Welcome from a fellow lci owner. My wife was initially sceptical about the X3. We had just sold an E60 530d M Sport, and she was of the opnion the X5 was the only X worth getting.
We looked at the F15 X5 - we both agreed it was too big for our needs and my having to drive in central london.
We looked at the Evoque (why do girls like that thing so much?), before she rightly said it's not a family car.
She sat in the X3 and immediately fell in love with it's proportions, especially the useable boot space.
She initially felt exposed (everyone can see me in the passenger seat?) , but she loves it now (8 weeks of ownership), as do the teenage kids. It has been a very positive experience for me.
As far as old mans car... Stick it in sports mode and push the horses. She what she thinks then
Hope your good lady starts loving it very soon.