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BMW’s long-serving X3 enters its fourth generation with bold styling and loads of tech. Is it still a good buy? Lawrence Allan finds out.
Things you'll like
- Great ride and handling balance
- Excellent cabin tech
- Strong yet efficient engines
Things to consider
- Desirable options up the price
- Divisive looks
- Cabin quality is mixed
What is the BMW X3?
In an age where SUVs are king of the hill when it comes to sales, it’s no surprise that many car makers have expanded their range of high-riding offerings to maximise choice.
BMW is a prime example of this. The Munich-based giant has no fewer than nine different SUV bodystyles on sale – and that’s without counting the various electric and M-branded performance models of each. Things are no different when examining the ranges of Audi and Mercedes-Benz, for example.
It’s a far cry from the BMW of the early 2000s, which offered just one SUV with the X5 until the smaller, sportier X3 arrived in late 2003. That car was, in fact, something of a trailblazer; most rival brands had nothing to compete with the X3 at the time, aside from the decidedly un-sporty Land Rover Freelander that was a similar offering.
Today, of course, the X3 has dozens of similar alternatives made by everyone from Alfa Romeo to Volvo. And the all-new fourth-generation X3 (which, as an aside, is a good deal longer and wider than the first-gen X5) aims to restore SUV supremacy to the brand. Is the new car still the one to beat, or is it a bit of an also-ran? We’ll find out in this review.
Verdict: is the BMW X3 a good car?
The new X3 is an excellent all-round premium SUV, particularly when it comes to the driving experience. It’s spacious, well-appointed and comes with an excellent roster of technology, and while the engine range is limited they’re all excellent units.
Downsides? There are more practical alternatives, and ones that have more consistent interior quality and better ergonomics. The looks might not be to all tastes, either, but put that aside and the new X3 is a worthy class contender.
Pricing, specs & rivals
At the time of writing (December 2024) list prices for the BMW X3 start from £48,375 for the entry-level 20 xDrive petrol in xLine trim. For reference, that’s a slightly cheaper starting point than the Audi Q5 and a chunk less than a Mercedes-Benz GLC.
BMW reckons more than two-thirds of customers will make the walk-up to M Sport trim, which is priced from just over £50,000 with the same engine. Those are the only two trim levels on offer, simplifying the choice for customers.
Standard equipment on xLine trim includes 18-inch alloys, LED front and rear lights, three-zone climate control, heated front seats and the full infotainment suite. M Sport doesn’t add any additional convenience kit but focuses instead on sporty details including sports suspension, 19-inch wheels, a fatter M Sport steering wheel, Alcantara upholstery and aluminium interior trim elements.
As usual on premium German models there’s a host of optional extras to choose from, with the most popular gathered up into packs – you’ll probably want to check out the Comfort and Comfort Plus packs which bring a variety of luxury features for a reasonable outlay.
Stepping up from the base petrol unit to the 20d diesel adds £1,400 to the list price, while the 30e plug-in hybrid starts from £57,245 – a touch less than the GLC 300 e.
The M Performance flagship, the M50, kicks off from around £67,000, bringing a more powerful engine along with kit such as adaptive LED headlights, an illuminated front grille, 20-inch alloys and M Sport brakes. The Audi SQ5 starts from over £74,000, for comparison, but does get more standard kit.
Rivals
We’ve already mentioned the Audi Q5 and Mercedes-Benz GLC enough for you to recognise that it’s a highly competitive German trio – you’ll undoubtedly be cross-shopping all three. But there are other alternatives worth considering.
Check out the Lexus NX if something a bit more Japanese, while the Swedish minimalism of the Volvo XC60 may also appeal. There’s also the rugged Land Rover Discovery Sport, the sporty Porsche Macan or the left-field Alfa Romeo Stelvio to consider, along with a host of mainstream-branded SUV rivals that offer more for your money.
BMW X3: Interior comfort, quality & technology
There’s a much higher level of visual glitz to the new X3’s cabin when compared to its predecessor. That old car was from an era of more conservative BMW styling having launched back in 2017, while the new car borrows more outlandish visuals from cars such as the iX electric SUV.
Which style you prefer is entirely down to taste, but there’s no doubt the new car’s look is eye-catching with funky translucent backlit panels, lashings of aluminium trim and the option of MINI-like textured upholstery all over the dash and doors.
That’s all well and good, and there are areas where the typical BMW quality is present and correct. There are, however, some elements that look and feel less-than-premium – the flimsy black plastic door handles, the scratchy plastic with a sharp lip for the window surrounds and another sub-par piece of hard plastic right in your eyeline below the central touchscreen, for example.
That’s a shame, because elsewhere the fundamentals are spot on. You get a high driving position that gives you a lofty view out without making you feel perched in the car, and comfortable yet supportive sports seats with electric memory adjustment as standard. We’d have liked to see adjustable lumbar support standard rather than part of the Comfort Pack, but you’re unlikely to be uncomfortable on longer runs without it.
Visibility is also a plus point as BMW has avoided squashing the car’s glass house for a coupe-like look. That means you get a large windscreen, unobtrusive pillars and a comprehensive over-the-shoulder view. The high bonnet line makes parking a little tricky, but the multitude of cameras and sensors make up for it.
Infotainment, sat-nav, stereo and connectivity
The X3’s cabin design isn’t the only thing that’s taken inspiration from the iX, because the huge single panel curved displays spanning the width of the dash bear much resemblance, too.
The centre screen is a huge 14.9-inches in width – it’s personal preference as to whether you prefer a narrow widescreen instead of Mercedes-Benz’s tall portrait display. There’s no denying the impressive clarity and smart graphics, while the layout is mostly easy to get on with. Our only real gripe is that certain key functions (like settings for the drive modes) are stuck in rather extensive menus.
Unlike smaller BMWs the rotary infotainment controller between the front seats lives on. We’re pleased to see it, because while the touchscreen works better when stationary the controller is easier to use on the move. There’s also a crisp 12.3-inch digital instrument display that’s much more customizable than the old car, along with an excellent head-up display as an option.
One backward step, though, is the removal of all physical climate control buttons below the screen. On the old X3 adjusting the fan speed or the heated seats took a split second, now you’ll need more than one touchscreen prod to access those. We’re not huge fans of the haptic sliders to turn off the air vents, either, but at least you can direct the vents using toggles rather than the screen.
Of course wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto feature, while you also get full-screen mapping with both. Options include on demand video streaming and gaming via a subscription, while you can also add an impressive 15-speaker Harman Kardon sound system.
There are USB-C ports front and rear as you’d expect for connectivity. We also like the dual wireless phone charging pads at the bottom of the dash – something that first debuted on Teslas.
How practical is the BMW X3
The usual generational growth spurt is present and correct for the new X3, which has grown 40mm in length and 20mm in width over the outgoing car. It’s dropped in height by about 17mm, but in every other dimension it’s larger than key German rivals.
That’s reflected in the space on offer inside. Those in the front have loads of headroom, legroom and cabin width to avoid banging elbows over the centre armrest – you’d almost think you were sat in the bigger X5. The panoramic glass sunroof actually increases headroom rather than decreases it, too.
It’s a similar story in the back. Legroom isn’t quite as palatial as some of the electric SUVs that hover around this price point (the Kia EV6, for example) but there’s still ample room for tall adults to get comfortable. There’s enough width for a third adult to fit without too much cause for complaint, although there isn’t a flat floor in the rear so foot space is at a premium. Just bear in mind that the backs of the front seats are hard plastic, so you won’t want those in the front being selfish with legroom.
The only other downside is the lack of sliding rear seats to juggle boot space and legroom. At least you get a good view out aided by tall windows, while there’s the usual pair of ISOFIX points and rear climate controls, too.
Storage and boot space
Storage in the front of the X3 is slightly disappointing because the door bins – a critical storage point – are a bit cramped for an SUV of this size. You’ll struggle to squeeze a large water bottle in, although we do like the divider to stop things rolling back and forth.
At least the glovebox is an acceptable size, while you get a good cubby space under the centre armrest and phone storage area that’ll also swallow up your wallet and keys. In the rear you’ll find reasonably useful door pockets with sculpted cupholders, further cupholders and nets in the front seatbacks. The optional Comfort Plus pack also brings roller sunblinds and tablet holders in the front seatbacks, too.
It’s good to see 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats as standard in the X3, and they fold completely flat with ease. Not that you’ll need to that often because the 570-litre boot space is a good size and 20 litres larger than the old car, if not quite as large in capacity terms as the GLC.
The boot is a practical shape, with a wide opening for easy access and no load lip to yank heavy items over. There’s also a good amount of underfloor storage, although it’s worth bearing mind that the xDrive30e loses the underfloor space and raises the boot floor for the plug-in hybrid batteries, shaving 110 litres of space over other variants.
Performance & drive: What is the BMW X3 like on the road?
We’re in the age of streamlining when it comes to new car variants, so you’ll no longer have an almost bewildering array of engines to choose from. At launch the X3 only has four on offer, including the petrol unit in the X3 M50.
There are two ‘entry-level’ X3 engines in the form of the 20 xDrive petrol (the ‘i’ has now been ditched from BMW’s petrol engine name structure) and the 20d xDrive diesel. The 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol is expected to take the lion’s share of private sales, with a 208hp output and a 0-62mph time of 7.8 seconds.
We’ve driven this version and its performance will be entirely acceptable for most people, and it shouldn’t feel out of its depth even fully-loaded. We’d stop well short of calling it sporty, mind, despite a raucous engine note when you rev it out.
While BMW is persevering with diesel engine SUVs for the time being, the 2.0-litre four-cylinder 20d is no longer the firm favourite it once was. Still, with 197hp and a 0-62mph time of 7.7 seconds, along with the typical diesel torque delivery, expect it to be a gutsy performer for a low-end engine.
The last of the ‘normal’ engines is the X3 30e xDrive. This combines the 20’s 2.0-litre petrol engine with an electric motor for a 299hp output. A 0-62mph time of 6.2 seconds and an electric-only range of between 50 and 56 miles.
BMW M has decided not to offer a full-fat X3 M this time, but it’s not a huge loss in our opinion because the X3 M50 offers all the performance you’d want from an SUV of this size. Its 3.0-litre turbocharged straight-six puts out 398hp, firing the X3 from 0-62mph in 4.6 seconds – and it feels every bit of that. It also makes a good noise, although some of that is artificially produced through the speakers.
All engines use an eight-speed automatic gearbox (the M50’s has a sportier tune) and all-wheel drive as standard. All but the plug-in hybrid (for obvious reasons) have a 48-volt mild-hybrid system providing a small electric performance boost and improving efficiency.
Power, 0-62mph times
- BMW X3 20 xDrive: 208hp/7.8 secs
- BMW X3 20d xDrive: 197hp/7.7 secs
- BMW X3 30e xDrive: 299hp/6.2 secs
- BMW X3 M50 xDrive: 398hp/4.6 secs
Ride and handling
Our verdict on ride and handling has a caveat in that, so far, we’ve only tried X3s with the optional adaptive suspension fitted. Expect a somewhat busier ride without them fitted, as we’ve found with other BMWs.
With that option box ticked, however, the X3 manages to feel controlled and sporty without ever letting potholes intrude into the cabin too much – even on larger wheels. A Mercedes-Benz GLC is softer and more cossetting over big bumps, but feels more disconnected from the road as a result. The X3 also has a superbly composed high-speed ride, too.
Handling-wise the Porsche Macan still has the edge in terms of enjoyment on a twisty road, but you still get accurate steering, good body control and surprising agility for a car this big and heavy.
The X3 M50 takes this even further, feeling for all intents and purposes like a higher-riding M340i Touring. You really can enjoy it on a good road in a way most SUVs just won’t let you, but despite the M50’s firmer suspension the ride remains very well-judged.
Noise and refinement
As the X3 sits on the sportier end of the SUV spectrum you might expect compromises in refinement. And sure, the X3 isn’t as well-hushed as a Lexus NX, for example, but wind noise is well supressed. Road noise isn’t intrusive, either, but versions with bigger wheels induce a bit of tyre drone into the cabin on poor surfaces, however.
Owners of the old X3 M should find the X3 M50 to be a much more relaxing long-distance companion, particularly in Comfort mode where the exhaust quietens down. It’s also much less tiring thanks to reduced road noise and suspension thunks, too.
Euro NCAP: is the BMW X3 a safe car?
Euro NCAP is yet to test the latest BMW X3, but we know from the brand’s recent models such as the X1, X2 and 5 Series that a five-star rating should be within reach when it is put through its paces.
Standard safety kit on the X3 is comprehensive, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane departure warning with lane change assist, traffic sign recognition, a reversing camera and all-round parking sensors. A reversing assistant can also replay your forward steering inputs in reverse to steer you out of tricky spots.
Optioning the Technology Package brings adaptive cruise control with stop and go tech, steering and lane control assistant, along with a surround-view camera (which also adds a function that records exterior camera footage and allows a 3D view of the car’s exterior via the app). You also get an interior camera which works with the external ones for extra anti-theft protection – and it can even take pictures of the rear seats every few seconds to stop you needing to turn around and check on your kids.
Fuel economy and running costs
Modern petrol-powered SUVs deliver decent efficiency returns, and it’s clear the mild hybrid system in the X3 20 xDrive, combined with its relatively aerodynamic body, has an effect. 40.9mpg combined isn’t bad at all, with only a 0.5mpg drop with M Sport spec. That’s 10% better than the old model despite a boost in performance.
Interestingly, though, the 20d diesel doesn’t see such gains over the old car, with its 47.9mpg combined figure worse on paper than the old X3 20d. Whereas diesel used to be the default choice in a car such as this, it might not be now.
It’s the plug-in hybrid X3 30e that wins the ‘most improved’ award, however. Its quoted 282.5mpg figure in xLine form is more than double what the old version managed in the same test, with CO2 emissions also more than halved. Thank the much larger battery, allowing an electric range of up to 56 miles versus the old car’s 32 miles – although the Mercedes GLC PHEV’s is longer still.
The X3 M50 is very much at the other end of the scale, managing 36.2mpg combined. That’s an impressive showing when you consider it’s almost twice as powerful as the X3 20, however. Of course, CO2 emissions of 177g/km do mean a chunky £1095 first year tax rate added to the list price.
The X3 20 and 20d are a more reasonable £680 to tax in the first year, but the X3 30e is again the star of the show with a measly £10 first year rate. The plug-in hybrid will also be the default choice for company car drivers. Bear in mind, though, that like its rivals all X3 are subject to the additional £410 a year ‘Expensive Car Supplement’ for five years.
How much does the BMW X3 cost to insure?
Judging by insurance groups, the BMW X3 should be cheaper to insure than the Mercedes-Benz GLC and roughly on a par with the Lexus NX. The cheapest version to insure is the xDrive20, which sits in group 32 regardless of if you go for xLine or M Sport trim. The hybrid xDrive30e sits in group 38, while the xDrive M50 sits in group 42 – the latter is reasonable for its performance.
BMW X3 FAQs
How much is a new BMW X3?
Prices for the 2024 BMW X3 start from £48,375 in the UK. That’s for the X3 20xDrive xLine, while the M Sport version starts from £50,175. The X3 M50 xDrive kicks off from £66,980.
What is comparable to the BMW X3?
Comparable cars to the BMW X3 include the Mercedes-Benz GLC, Audi Q5, Volvo XC60 and the Lexus NX. All of these cars are close rivals to the X3 because they are similar in size, price, performance and luxury features.
Is the BMW X3 bigger than the Audi Q5?
Yes, the new BMW X3 is larger in all key dimensions than the outgoing Audi Q5. At 4755mm long and 1920mm wide it’s 38mm longer and 20mm wider than the Audi, while also being 30mm taller
