• Impressive interior space
• Plenty of boot space, too
• Great crash safety rating

How much space is there?

Lots. BMW made the Mk2 X3 wider and taller than its predecessor, which liberated more space inside for people and luggage. Boot space swelled by 70 litres, taking the car’s maximum seats-up figure with seats in place to 550 litres.

Fold the rear bench flat and the amount of available space expands to 1,600 litres. Plus, the X3 got one over on its rivals with its flexibility. Its seats fold in a 60/40 split as standard, but buyers could specify a 40/20/40 split-folding bench as an optional extra – and we’d recommend you hunt out a car with that option fitted.

This allows you (for example) to carry the driver plus two passengers and three mountain bikes, which is quite handy. Roof rails are also fitted as standard and, if you regularly, tow the X3 will suit your lifestyle well. It has a maximum towing weight of between 2,000kg and 2,400kg.

Safety

Euro NCAP crash tested the F25 BMW X3 in 2011, and it awarded the car an impressive five-star rating. Granted, that rating has now expired as safety tests have become more challenging – but the X3 should still protect you well in event of an accident. It scored 88 percent for adult occupant protection, 83 percent for child occupant protection and 53 percent for pedestrian safety.

You get a good amount of safety equipment for a car that’s more than decade old, too. Front seat occupants get front, side and curtain airbags, while those in the rear benefit from head airbags.

Other clever (and standard) safety tech includes crash-active headrests at the front and crash sensors that prime the safety systems if they think an accident is imminent. You also get a tyre pressure warning indicator, anti-lock brakes, traction control, cornering brake control, dynamic brake control, hill-start assistant and hill descent control.

Watch the F25 BMW X3 Euro NCAP crash test