BMW X3 Review 2024

The X3 is BMW's mid-size family SUV, combing rugged off-road looks with sporting presence. Competing against the likes of Audi Q5, Volvo XC60 and Land Rover Discovery Sport, the BMW X3 is the best of the bunch when it comes to handling, while its complemented by a quality interior and raised driving position. But does it make it the pick of the bunch? Find out in our BMW X3 review.

The BMW X3 is now in its third generation and we now think it's one of the best SUVs going. That's not to say it's always been the pick of the crop. The first iteration of the X3 arrived back in 2004 and received a lukewarm reception, while the second version appeared in 2010 and took things up a notch. While it was an improvement, it wasn't quite enough to muscle its way to top of a pile that was beginning to look increasingly crowded. 

This third-generation BMW X3 arrived back in 2018 and had an update in 2022, with the car sitting above the more compact X1 and below the larger X5 and X7 in BMW's range of SUVs. 

Despite all models featuring four-wheel drive, the BMW X3 shouldn't be thought of as a go-anywhere 4x4. The focus here is very much on a versatile family car that delivers an engaging drive and is happiest on the open road or a motorway. 

If you're set on an SUV but still want something entertaining to drive, then the BMW X3 is the pick of the bunch compared to rivals like the Audi Q5, Volvo XC60 and Mercedes-Benz GLC. It tackles bends that bit more competently, feeling more planted when you head into a corner.

The BMW X3 also comes with a decent range of engines. There's both four and six-cylinder petrol and diesel options, including a 510PS M Competition option. There's also a plug-in hybrid option as well with a range of 30 miles on electric power alone, while those looking for an electric-only option have the recently launched BMW iX3. 

The interior of the BMW X3 is everything you'd hope to find in a luxury SUV. There's plenty of space in the cabin, while the quality of finish and materials used excellent. You'd be hard pushed to find a nicer quality interior in a premium mid-sized SUV. 

The boot space in the BMW X3 is also very good at a roomy 550 litres, though if you opt for the plug-in hybrid version, the boot shrinks down to 450 litres to accommodate the additional batteries. 

There's also plenty of tech on offer with the BMW X3, with the latest cars coming with a large 12.3-inch touchscreen and digital dash. The infotainment system is one of the best around, especially if you use the intuitive iDrive interface to work your way around it.  

The BMW X3 is an easy premium SUV to recommend. It drives well, the interior quality is excellent, there's a spacious cabin, decent boot and an engine option to suit. Add in the fact that it's the best driving car in its class and comes with a decent range of standard kit and it's definitely one of our top picks. 

Looking for a second opinion? Read heycar's BMW X3 review.

The BMW X3's engine range kicks off with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, badged xDrive20i. If you're wondering what the xDrive is all about, it's the name given to BMW's excellent four-wheel drive system and it's something that's standard across the X3 range.

This delivers 184PS and a 0-62mph time of 8.4 seconds, though if you're looking for a bit more punch, the the diesel alternative is the answer. Badged the xDrive20d, its got 190PS and 7.9 seconds, while delivering 48.7mpg compared to the 37.2mpg of the petrol. While diesel might not be that attractive to many buyers, it's the pick of the range. 

If you want something even smoother, there's also a 3.0-litre six-cylinder diesel in the shape of the xDrive30d. With 286PS it hits 62mph in 5.7 seconds and is a lot smoother at motorway speeds. It's not too shady for fuel economy either at 44.8mpg. 

For those that do regular short trips, then the xDrive30e plug-in hybrid is the one to go for. This pairs a 2.0-litre petrol engine with a 109PS electric motor to deliver a combined power output of 292PS and a 0-62mph time of 6.1 seconds.

While you can use the electric motor to assist the engine, it can run on electric power alone for up to 30 miles. Perfect if you've got a short commute and you can charge it easily as chances are you'll hardly ever have to have the petrol engine kick in.

It also has a claimed fuel economy of 134.5mpg, though this will drop significantly if you don't charge it - it'll be like having a X3 xDrive20i, but you'll be lugging a load of extra dead weight thanks to the drained batteries. 

If you're not too fussed about fuel economy and wanting something with a bit more kick, then there's either the X3 M40i (360PS) or X3 M40d (340PS).

Both of these six-cylinder engines pack plenty of punch, and it's that's not quite enough there's the flagship M Competition with 510PS and a sports car-worrying 0-62mph time of 3.8 seconds. Overkill for a mid-size SUV? Quite possibly - we reckon the M40i should serve those looking for a fast SUV just as well and it's bit more refined, while it's also significantly more affordable. 

Just like it's key rivals - the Audi Q5, Mercedes-Benz GLC and Volvo XC60 - the BMW X3 scores a maximum five-star rating in the stringent Euro NCAP crash test. Dig a little into the figures, and the GLC and XC60 edge the X3 on individual adult and child protection categories, but not by much. Certainly not enough to dissuade you away from the X3. 

There's no shortage of safety equipment as standard, with the BMW X3 coming with six airbags, tyre pressure monitoring, electric stability control, LED headlights and cruise control. There's also plenty of extra safety tech on offer as well. There's a safety pack called Driving Assistant that's designed to reduce the risk of you have a potential collision in your X3. 

This pack comes as standard on BMW X3s, with safety features including Lane Departure Warning (the steering wheel vibrates as an alert should you move out of your lane without using the car's indicators), Approach Control, Person Warning and Cross Traffic Warning (rear).  

If that's not enough there's the optional Driving Assistant Professional at £1,250. This comes with a number of features, including things like Steering and Lane Control Assistant, Active Cruise Control and Emergency Stop Assistant, as well as things like Crossing Traffic Warning (front) and Evasion Assistant. 

There's also a rear camera to help with parking, though if you want a complete 360-degree view of your X3 as you manoeuvre it, there's Parking Assistant Plus that adds surround view cameras.

Regardless of which engine you plump for, the BMW X3 has a maximum braked towing weight up to 2,000kg. Good, but the Audi Q5 has a maximum braked towing weight up to 2,400kg that makes it more suited to larger caravans. 

You're not short-changed when it comes to boot space either. The BMW X3 has a 550-litre boot (a match for its premium German rivals) and while it's not possible to enlarge this further as the rear seats don't slide forward, there should be plenty of space for most family needs. 

On the occasions you need need to lug more luggage around (or stuff for the local tip), then simply pull the two handles in the boot and the rear seat will collapse forward and sit almost perfectly flat. Depending on what you need to carry (and how many passengers you need to drive round), the rear bench seat can be split three ways. With the rear seats folded back boot capacity of the BMW X3 increases to 1,600 litres - a bit more than the Audi Q5. 

As you expect for a premium SUV, the boot open and closes electronically with the push of the button on the key fob, while the lack of a lip on the edge of the boot makes it easier to lug cumbersome items in. 

If you plump for the plug-in hybrid X3, things aren't quite as impressive, with boot capacity dropping to 450 litres. The lump for the batteries means that there's a noticeable step up compared to the opening of the boot, making the boot space a little less practical than with the standard car. 

Whichever engine you opt for, passengers should have no issues thanks to the spacious cabin. Thanks to the design of the BMW X3 and its relatively boxy dimensions, there's ample headroom for both front and rear occupants, while even tall passengers should have a decent amount of legroom. 

Those with larger families, though, will be disappointed to hear that there's no 7-seater variant. If you want a third row of seats you'll have to dig a bit deeper for the X5 (or even the X7) or option seven seats on a Land Rover Discovery Sport.

Buyers might want to option with Comfort Pack, which adds a number of extras. Though the standard car has plenty of places to stow bits away, the BMW X3 with the Comfort Pack adds a heated steering wheel, keyless entry, extra hooks, lashing points in the boot (with the exception of the PHEV model) and rear seat backrest adjustment.

The BMW X3 measures 4,708mm long, 1,891mm wide (excluding mirrors) and 1,676mm tall. How does that compare to its rivals? It's a bit longer than the Land Rover Discovery Sport, the Mercedes-Benz GLC and Audi Q5, but a little bit shorter than the Jaguar F-Pace.  

There's no disputing the quality if the BMW X3's interior, rivalling the Audi Q5 for the crown of best finished interior in a mid-sized SUV. 

From the feel of the various controls dotted round the cabin of the X3 that provide a satisfying connection to the car to the quality of materials used, there's a real air of quality inside the X3. The soft-touch plastics have a nice tactile feel, while the seats are trimmed in leather. You're not just subjected to black hide, with a choice of brown, beige and white alternatives, while there's also a range of dash finishers to pick from as well. What options you have will depend on the trim level you choose, but there's polished wood, carbon fibre, aluminium or piano black dash finishers.

The BMW X3 also comes with plenty of kit as standard, so depending on your needs, there might not been a great temptation to upgrade to the next trim level. 

While rivals like Audi and Volvo have tried to squeeze every feature into the touchscreen infotainment system, BMW hasn't. While it might sound a little behind the times, the presence of physical controls makes the X3 a more intuitive car to use. Rather than having to rely in a touchscreen to control the climate control for example, the X3 has dedicated dash-mounted controls - something that's a lot easier to use while driving. 

The BMW X3 uses the brand's much-lauded iDrive system that's nice and straightforward to use. There's both touchscreen and voice control functionality, but the best way to interact with the iDrive system is the scroll wheel that sits between the front seats. 

The X3 originally featured an 8.8-inch central display on entry-level SE or xLine trims, with M Sport spec cars get a 10.5-inch central display. That's changed with the facelifted 2022 BMW X3, with all models getting a huge 12.3-inch touchscreen. The clarity and resolution is great (the rearview camera is pin-sharp in the display), while those preferring to use the touchscreen over iDrive will find an incredibly responsive display. 

All cars also get what BMW terms 'Live Cockpit', with physical dials replaced by a 12.3-inch display with a suite of digital dials. 

The standard stereo is a solid offering, but for audiophiles the upgrade to the Harmon/Kardon system with 16 speakers and a 600W amplifier is the way to go. You can spec this upgrade on its own for £820, or as part of the £1,700 Technology Pack. As well as the improved audio, you also get gesture control (to help keep that large touchscreen fingerprint-free), wireless phone charging and WiFi hotspot included too.

The price for a new BMW X3 starts at £45,485 for the xDrive20i petrol in xLine trim. Expect to find a decent level of standard equipment, so unless you want the sportier looks of the M Sport version, you might not feel the need to spec it beyond this.

If you're one of the decreasing number of people who want a diesel engine (though you should if you cover a lot of miles), you'll pay £46,570 for the xDrive20d, while the plug-in hybrid (xDrive30e) will set you back £53,730. 

If you do want something that has a bit more presence, then the BMW X3 xDrive20i in M Sport trim starts at £47,385 and tops out at £55,530 for the plug-in xDrive30e. That's a little bit more than the equivalent plug-in hybrid Audi Q5, though not by much and deals may vary. 

The BMW X3 in top of the line M trim starts at £61,590 for the M40d diesel. The M40i petrol is a little bit more at £62,065, while the 510PS M Competition starts at £89,070. 

If you're looking for the most efficient variant, then the xDrive30e plug-in hybrid is the most cost-effective to run. BMW quotes an impressive 141.2mpg with CO2 emissions at just 45g/km, though that's a little less than 166.2mpg and 41g/km quoted by Audi for the Q5 plug-in hybrid. 

This does depend on usage however and the type of driving you do. Plug it in and charge it regularly for short trips and commutes under 30 miles (the electric range of X3 plug-in hybrid), you'll unlikely need the engine to kick in. If you're regularly covering long distances, then you'll be better off with a diesel. 

Speaking of which, the xDrive20d diesel in the BMW X3 delivers 48.7mpg - that's some 10mpg better than the xDrive20i petrol that has an official consumption figure of 37.2mpg. There's also a more powerful 286PS diesel available on the BMW X3 M Sport (the xDrive30d) that still delivers a decent 44.8mpg.

If you're looking at the straight six -powered X3 M Competition, you'll be lucky to get the claimed 26.2mpg, though things are a little better with the X3 M40i at 31mpg. If you want performance but still want to keep an eye on fuel economy, then the X3 M40d delivers 40.9mpg.