WITH the shooting season well and truly upon us I popped along to Highclere Castle, near Newbury, to see if I could bag myself a bird or two. However, I got a little more than I bargained for, as BMW was there with a brace of its latest models.

Squirrels, pheasants and sheep are all fair game on the Highclere estate, but BMW X3s are an unusual sight. I plumped for the juicy range-topping X3 3.0sd M Sport, (although I couldn't eat a whole one) costing £38,175. A hefty price for a compact off-roader, you might think, but fully justified because of one little letter - M.

This M-Sport derivative features BMW's most powerful diesel engine combined with a twin-turbo in order to eliminate turbo lag. This gives the car phenomenal acceleration. Teamed with a sporty close-ratio automatic gearbox, which can be controlled manually, and the sprightliest and sportiest off-roader the lower side of the Porsche Cayenne zips from 0-62 mph in just 6.6 seconds.

The feisty X3 M Sport looks like a 1 Series that has eaten another 1 Series, and yet is as strong and quick as both cars put together. Subtle design changes like the larger kidney grille and redesigned bumper keep the car looking really fresh.

The X3M eats tarmac swiftly and effortlessly and proved more of a road-going car than a serious off-roader. Its road-manners are exceptional because it is light and easy to drive. In fact, the steering is so light you might forget its slightly higher centre of gravity. However, its four-wheel drive system will make sure you don't come unsuck. I thought the cornering was very good for a tall car, thanks entirely to its M-Sport technology and sports suspension.

Brisk acceleration pushes you back in your seat in true sportscar style and it feels different going so fast and not sitting near to the ground while doing it. In fact, one is normally much closer to the ground when feeling these kinds of forces and sensations. The sporty drivers among us will not feel compromised in this 4x4.

Thanks to the large well-shod wheels, there was virtually no road noise. In fact, even at 80+, outside noise was virtually non-existent inside the cabin. The only thing that emanates around the cabin is the smell of quality BMW materials. Yes, a civilised and high quality environment awaits you inside. Refined fittings are typically BMW and follow the same styling as all the others in the range.

The driver-focussed cabin, with large comfy leather seats, is an enviable place to be and BMW has managed to make the interior comfortable, practical and sporty with all that technology at your fingertips. I'm just a tad disappointed that the seats are not electrically adjustable. They should be for the price.

Back at the park. There are no rattles or squeaks, although, driving around the park the silence was broken by the odd burble and squawk from the wildlife and distant rumble from the refined diesel engine.

Steep and muddy hills might stump even the most seasoned off-roader. However, they were made light work of by the special hill control system of the X3, which pulled the lump of a car efficiently to the top and used engine breaking to steady the car down the other side. And all performed as gracefully as a hare in mid sprint.

The BMW X3 M Sport has lots of appeal visually, physically and sensually. With its M Sport technology, this go-almost-anywhere wagon is aimed at the likes of vets, doctors and those who need to get to those hard-to-reach places in an emergency, yet don't want to compromise on comfort, speed and prestige, either.

Well, there is no compromise for off-roaders and speed lovers. You can have your game pie and eat it.

BMW X3 3.0sd
M Sport

6-speed Auto

Top speed: 137 mph

0-62 mph: 6.4 sec
Max power: 286 bhp

Max torque: 427 lb ft

Combined: 36.2 mpg

Emissions: 308 g/km

Insurance group 18

Price: £38,910