Snug, Fast, and Completely Mainstream

About 15 years in the past, BMW began catching flak from loyal lovers in regards to the model slapping its “M” badges on vehicles that weren’t correct M vehicles. “‘M’ stands for ‘advertising’ now, not motorsport,” they’d cry. Whereas that all the time appeared whiny, I really feel prefer it’s my flip to whine. However after testing the brand new 2025 BMW X3 M50, I don’t suppose M is for advertising; I feel it stands for mainstream.

All the things in regards to the X3 M50 appears sanitized, stripped of character and attraction, all in an effort to draw as many consumers as completely doable. Its generic SUV appears to be like, an inside that appears prefer it got here from an adolescent’s temper board, and probably the most uninteresting driving expertise from something sporting a Roundel all mix to make the X3 M50 probably the most vanilla BMW I’ve ever skilled. BMW even dropped the “i” on the finish of M50. I do know that isn’t information for BMW followers, however this was the primary such Bimmer I’ve examined, and it looks like dropping a cool little element that harkened again to BMW’s historical past. I do know why BMW dropped it, because it’s largely meaningless now and prospects are getting it confused with electrical “i” fashions, but it surely looks like dropping a bit of BMW’s soul. Becoming for this automotive, then.

An Inoffensive however In the end Boring Design

I admittedly hated the brand new X3 when BMW first unveiled it. However after spending per week with it, it grew on me. I nonetheless don’t find it irresistible; it’s painfully boring, has far too many slab-like panels, its headlights appear like they had been designed on a serviette at lunch, and it’s fully devoid of character. Nonetheless, at the very least in M50 guise and sporting Vegas Purple Metallic paint, it started to look identical to a generic fast SUV to me, moderately than one thing offensive. That stated, my neighbor has a 2024 BMW X3 M40i and it proves how far this new X3 has fallen.

Usually, after I take a look at a mid-fast premium crossover, I hear cynical criticism from fanatic pals however reward from everybody else. Individuals love their go-kinda-fast SUVs. However few individuals even cared about this new X3. I heard a number of destructive feedback, however in any other case the silence was deafening.

That’s to not say there aren’t some redeeming qualities. For instance, the kidney grilles are at the very least form of regular (a triumph for any trendy BMW), I just like the iX-inspired hood design, and its total profile is good-looking sufficient, even when its entrance finish is simply too tall. I simply really feel prefer it’s going to be misplaced within the sea of different premium crossovers and flat-out get left behind by nice trying ones from, Acura, Volvo, and even upcoming newbies just like the Rivian R2. I additionally had an opportunity to check a few of them not too long ago and it exhibits how far this phase has grown in high quality.

Who Is This Inside For?

I’ve owned and pushed BMWs from a number of totally different a long time. All of them have had one factor in frequent, relating to their interiors: maturity. BMW’s have all the time had critical interiors, maybe overly so generally, designed with nicely thought out ergonomics, largely good construct high quality (my E36 was made out of tissue paper), and emphasis on visibility and usefulness. This new X3, although, appears to be like prefer it was designed for youngsters, by youngsters. The huge heart console V-shaped mild bar appears to be like foolish and simply takes up house, the A-pillars are thick and in the way in which, and BMW’s incessant use of hidden air vents with annoying little directional management toggles is irritating.

Nonetheless, probably the most egregious inside error is the complete door pull space. The X3’s inside door pulls are little triangular jobs which can be constructed right into a console that additionally homes the reminiscence seat buttons, a touch-based air vent slider, an uncovered air vent (why are these uncovered however the sprint vents aren’t?), and one other cumbersome V-shaped mild bar that takes up an excessive amount of house. It’s simply far too cluttered, cumbersome, unpleasant, and annoying to make use of.

I’ll say I just like the cubby simply forward of the middle console, although. It has a vertical wi-fi telephone charger—which prices shockingly shortly—and a giant cubby for stuff like my pockets, keys, and earbuds. And the rubberized, ribbed nature of the panel stored my telephone from getting too scorching whereas charging, which is all the time an issue, whereas additionally holding my issues in place. It appears to be like cool and it really works nicely.

When it comes to construct high quality, BMW continues to make top-notch interiors, because it felt solidly constructed. All the things feels sturdy contained in the X3, prefer it’ll final a few years with out nary a squeak or rattle. Shut the doorways and the shut with a high-quality whoomph. And I actually like how simply the rear cargo cowl snaps in and misplaced. It’s as well-made as you’d count on from a BMW cabin but it surely appears to be like prefer it was designed by a 16-year-old, each it phrases of pointless flashiness and wonky ergonomics. I’m unsure if BMW’s goal demographic has modified however I’m unsure who it expects to purchase this automotive.

Larger Exterior however Larger Inside?

While you see the brand new BMW X3 M50 from the surface, you count on a ton of elevated inside house, versus its predecessor. Nonetheless, that’s solely true within the trunk, the place its 31.5 cubic-feet of cargo house bests the previous X3’s 28.7 cubic-feet. The previous-gen X3 truly has virtually an inch of additional entrance headroom, whereas entrance leg and shoulder room are about the identical. The previous automotive’s practically inch of additional headroom extends to rear passengers, too. Whereas rear leg room is about the identical on each vehicles, the brand new one does have about an inch of elevated rear shoulder room.

To treatment the discount of headspace, BMW gave the brand new X3 an non-obligatory full glass roof. That brings a great deal of mild into the cabin, making it really feel airier, but it surely doesn’t transfer so you may’t open the sunroof.

Whereas the brand new inside isn’t worse than the previous one, it definitely isn’t the large improve that its exterior mass appears to counsel.

Drives for Mass-Market Enchantment

I couldn’t assist however suppose, after per week of driving the BMW X3 M50 in each form of real looking situation, that it might make an amazing Mercedes. The steering is mild and largely imprecise however has first rate on-center really feel, the experience is gorgeous, and it’s rock-solid steady at excessive velocity. However flip the wheel with any form of enthusiasm and it fails to reward. I distinctly bear in mind testing the previous-generation X3 M40i for the primary time and I knew it was an amazing automotive inside 30 ft. I may simply inform that its steering and experience had been tuned by individuals who care about driving. However this one? It feels prefer it was designed for mass-market enchantment.

Don’t suppose meaning it’s sloppy. It isn’t. It’s fairly a succesful machine, even by means of a few of southern New Jersey’s twistier bits of highway. As soon as its weight subtly transfers, it grips and goes. But it surely simply by no means offers you the sense that it’s significantly excited by doing so. Few trendy BMWs speak to you thru the steering anymore, that largely died after the E90. However most trendy Bimmers nonetheless speak to you thru the chassis; you may really feel what they’re doing by means of your ass within the seat. Not this one, although. You possibly can inform it’s succesful and that it’s doing its job, however solely by the outcomes. It tells you nothing by means of any of the controls.

I additionally disliked the brake pedal. Not the brakes themselves. They work superbly, truly, with close to excellent pedal really feel and tuning. Nonetheless, the brake pedal itself is positioned technique to excessive, so I needed to flex my proper foot upward to succeed in it and it was simply uncomfortable and annoying.

The experience is great, although. It’s supple and rounds out bumps superbly, whereas all the time sustaining its composure. Even in its sport mode, its experience by no means will get much less cozy. It’s some of the buttoned down, strong feeling crossovers of its dimension that I’ve ever pushed.

What Did They Do to My Boy?

BMW’s B58 engine is considered one of my favourite engines of all time. My effusive reward for the three.0-liter turbocharged straight-six through the years has probably been nauseating for anybody studying my phrases. I’ve cherished it in each single software, BMW or in any other case. And, as an engine, it really works brilliantly within the X3 M50. It’s as clean as ever and supplies loads of efficiency. I used to be admittedly a contact upset on the lack of punch it appeared to have, however that’s probably as a result of SUV’s 4,535-pound curb weight and BMW’s choice to isolate occupants from as a lot feeling as doable.

Nonetheless, BMW completely neutered the B58’s noise. I’m unsure whether or not there’s some emissions motive, or if BMW simply forgot to tune the exhaust, however the X3 M50’s exhaust observe is fairly unhealthy. It’s tinny and coarse on startup and simply sounds… generic when revving from the surface. On the within, the cabin is so quiet you barely hear the I6’s actual voice. As an alternative, you hear the artificial soundtrack pumped in by BMW’s sound engineers and it sounds lower than stellar, to be form.

In each different software, the B58 sounds wonderful. The Toyota Supra and BMW Z4 M40i are its greatest examples, the place it appears like an unique automotive engine. However within the X3 M50, it’s robbed of its character, which is wildly disappointing.

With 393 horsepower and 428 lb-ft of torque, the X3 M50 is likely one of the strongest B58-powered vehicles ever, so it’s no shock BMW claims it will probably hit 60 mph in 4.4 seconds. That’s fast for a household SUV but it surely by no means actually feels it from behind the wheel. It does have loads of passing energy when you’re at freeway speeds, although, it simply appears to battle with getting off the road with gusto. Or maybe simply the dearth of sensation, audible or in any other case.

Most Prospects Will Love It, Fanatics Gained’t

All the things in regards to the new 2025 BMW X3 M50 feels prefer it was designed for mass market enchantment. That shouldn’t come as an excessive amount of of a shock, given BMW’s fairly regular motion in that course for years. Nonetheless, this new X3 looks like the top of BMW’s transition.

This new X3 is an effective automotive; it’s comfy, quiet, spacious sufficient, and filled with nice tech. Positive, it may not be very fascinating to have a look at, and its inside is a bit infantile, but it surely makes for a wonderful on a regular basis automotive. Nonetheless, I additionally really feel prefer it’s the least BMW-like Bimmer I’ve ever examined. It strays furthest from the “Final Driving Machine” ethos than the rest with a Roundel that I’ve ever been behind the wheel of. If this had a Mercedes emblem on it as a substitute, I wouldn’t bat an eye fixed.

Does that imply it isn’t value shopping for, particularly with an MSRP of $65,900? No, and I feel it’s going to promote very nicely over its lifecycle. I feel it’s a great automotive, simply not a great BMW.