As a benefactor of the German brand's automotive support since winning his medal, the sporting hero gets to drive a complimentary 2.0-litre petrol X3 on the open road.
And I'm joining the affable Scottish sportsman as he discovers for the first time how capable the four-door steed is when it leaves the tarmac for a touch of the rough stuff.
The plan is to put the Beamer through its paces at an off-road circuit adjoining the Rockingham racecourse just outside Corby - a far cry from the Manchester Velodrome where 28-year-old Chris spends most of his days engaged in a punishing exercise regime.
The winter conditions mean that we stick to the less challenging of a number of possible obstacles bearing names like the camel's back and the swimming pool.
And Chris warms up for the circuit by driving the 3.0-litre diesel automatic version of the X3.
The fact that there is no clutch makes it much easier to use off-road, where slow and steady speeds - not sprints - are all important.
The auto box means that Chris can more easily rely on engine tick-over and then braking as he approaches the menacing slopes where he'll use the X3's hill descent control button - a system which electronically controls the car's brakes to maintain a steady speed while going downhill.
There's also a gizmo called X drive, which transfers power between wheels which have traction - a positive feature when traversing a course which occasionally leaves you with two wheels swinging pendulum-like in the air. However, Chris finds it more challenging than a world record attempt when he attempts similar feats in his own manual transmission X3.
The real difficulty is balancing the clutch without stalling to the top of a hill, then letting it out quickly enough to benefit from engine braking and hill descent controls.
Even Chris - a whiz-kid when it comes to pedals - manages to stall on several occasions. He reckons he could get used to the manoeuvre after half-an-hour or so. However, Chelsea tractor fans would probably require a little more work before they dare to take short cuts down bankings to the nearest Waitrose supermarket.
But what might surprise the pundits who have lined up to criticise BMW's baby 4x4 is the fact that it is very capable in conditions which are far more extreme than most owners would ever experience on the supermarket run.
It's very difficult to do in a car with a gear stick, whatever the car, meaning that anyone considering any serious off-roading would probably be better off in an automatic.
But then anyone considering serious off-roading would be better off in a Land Rover Defender than just about any of the new crop of soft-roaders on the market.
Happily for BMW, the off-road experience hasn't spoilt Chris Hoy's view of the BMW X3.
"It was incredible to be able to drive all the way to Corby on the motorway and then take the same car on an off-road course," he adds. "Quite often you imagine that the vehicles you use off-road will have been modified in some way. On this occasion I knew for certain that it hadn't."
Given that most people who buy off-roaders are unlikely to go anywhere near a field, I'd say decisions about the brand and model of choice are still best made by considering its abilities on the road.
Chris Hoy is taking part in the Revolution Seven event at the Manchester Velodrome on tomorrow. Doors open at 5.30pm and the show starts at 7pm. The programme will include a race between Chris Hoy and his French rival Arnaud Tournant, who he beat in Athens to win his gold medal. Tickets are available in advance from cyclingrevolution.com or by calling 0700 594 2579. You can also buy tickets on the night.
