BMW X3 review – Engines, drive & performance

BMW has a reputation for making the most engaging cars to drive in each class it competes in, and the latest X3 is no exception. There’s not a huge amount of feel from the steering, but that’s pretty much our main criticism. Elsewhere, the X3 shows impressive handling balance and poise for a reasonably big and heavy SUV, without being unduly uncomfortable as a result.

Is it good to drive in town?

The latest X3 really is bigger in every dimension than an original BMW X5, but this isn’t too much of a problem from behind the wheel. A reasonably high seating position and large windows mean visibility is good, and quick steering helps maintain a feeling of manoeuvrability.

Despite car-like responses when you flick the steering wheel, this doesn’t translate to big bangs and wallops when the car hits a pothole, thanks to the X3’s supple suspension. It’s particularly impressive when smaller alloy wheels are fitted. We’d prefer a bigger change between Comfort and Sport when adaptive suspension is fitted though, and we ended up leaving the suspension set to Sport most of the time. When we drove it against the Lexus NX, we found the BMW was actually the better of the two at smoothing out smaller imperfections on the road.

Is it good to drive on long journeys?

It might have light steering around town, but this does get a bit firmer and more reassuring when the X3 reaches higher motorway speeds. We tested both extremes on offer – both the entry-level petrol and the M50, and both proved perfectly adept at cruising for longer distances. Some road imperfections cause a small jolt, but the suspension regains its composure quickly. Wind and tyre roar are also pretty minimal. We were impressed with the quietness of the X3 at a cruise, even when compared with the Lexus NX.

Is it good to drive on B-roads?

While it’s a new generation, BMW has taken the ‘CLAR’ underpinnings of the old X3 and developed them even further. The new model has a wider rear axle, a stiffer structure and a new design of rear suspension, so BMW hasn’t rested on its laurels. 

The result is minimal body lean when cornering and a level of grip that’s hard to imagine breaching on the road. Weighing in at 1,855kg, the entry-level petrol X3 is also pretty light for a modern SUV, and especially when compared with electric rivals, which can be felt when cornering. Its brakes are nicely progressive too, and the M50 gets a beefed up braking package that gives it a reassuring amount of stopping power for a big SUV. 

We tested the X3 against the Lexus NX and found that, although the Lexus is sharper to drive than many rivals, the BMW is still the class-leader in this area. That, plus the fact that the X3 is still comfortable to ride in, made the X3 our winner.

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Petrol models

Four-cylinder petrol engines can sometimes feel a bit underwhelming when paired with a big, upmarket SUV, but that’s not really the case here. We found the xDrive20 smooth and well-suited to the X3, with respectable performance when you put your foot down.

We also got to sample the high-performance X3 M50 xDrive, which gets the same six-cylinder petrol engine as BMW’s Z4 M40i sports car. If its combination of mild hybrid tech and turbocharging sounds complicated, the result is an impressively smooth and linear surge of power that does a good impression of an even bigger engine.

Every X3 gets a smooth eight-speed automatic transmission, but set the driving mode to Sport and the gearbox to ‘Manual’ in the M50 and its shifts sharpen up, even providing a visceral thump as you change up under heavy acceleration, helping to set it apart from lesser versions.

Diesel models

It might have slightly less power than the petrol engine of the same size, but the diesel has an impressive 400Nm of pulling power (versus 330Nm for the petrol), so it’s actually ever so slightly quicker from a standstill to 62mph. 

Plug-in hybrid models

The xDrive30e PHEV model combines a 2.0-litre petrol engine with an electric motor (producing 184bhp alone) for a total output of 294bhp when both are working together. It might be the heaviest X3 at just over two tonnes, but this oomph is still enough to get it from 0-62mph quicker than all but the M50.

Electric models 

There won’t be an electric version badged iX3 for this generation. Instead, BMW is focused on a clean-sheet electric SUV that sits on a new architecture. Set to be called the BMW Neue Klasse X, there will likely be a hiatus before it arrives, so buyers after an electric BMW will need to pick either the iX1 or pricey iX.

Carbuyer notes

“On the road, the X3 feels pretty similar to the old car – and anyone who’s been in the previous generation model will know that’s no bad thing.” Alastair Crooks, Senior News Reporter