SOMETIMES a car-maker can sense a victory is coming. Despite being in the final year of its lifecycle, the previous-generation X3 surpassed both the newer X1 and traditional 3 Series sedan to become the best-selling BMW here in 2017.

This third-generation X3 only landed locally in the last two months of last year, finally perfuming BMW showrooms with that sweet smell of success, and it will now be here to deploy its full sales potential over an entire calendar.

BMW has certainly played it safe with the formula, opting for a careful styling evolution that surely will not upset premium medium SUV buyers.

Meanwhile this X3 xDrive30i will be expected to become a stronger seller in what BMW hopes will be a model range that shifts in even greater volumes in 2018. Time to taste – rather than just smell – if success really does deserve to come to fruition.