group remind me a lot of when Honda/Datsun(now Nissan)/Toyota first started out. No one paid any attention to them because the first cars were junk, well not really junk -- well built -- but not suitable for long distance US style driving. Then they kept getting better and better until now they are mainstream and generally lead the J.C> Power rankings. Now we see the Koreans heading that way. I have to get down and actually drive a couple of those just to see if the hype is really true. Anyway its nice to have competition, it does improve the breed!

Very true. I'd take a Hyundai over any Toyota.

Originally Posted by AzNMpower32

Well, if the complaint is that 1st gear is too long (not too short), how would starting in 2nd help matters at all? They had to seriously give it a lot of gas and slip the clutch a lot. Of course, a single article shouldn't dissuade anyone, but perhaps the new 8-speed AT isn't such a bad idea after all.

Yeah, I don't get it. A higher gear has always been better for low-traction starting: less chance to break the tires loose and spin.

actually if I read the article correctly the best winter climber was the Suzuki Jimmy and it had Pirelli "snow sport" tires. I dont know what any of it means....

My E83 does just fine with 6MT and Nokes. YRMV

Originally Posted by cubed

actually if I read the article correctly the best winter climber was the Suzuki Jimmy and it had Pirelli "snow sport" tires. I dont know what any of it means....

My E83 does just fine with 6MT and Nokes. YRMV

For a daily driver like most of us, most AWD will do the job with good winter tires. I dont see the point climbing a mountain with my X3

My XDrive + Nokian studded Hakka5, is pure enjoyment in winter

Actually, there was a Volvo XC70(new model) beside me at a red light, he also had nokian tires. But when he left at the green light, the Volvo AWD system seemed to work very oddly, almost like it was a FWD, I was kinda surprised how weird it worked. I punched it, and left him in the snow....

I'm sure she was impressed!

Originally Posted by UncleJ

I'm sure she was impressed!

I think most volvos are fwd biased and thats how the haldex system defaults. But when faced with front wheel spin power is shifted to the rear. An inherintly counterproductive arrangement if you ask me. As the vehicle starts rolling and unweights the front wheels, traction is lost and youre more likely to spin the wheels. with a rear-ward bias exactly the opposite occurs. Im not saying the rear bias is best for everything but for starting from a standstill it would seem that it is.