BMW X3 Review & Prices

The BMW X3 is an incredibly popular family SUV - more than 3.5 million have been sold since it launched in 2003. The latest model aims to stand out with its striking exterior design, ultra-modern interior and new plug-in hybrid engine. Both upmarket and eco-conscious, then, it’s like eating at a Nobu restaurant and ordering the vegan option.

It’s one of BMW’s core SUV models, being larger than the X1 but smaller than the X5 - a true family SUV, making it an alternative to cars such as the Audi Q5, Mercedes GLC, Volvo XC60 and Alfa Romeo Stelvio. At the same time, many growing families may be looking to increasingly posh offerings from less upmarket brands as a way to get more bang for their buck - think the Hyundai Santa Fe or Volkswagen Tiguan.

The old X3 did look a bit like it had been designed by a committee, starting with a generic SUV shape and just pasting on BMW’s signature features such as the kidney grilles and quad headlights. The new model is much more distinctive, with a very clean look helped in no small part by ditching the black plastic cladding that used to adorn the wheel arches.

There’s also an eye-catching new grille which has a mixture of diagonal and vertical lines - though racier models get a more conventional look - and which can even be illuminated by a thin LED strip around the outside. The sides are smooth, with faint sculpting giving the suggestion of a wheel arch, and recessed door handles mean there’s nothing to protrude. It’s a similar story at the rear, which has a smooth tailgate and big, angular LED taillights.

Inside it’s an even bigger change. There’s a large twin-screen infotainment setup and an interesting knitted texture on the dashboard, though it’s great to see BMW’s retained some of the features we love such as the rotary controller for the infotainment system that makes it much easier to use on the move than a pure touchscreen.

The most obvious feature, though, is that where BMWs of old may have used tons of chrome trim, in the new X3 it’s largely been replaced with huge hunks of translucent plastic through which sophisticated ambient lighting shines. It’s quite effective, particularly at night, but it’s definitely an acquired taste and does highlight that the interior doesn’t feel quite as luxuriously built as the old car, with some quite cheap and nasty materials around.

It’s also not hugely spacious for family life. The front seats are roomy but the rears are only average, and there’s a big hump in the floor which makes the centre seat quite uncomfortable. The boot is a good size at 570 litres, marginally larger than an Audi Q5 or Alfa Romeo Stelvio, but it’s beaten easily by a Mercedes GLC or a VW Tiguan. Storage for smaller items is also a bit limited.

There are four engines to choose from in the UK. There’s a 2.0-litre petrol or 2.0-litre diesel, both of which provide plenty of performance for everyday life. The most interesting is the 30e plug-in hybrid, which has up to 56 miles of all-electric range - meaning low company car tax bills and big potential fuel savings. All of these models are fairly pleasant to drive with comfortable suspension and refined engines, though they’re not quite as enjoyable as the old X3 was.

At the top of the range there’s a rapid M50 model, which has a 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine and plenty of performance upgrades making it a totally different car to drive. This version of the X3 takes aim at the Audi SQ5 and Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 and does so pretty well, thanks to tidy driving dynamics and plenty of performance.

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The new X3 starts at just over £48,000, though BMW says more than 70% of its customers opt for the M Sport model - which comes in at just over £50,000. The new Audi Q5 starts at just over £50,000, while the cheapest Mercedes GLC is almost £53,000, so the X3 is quite good value in comparison - though you can get a fully-loaded VW Tiguan or a very nice Hyundai Santa Fe for cheaper if you don’t mind having less badge kudos.

The cheapest plug-in hybrid X3 is a bit over £57,000, which again is a couple of thousand less than the equivalent Mercedes GLC.

You will probably want to add a few optional extras to your X3, though, and the cost can quickly stack up when you do. The Comfort or Comfort Plus packs are pricey but include a premium sound system and adaptive LED headlights, both very nice touches, while the Technology Pack adds in greater connectivity for the navigation and infotainment as well as a great head-up display.

Very quiet and refined on the motorway, but the regular models aren’t much fun to drive

In town

Driving the X3 in town is really easy. All models get an eight-speed automatic gearbox which responds quickly and smoothly to your inputs, without the hesitation you sometimes get in alternatives. The plug-in hybrid is superior here thanks to its ability to drive on electric power alone, but the petrol models aren’t exactly rough or noisy either.

Visibility is pretty good, even over your shoulder - there’s a large rear quarter window which minimises the blindspot. Every model gets all-round parking sensors and a reversing camera too, so parking’s really easy - and as an option you can have BMW’s Parking Assistant Plus, which will park the car for you and can even remember a complex reversing manoeuvre if you’ve parked in a very tight spot, for example.

The X3 rides over bumps more firmly than the equivalent Mercedes GLC but it’s not particularly uncomfortable - you don’t feel like you’re thudding or bouncing. As an optional extra you can add adaptive suspension with Comfort and Sport modes, but this isn’t necessary as the standard suspension deals just fine with potholes and poor surfaces. If you want to maximise comfort, stick with the 18- or 19-inch wheels rather than the optional 20- or 21-inch affairs.

On the motorway

The X3 makes a very relaxed motorway companion with very little wind and road noise. Again, a Mercedes GLC feels just a little more settled and refined here, but there’s not very much in it.

BMW gives you a suite of driving assistance features as standard including cruise control, though an adaptive system is optional and it’s rather a pain that you can’t adjust your following distance without diving into the infotainment system - every other manufacturer allows you to do that with a button on the steering wheel.

All of the engines have plenty of power for overtaking or short sliproads too, though the M50 model is no doubt the best here with ample horsepower in reserve - this model’s designed for high-speed autobahn cruising and so makes mincemeat of the M40.

On a twisty road

Older X3s were definitely among the best family SUVs to drive, but the gap’s narrowed here with the 2024 model. It’s not that the X3 is poor to drive on a winding country road, more that it’s no longer very enjoyable.

The engines (with the exception of the M50) all sound rather flat and drony, and while the steering is accurate and has a nice weight to it it doesn’t inspire you to chase the corners in the same way that an Alfa Romeo Stelvio does.

The M50 model, on the other hand, is quite good fun. With 398hp on tap, it’s certainly not short of power, and it also gets plenty of additional stiffening to both the suspension and to the chassis which help it corner very quickly but stay composed too. There’s also an electronically controlled differential, which can control where the power goes between the two rear wheels - helping you tighten up your line in bends. At nearly 2 tonnes in weight it’s not exactly a hot hatchback, but it’s a cut above a Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 in terms of enjoyment.

A big boot, but space for rear passengers is only average

Front seat occupants are very well treated in the X3. The comfortable sports seats get electric adjustment as standard, and there’s tons of reach and rake adjustment in the steering wheel so drivers of all shapes and sizes ought to be able to get comfortable. The M50 model has slightly firmer, more ‘huggy’ sports seats, but they’re not overly so.

Storage for smaller items isn’t great though. The cupholders are big, and ahead of them there’s an upright tray where you can wirelessly charge your phone. The door bins aren’t very big, though, and nor is the glovebox.

Space in the back seats

A six-foot passenger will be able to get comfortable behind a driver of a similar size, but there’s definitely more legroom and headroom in the back of a Mercedes GLC or a Volkswagen Tiguan. The rear bench is also quite flat, which by all rights should bode well for carrying a third passenger, but there’s a big hump in the floor which limits foot space and means you’ll only want to do very short journeys in the middle seat.

You do get a good view out of the big rear windows, though, and there are sunblinds, charging ports and rear climate controls too. Isofix points are present and correct, though there’s not an overly generous amount of space to fit a bulky rear-facing car seat. The hard-backed front seats are also a little uncomfortable to press your knees into.

Boot space

The X3’s 570-litre boot is an excellent size, though it drops to a less capacious 460 litres for the plug-in hybrid model. That’s beaten slightly by the Mercedes GLC, which has 620/470 litres and is on par with the Audi Q5’s 550/465 litre space.

It’s a nice square shape and the tailgate is really wide, so loading up is easy, and the seats fold flat in a nicely flexible 40:20:40 split rather than the plain old 60:40, so you can have two occupants at the same time as loading longer items. You can’t fold the seats flat from the boot, though - you have to go around to the side.

Divisive styling, great infotainment but a noticeable drop in material quality

The new X3’s interior is certainly eye-catching. Where the old car felt quite staid and sensible, the latest model has interesting features such as a big swathe of woven fabric trim, digital controls for the air vents, and huge chunks of translucent plastic through which the ambient lighting shines.

The centre console is dominated by two huge screens for infotainment and driver information. The driver’s screen is 12.3 inches across and nicely configurable - you can have a full-screen map, even if you’re running Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, which is a nice touch. It’s also pin-sharp and bright, with all the key information easy to see.

The infotainment screen is a huge 14.9 inches across, though it’s quite wide rather than tall so some apps like the sat-nav can feel more letterboxed than they do on a Mercedes GLC. The sheer number of menus can be intimidating, too, but it’s not too difficult to find what you’re looking for as most of the car’s key functions are quite high-level. Better still, BMW’s retained a rotary controller for the infotainment in the centre console - so when you’re on the move, you don’t need to fiddle about with the touchscreen.

The cabin looks quite cool, with its reliance on the ambient lighting strips rather than tons of chrome trim. However, once you poke around, you do notice quite a few cheap materials. The panels on the door cards which contain controls for the air vents and the door handles feel particularly nasty, and while the fabric trim on the dash looks quite cool it does feel quite low-rent compared to the leather, veneer or Alcantara you get on a Mercedes GLC or Alfa Romeo Stelvio.

The X3’s four engines all return very different fuel economy figures. The entry-level unit is the 208hp 20i petrol - this is quick, smooth, and claims to return around 40mpg. A figure of 35mpg would be more realistic.

Long-distance drivers will no doubt want the 20d diesel - it’s nice to see BMW still offers one, especially as the 3 Series and 5 Series saloons no longer have a diesel engine option. It has 197hp but is actually ever-so-slightly faster than the petrol to 62mph. It’s also quite a bit more efficient, claiming nearly 49mpg officially - we’d be quite sure of getting that on a gentle long run, but expect closer to 40-45mpg if you’re simply pootling around town.

The 30e plug-in hybrid is potentially a great choice if it suits your lifestyle. It has 299hp, making it pretty rapid, but the most important number is that it has up to 56 miles of all-electric range on a charge - which is less than some key alternatives, but significantly more than most others. Even if that’s more like 40-50 miles in the real world, that should be enough to complete even the most gruelling morning commute without using any petrol power at all. You can then reserve the engine for longer journeys at the weekends.

Of course, you’ll need to be able to charge at home or at work to make the most of this - the X3 can accept up to 11kW charging, bringing a full charge down to around two hours - and do bear in mind that, driven with a flat battery, the 30e is likely to be less efficient than even the entry-level petrol car due to the added weight of all those batteries.

Then there’s the M50. This may claim an official consumption figure of 36.7mpg, but in the real world cresting 30mpg will be a struggle - especially if you’re making use of the ample power under your right foot.

For company car drivers, the PHEV is the pick of the range, though it’s worth noting that a Mercedes GLC or Volkswagen Tiguan both fall into a lower tax bracket here due to their longer electric-only range. All X3s attract the expensive car supplement on yearly VED, too.

Safety expert Euro NCAP has not yet tested the 2024 X3, but BMW’s track record would suggest there’s nothing to worry about here. Since 2017, there have been 15 of its cars with five-star ratings, most recently the 5 Series - so when the X3 is tested, we’d expect it to achieve this.

Every model gets plenty of driving assistance kit as standard, including lane departure warning, speed limit info and lane change warnings, plus a reversing camera and all-round sensors for lower-speed work. Add the Driving Assistant Plus and you get adaptive cruise control as well as more sophisticated lane aids and autonomous emergency braking. BMW’s systems tend to be fairly unobtrusive in use, and you can turn off the irritating (and sadly mandated by law) speed limit warnings simply by holding down the ‘SET’ button on the steering wheel.

The new X3 is, well, new, so there’s no way to comment on its reliability just yet. However, the latest 3 Series and 5 Series, with which the X3 shares its engines and tech, both posted pretty good scores in the latest Driver Power owner satisfaction survey, which is reassuring.

BMW as a whole also scored quite well, coming 14th out of 32 manufacturers - well ahead of Mercedes and Audi. The BMW warranty is three years, the same as its main alternatives, but you do get unlimited mileage.