BMW X3 Review & Prices

The BMW X3 is a posh SUV that’s all-new for 2024, with a striking exterior design, ultra-modern interior and new plug-in hybrid engine. It’s upmarket and eco-conscious, then – like eating at a Nobu restaurant and ordering the vegan option.

The X3 sits around the middle of BMW’s SUV range and is an alternative to the likes of the Mercedes GLC, Jaguar F-Pace and Audi Q5.

With this being a new generation of BMW X3, it gets a new look – at first glance it doesn’t look drastically different, but there has been quite a change. You get new, more angular headlights, a bigger grille with a quirky mix of horizontal and diagonal lines, and T-shaped lights at the rear. From the side, the window line kinks upwards more aggressively than before.

It’s a big change inside as well, with two displays placed beside each other to mimic an ultra-wide screen for your infotainment and instruments. The dashboard itself has a simple V-shaped design and is covered in a knitted fabric, while the standard-fit seat upholstery is made from recycled materials.

Beneath the screen there’s a new open space to wirelessly charge your phone, similar to various Teslas. Ambient lighting surrounds this area, as well as jutting out into the door cards.

Practicality is decent thanks to a 570-litre boot, though of the alternatives mentioned earlier only the Audi Q5 has less capacity. The Jaguar F-Pace’s 650-litre boot makes it the go-to option if you need as much boot space as possible.

Those who do lots of motorway miles will be pleased by the presence of a diesel in the engine line-up, though the petrol engine is likely to be the best bet for most buyers. If you’re looking for a company car you’ll be best-served by the plug-in hybrid and its low Benefit-in-Kind rate. An electric range of 56 miles is pretty good, and if you can keep the batteries charged you should see excellent fuel economy, but the Mercedes GLC plug-in hybrid can go up to 80 miles on a charge.

There’s also a high-performance M50 version that makes 421hp and comes with mechanical upgrades to make it more fun on a twisty road, though that extra power will make it the most expensive of the bunch to run. A high-performance X3 M might appear eventually, but rumours suggest it will be all-electric.

We’ll update this review with driving impressions once we’ve been behind the wheel. In the meantime see how much you could save with Carwow’s BMW X3 deals. You can also get a great price on a used X3 from our network of trusted dealers, as well as browse other used BMWs. You can sell your current car through Carwow, too.

The BMW X3 starts at less than £50,000, which makes it bang on the money with the Audi Q5 and Jaguar F-Pace. The Mercedes GLC is a bit more expensive and the Range Rover Evoque a bit cheaper.

You could also consider electric cars at this price point. If you’re willing to sacrifice a little badge appeal, the Kia EV6 and Peugeot E-3008 are worth a look – the latter in particular has a lovely interior.