When BMW introduced the new X3 in India last month, many were left flabbergasted. There was no diesel variant. However, that gap has now been filled. Yes, there’s a diesel derivative available, and it’s called the xDrive20d Luxury. Priced at Rs 65.5 lakh, it costs about Rs 40,000 less than the fully-loaded xDrive30i M Sport variant. That said, the diesel-fed specimen is Rs 5.6 lakh dearer to the least expensive option of them all – the xDrive30i SportX Plus.

The new variant comes with the same 2.0-litre diesel motor that does duty in multiple other BMW models. It pumps out 188bhp and 400Nm of peak torque, while an 8-speed automatic handles transmission duties. The oomph goes to all four wheels via BMW’s xDrive four-wheel-drive system. As per the spec sheet, the diesel-powered X3 can hit 100kmph from a standstill in 7.9 seconds. At full blast, the speedometer should read 213kmph.

Features? On the outside, the X3 diesel comes with adaptive LED headlamps, 19-inch alloy wheels, a powered tailgate, rain-sensing wipers, a panorama glass roof and run-flat tyres. Indoors, the list of creature comforts includes ambient lighting, three-zone automatic climate control, auto-dimming IRVM, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a Harman Kardon sound system. Bucketed under the safety section are features such as front and rear parking sensors, a rear-view camera, a tyre pressure monitoring system, an electric parking brake and ISOFIX anchorages for child booster seats.

So, there you have it. With a second engine option, and that too a diesel, the X3 is now even harder to ignore. Mind you, the competition is more fierce than ever. The BMW X3 falls in the same space as the Volvo XC60, Mercedes-Benz GLC, Audi Q5 and the Jaguar F-Pace. Out of the lot, only the BMW and the Mercedes have a diesel motor option. The rest are available solely with a petrol-fed powerplant. But is that a deal-breaker?