Affordable, minimal BMW X3 is the model of what a small SUV should be

The X3 M40i is a stable, practical treat both behind the wheel and from the back seat

Call it a rebuilding year at Bayerische Motoren Werke AG. As of last month, the Bavarian automaker trailed arch-rival Mercedes-Benz AG in sales growth by more than half, with numbers climbing 2.8 per cent, compared to a 6 per cent gain at Mercedes. This comes after the company lost its top-selling spot in the luxury auto sector in 2016.

Since then, the brand has very publicly doubled down on production in order to regain its lead, announcing that it will debut 12 all-electric cars by 2025, among other new models. Last year, China accounted for almost 90 per cent of