BMW X3 review

Driving position

The BMW X3 hits an absolute sweet spot in the world of SUVs – it’s the right size for families graduating from a non-SUV, like a hatchback, and therefore offers a lot more interior space.

It has an excellent driving position with good adjustment, so you can sit upright like in other SUVs or low if you prefer that BMW sports car feeling.

The seats are comfortable across the range, but there are also options for more supportive and firmer seats in sportier trim levels like the M50 – a warm performance variant of the standard X3.

BMW also offers ‘Econeer’ upholstery, made from recycled bottles, for the eco-conscious among us. Maybe one for the plug-in hybrid buyers, of which there are many (we’ll touch on that below).

The controls are well-placed, which makes it easy to change settings on the go. We really appreciate the panel of manual controls on the centre console – so many manufacturers force you to use the touchscreen, which can be unsafe when you need to concentrate on the road.

It’s worth noting that the car’s design and its interior mean the A-pillars (the bits of metal framing the sides of the windscreen) are quite chunky, so they do create a bit of a blind spot. It’s even more pronounced when you sit low down.

Tech and features

Operating system version nine is installed on the iDrive system, which means you get access to third-party apps. Handy if you have your preferred charging station finder for the plug-in hybrid model. Ours is cinchCharge…

The system is loosely based on Android, whereas previous versions weren’t. This all helps to improve the reliability and stability of BMW’s already extremely impressive infotainment.

Everything is displayed on a large 14.9-inch display, which sits next to a 12.3-inch configurable digital instrument cluster.

The ‘Interaction Bar’ wraps ambient lighting around the cockpit, from the dash to the doors. Besides glowing a selection of different colours, it also houses touch-sensitive climate controls and flashes red when you’ve got your hazards on.

We like the Parking Assistant Professional optional extra, which lets you park your car from your smartphone. It might sound like a gimmick, but when you get blocked in between two tightly parked cars in the supermarket, you’ll appreciate the upgrade.

It doesn’t matter so much as a used purchase, but BMW reckons this iteration costs just £700 more than its predecessor on a like-for-like basis, so you won’t be paying through the roof for all of the gadgets.

Engines and power

The standard engines use mild hybrid technology to help improve efficiency and give an extra punch of power when the turbo is still spinning up. You can pick between two 2.0-litre units.

There’s a 208hp petrol or the 197hp diesel – they get to 62mph in 7.8 seconds and 7.7 seconds, respectively, which is a strong performance from reasonably efficient engines.

Replacing the outgoing 360hp M40i is the BMW X3 M50, with power upped to 398hp. It’ll get to 62mph in 4.6 seconds, but you’ll pay a fair price to run this 3.0-litre straight-six engine.

The final option is an incredibly popular one – the xDrive30e plug-in hybrid model in the previous X3 accounted for around a third of sales, but its 12kWh battery didn’t offer the biggest electric-only range.

Still referred to as the 30e, the latest PHEV model has a bigger 19.7kWh battery, which means range is up to 56 miles – perfect for those trips around town or through city centres

Handling and ride comfort

We tested the X3 in two different configurations – the ‘20’ petrol engine and the M50 performance variant, so we really know how it performs on both ends of the spectrum.

This could be one of the best-handling family SUVs out there. It’s first and foremost a driver’s car, and it’s quite happy tackling the twisty stuff with an engaging setup and accurate steering.

But change the drive mode to your exacting needs and you’ll find that the X3 is also a pleasant and refined cruiser that’s extremely comfortable on long journeys.

There was a slight bit of wind noise at speed, but on the whole, we’d summarise the experience as calming and predictable.

Boot space

Boot capacity is up slightly to 570 litres (from 550 litres), so the already-practical X3 is now even more so.

Plug-in hybrid models lose 110 litres of storage – this car’s plug-in predecessor had 100 less, but you can’t really grumble at the extra 10-litre loss when the electric-only range has nearly doubled (it’s the batteries that eat into the boot space).

Thankfully, there’s no loading lip to get into the boot, so it’s easy to slide items into the back.

Rear seats

Rear-seat space is adequate, and the panoramic sunroof, which extends right to the back of the car, doesn’t take away too much headroom.

As is usually the case with BMWs and many other similar cars, the middle seat isn’t really usable by adults because a large transmission tunnel takes away all usable foot space (unless your neighbours are willing to share).

Standard-fit rear-seat climate controls and sunblinds make it a more complete experience in the back.

Storage solutions

In the front, there are generously sized cupholders and a newly designed wireless phone charging tray which positions the phone more upright, facing the driver. The door bins are also a good size.

Although storage solutions are strong, the BMW retains its grown-up and premium feel with a soft padded armrest and high-quality materials throughout.

Towing

All versions of this BMW X3 can tow at least two tonnes – it’s the plug-in hybrid that has the lowest rating, at exactly 2,000kg.

The ‘20’ petrol model can tow 2,400kg, and the ‘20d’ diesel and M50 performance edition can both tow 2,500kg.

Off-roading

Most family SUV drivers will rarely venture off the beaten track, but even so, it’s good to know that the X3 has 216mm of ground clearance in all instances, apart from the PHEV, which has 8mm less.

Safety

Standard safety kit includes front collision warning, a lane-departure warning system, speed limit assist and a reversing camera, but more advanced driver aids, and part-self-driving tech are also available for an extra cost.

Euro NCAP hasn’t tested the X3 yet, but the premium German brand has had a long run of four- and five-star ratings, so we don’t have any doubts about this SUV’s safety credentials.

Fuel economy

In our testing on country roads, we found BMW’s claimed figures to be pretty accurate. The 2.0-litre petrol should get 39-41mpg, and we achieved 37mpg. The 2.0-litre diesel is considerably more economical, rated at 46-49mpg, and for many, this will be the one to go for.

Plug-in hybrid figures are wildly overestimated, but that’s the nature of the official testing procedure and not BMW inflating its claims. It’s likely to be similar to the standard petrol when it’s not plugged in, but make full use of the 56-mile electric range and your running costs could drop.

On the other end of the scale is the M50, which gets a claimed 35-37mpg. Because it’s a performance model, it’s likely to be driven more aggressively, so don’t expect to top 30mpg if that’s the case.

Reliability

BMW typically ranks mid-tier for reliability in brand surveys, but more crucially, it usually performs better than its key German rivals – Mercedes and Audi.

The three-year warranty is an industry average, but at least there’s no mileage limit, so if you buy a nearly new secondhand X3, you won’t need to worry about how many miles it’s driven.

Much of the tech is relatively new, but it’s still been tested in some other new BMW models, which have proven to be dependable.

Insurance groups

Insurance groups for the BMW X3 have not yet been confirmed, but as a guide, expect to pay slightly more than you would for a more budget SUV.