BMW has built a reputation on engineering excellence, dynamic ability and conservatively handsome design. Now, as it expands its range into new market segments, that singular ethos is being stretched and pulled every which way - from roadster to limo to mid-size soft-roader. In the latter case that’s the X3, the new slightly smaller brother to the X5 that goes on sale in Australia this month. X3 lines up right in the heart of the prestige and luxury zone, which means it’s got a lot of competition coming at it from all angles. So far the international media reception has only been lukewarm. Now to find out how it stacks up in Australia.