When the thought of luxury comes to your mind, chances are BMW is amongst the top three. It’s no secret that the German trio has been ruling the luxury-car segment, and for several decades, no one could stop them. Years have gone by and BMW along with several luxury marques faces stiff competition from the far east.
BMW is known for its high-end performance cars and over the years they’ve shifted their focus from the upper echelons to mid-tier value propositions. To attenuate the eastern rampage, BMW, alongside Audi, and Merc had to venture into unchartered territories, chief among them being the compact crossover segment.
The BMW X3 was the result of their corporate brainstorming; a compact SUV that marked the entry to BMW’s family of utilitarians. Subsequently, BMW launched the X1 and X2 to expand their range, but to be honest, the X3 is the smallest member worthy of the suffix- SUV.
The BMW X3 at $43,000 remains largely unchanged for the 2021 model year. Still being part of the third-generation, the X3 however, is expected to get a complete revamp for 2022.
Engine And Performance
An SUV needs to fulfill its sporting duties and X3 in its base avatar is anything but exhilarating. Of course, the 248 horsepower from its 2.0-liter does provide a not so gentle shove, but that’s about it. The 258-lb-ft of torque coupled with the 8-speed ZF tranny takes care of the city commutes with ease.
Moving up the trim ladder, you’ll find the rather ambitious X3 M40i. Powered by a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6, this in our opinion is the sweet spot among all the X3s. Power figures are impressive at 382 horsepower and 365 lb-ft of torque, enabling a dash to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds- 2 seconds faster than the normal X3.
If you find the M40i underpowered, then the X3 M should tickle your fancy. Folks at BMW's M division decided the slap an additional turbocharger to the M40i B58 power plant. Internally called the S58, it gets two states of tune; 473 horsepower in the M and 503 horsepower in the M competition. Torque stands at a healthy 443 lb-ft for both with power being sent to all four wheels via BMW’s intelligent xDrive system.
For the environmentally conscious, there is an xDrive30e PHEV offering an EPA rated 18 miles of all-electric range and a combined efficiency of 24 mpg. The PHEV uses the 2.0-liter inline-4 coupled with an electric motor- Power is rated at 288 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque.
Exterior Styling
Being a mass-produced midsize car, the BMW X3 does not ooze any emotion. Much like the larger and pricier X5, the X3 boasts a lowkey design which, surprisingly, most owners prefer. BMW intends the X3 be used across the corporate world that favors an under-the-radar look over being exuberant.
The front of the car gets signature kidney grilles with LED headlights on either side. The front bumper houses a radar for the dynamic cruise control and gets parking sensors as standard. Moving to the sides, 19-inch wheels come standard wrapped with all-season run-flat tires. BMW has incorporated the Hoffmeister kink into the rear quarter of the X3- a nod to their iconic design trait. Things at the back are fairly simple with no noteworthy highlights.
Interior Design
The interiors of the BMW X3 means business and has no fancy curves or sharp edges. BMW follows a minimalistic approach while designing the interiors. The keen-eyed amongst you will notice the resemblance to the larger X5. In essence, the X3’s interior is largely a scaled-down version of the X5.
Unlike Audi and their obsession with screens, BMW has kept it rather simple with a rudimentary infotainment unit and physical buttons. Yep, in this day and age of high-resolution screens dominating the interior, BMW stuck with physical buttons. Everything from climate controls to volume knobs are actual dials that feel premium to the touch.
In terms of space, there’s plenty available in the BMW X3. The lavish use of leather and premium soft-touch materials makes the interiors feel rather upscale and opulent. Things feel sturdy with no wobble or creaks whatsoever- German build quality at its finest.
Seating for 5 is standard and most people wouldn’t need to question the headroom and legroom on offer. Seats are nice and wide with ample amounts of cushioning; rear seat occupants have the option to recline their seatbacks which is handy for long journeys.
Equipment On Board
The BMW X3 gets a 6.5-inch infotainment unit as standard, which can be upgraded to a 12.3-inch unit. This time around, BMW addressed a few connectivity issues with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay being offered as standard equipment.
The infotainment uses BMW’s latest iDrive software which is proving to be one of the best units out there, second to perhaps the MBUX from Mercedes. Apart from sharp graphics and better response, the system houses various gesture controls for commands like changing the stereo volume or answering a call.
Furthermore, the X3 offers a plethora of convenience features like three-zone climate control, heated front seats, heated steering wheel, a 360-degree surround-view camera, and an Automated parking system among many more.
Sources: wikipedia.org, caranddriver.com, edmunds.com