BMW X3 (2018-2023) Review
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Written by Andrew Brady
Quick overview
Pros
- Brilliant cabin and in-car tech
- Strong and efficient engines
- Boot is both big and clever
Cons
- Only room for five
- M Sport models are a little firm-riding
- Expensive optional extras
Overall verdict on the BMW X3
"The BMW X3 is the brand’s mid-size SUV, so it's big enough to give you a great view out over other traffic and handle family transport duties with zero fuss, yet small enough to not feel cumbersome on British roads."
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The BMW X3 is best described as a taller and more useable 3 Series. It's also more desirable these days, as SUVs are less compromised on practicality, and the rugged design and raised driving position has become hugely popular. We'll see if that's justified in this BMW X3 review.
Unlike some 'proper' 4x4s, the BMW X3 is more focused on delivering a composed - even sporty - on-road driving experience, rather than tackling extreme terrain, so it suits most buyers' daily routine.
Few SUVs strike a better balance between road-holding and comfort, especially when fitted with the optional adaptive dampers. It's a plush-riding car, and the X3 is more entertaining to drive than its peers; the Volvo XC60, Audi Q5 or Land Rover Discovery Sport. It grips tenaciously in corners and feels more planted and stable than heavier rivals as it changes direction.
The engine range also impresses, with both four- and six-cylinder petrol and diesel options that are smooth, and strike a fine balance between gutsy performance and decent fuel economy.
If you really want to save money at the pumps, there’s also a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version with a pure electric range of up to 30 miles, and combined CO2 emissions of just over 50g/km for an ultra-low Benefit-in-Kind (company car tax) rate.
Topping the range is the BMW X3 M, a high-performance flagship variant with the same engine that also powers the M3 sports saloon, with over 500bhp and a ballistic 0-62mph time of just 4.1 seconds - it's a real rocket ship. Still, most buyers will be more than satisfied with the tractable and frugal 2.0-litre diesel in the xDrive 20d.
Inside, the BMW X3 offers everything you’d want from a premium SUV: space, comfort, and stunning quality. It has a comfortable driving position, the dashboard design is attractive and modern, and there are enough practical touches to cope with the daily grind. Material quality is first-rate, and the specification list is as fully stocked as Nigella Lawson's fridge.
All X3s come with leather upholstery, heated seats, an electric tailgate, and sat-nav. The 8.8-inch screen is superb, but the upgraded display and digital dials on M Sport models feel truly cutting-edge. It's one of the best infotainment systems, partly due to the impressive hardware but mostly because it's just so easy to use. From the 2021 facelift onwards, all cars came with a bigger 12.3-inch screen as standard, which is also brilliant.
The boot is as spacious as in its closest rivals, and it's cleverly designed to help you maximise the generous 550-litre load capacity with a minimum of fuss. However, that space decreases to just 450 litres in plug-in hybrid model, with the electric motor and large batteries taking up a lot of space underneath the boot floor.
Where the X3 really stretches ahead of its rivals, though, is value for money. It feels luxurious and well built in the cabin, justifying its premium price, but it's better equipped, cheaper to insure and more efficient than many rivals. Combine that with its keen handling, powerful engines and decent practicality, and it's a class-leading effort.
Looking for a used car for sale? We've got 100s of BMW Approved Used Cars for Sale for you to choose from, including a wide range of BMW X3s for sale. If you're looking for the newer version, you need our BMW X3 review, while you might also be interested in our previous generation BMW X3 (2010-2018) review.
Is the BMW X3 right for you?
What other cars are similar to the BMW X3?
Comfort and design: BMW X3 interior
"Setting off on long journeys will hold no sense of trepidation for BMW X3 owners. The standard seats are really comfortable, offering good back and thigh support, toasty heaters, and a commandingly high driving position."
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You have a great view out in the BMW X3, and it's easy to judge where the bumpers end, so it doesn't feel too intimidating to weave through city traffic, although we're glad there are sensors and a camera to assist you when parking.
From the xLine model upwards you get figure-hugging sports seats that hold you tighter around the waist, while the M40i and M40d models have electric adjustment with memory buttons that will store your favourite settings.
We do think it mean of BMW not to provide lumbar support on any model, which can make a huge difference to the state of your lower back after hours spent behind the wheel, but it is offered as an inexpensive option. Meanwhile, the pedals are nicely spaced, and there is a wide footrest to prop your left leg up while cruising.
The layout is more conventional than in rivals such as the Volvo XC60 and Land Rover Discovery Sport, with a greater number of physical controls for the audio, climate and infotainment settings. Still, the switches are thoughtfully grouped together and clearly labelled, so once you've acclimatised to the cabin, it's very intuitive.
The digi-analogue dials on lower-spec cars are slightly easier to read than the fully digital items on M Sport trim (the fully digital ones later became standard across the range), since the speedo and rev counter are pushed to the corners of the 12.3-inch display, but it's a minor gripe.
Quality and design
Infotainment: touchscreen, USB, nav and stereo in the BMW X3
Space and practicality: BMW X3 boot space
Handling and ride quality: What is the BMW X3 like to drive?
"BMW likes throwing around its 'Ultimate Driving Machine' tagline, whether it's trying to sell you a hatchback or a luxury limousine, but in the X3's case, this really is one of the sweetest handling SUVs on the market."
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The BMW X3 strikes an excellent balance between comfort and poise, isolating you from the scruffiest surfaces without losing an ounce of composure on faster, challenging roads that would flummox its rivals.
The four-wheel drive system sends more power to the rear wheel than the fronts, giving you a sling-shot feel when exiting corners that makes it feel more balanced than its competitors, while still generating huge grip.
The accurate steering varies its weight depending on your speed, lightening up for low-speed manoeuvres so it feels wieldy in busy car parks and narrow suburban streets, and it feels less cumbersome than a Land Rover Discovery Sport as a result. On fast roads, the steering weights up for added stability on straights and more confidence in corners.
Models with large wheels will fidget on pockmarked Tarmac, transmitting small imperfections up into the cabin with greater frequency than cars rolling on fatter tyres, while M Sport trim has a lower setup that's pretty firm. Some compliance is restored if you find a car fitted with a set of adaptive dampers, part of a costly option pack. They give the X3 a better bandwidth; soft enough in Comfort mode to be stress-free, while also being taut and controlled enough in Sport mode to be fun to hustle about it.
Unlike the top-spec versions of the Audi Q5 and Mercedes GLC, air suspension couldn't be specified, so it won't match those models for the wafty 'magic carpet' feeling you get from gliding along on big inflatable cushions. Still, it rides perfectly well on the adaptive dampers and neither rival gives its driver as much feedback and control as the BMW.
Every X3 drives well, but thehigh-performance M40i, M40d and (in particular) the X3 M have been tuned by the brand's motorsport department. Each has a bespoke setup that gives this tall off-roader impressive cornering ability and handling responses. A Porsche Macan possesses even more precise steering, but in all other respects the hottest X3 matches it.
What engines and gearboxes are available in the BMW X3?
Refinement and noise levels
Safety equipment: How safe is the BMW X3
MPG and fuel costs: What does a BMW X3 cost to run?
"The BMW X3 is one of the most fuel efficient SUVs around in diesel form. The latest versions have mild-hybrid technology, too, which helps to save even more fuel."
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BMW has introduced mild-hybrid technology on its diesel models, with an upgraded electrical system that can harvest energy when braking, and shut off the engine for short periods while cruising to help save fuel.
The results speak for themselves in the X3. Under WLTP tests, the 20d can return close to 50mpg, and even more impressively, the six-cylinder 286PS 30d is barely any less efficient, with an official 45mpg.
Expect those figures to fall in normal driving, or if you fit larger wheel sizes. Petrol models aren't as frugal, with an official 36mpg for the 20i, but our Real MPG results suggest that is almost achievable in the real world.
If you have a short commute, the 30e PHEV could be just the ticket. Its electric motor means the car can travel up to 30 miles without burning any fossil fuel, so it claims more than 120mpg in official tests. To get close to that, you'll need to regularly charge the batteries, and this takes over five hours with a three-pin plug. Using a 7kW wallbox cuts that time in half.
Obviously, the M Performance models aren't as efficient. Nevertheless, the M40d will be capable of over 40mpg in the real world, while around 30mpg would be expected for the M40i. The full-fat X3 M, however, will return around 25mpg. Not bad for the performance, but you have to ask yourself whether all that performance is really necessary in an SUV.
How reliable is the BMW X3?
Insurance groups and costs
VED car tax: What is the annual road tax on a BMW X3?
How much should you be paying for a used BMW X3?
"It’s been on sale for a few years now, so there are plenty of low mileage used BMW X3s on the market. The current car is the best yet in terms of its build quality, so picking one up nearly new is a great way to save on optional kit."
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The popularity of the BMW X3 means there's plenty of choice out there, whether you're looking to bag a deal on a nearly new or pre-registered model, or save more money with a used example.
The most affordable third-generation X3s in our listings come in at around the £22,000 mark. These are mainly 20i and 20d variants from 2018 and 2019 with between 50,000-70,0000 miles on the clock, and a variety of different trim levels are available at that price.
If you're looking for something a bit newer, year-old examples with the more modest powertrains will cost you upwards of £40,000, while the M40i and M40d versions will be upwards of £50,000.
Trim levels and standard equipment
Ask the heycar experts: common questions
What is the difference between the BMW X3 and the X5?
What is the BMW X3 like second hand?
How much boot space does the X3 have?
BMW X3 cars for sale on heycar
BMW X3xDrive20d M Sport 5dr Step Auto
202034,558 milesDiesel£403 mo£25,822
Great priceM334BLBMW X3xDrive 30e M Sport 5dr Auto
20238,924 milesHybrid£598 moor £39,995£42,695
£2,700 offGreat priceEX28FDBMW X3xDrive20d MHT M Sport 5dr Step Auto
202231,245 milesHybrid£458 mo£31,676
Great priceDN312SUBMW X3xDrive 30e xLine 5dr Auto
20249,740 milesHybrid£504 mo£39,900
TQ47DFBMW X3xDrive20d M Sport 5dr Step Auto
202019,714 milesDiesel£483 mo£30,315
Fair priceEX28FD
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