In case you’re shopping for your first BMW, the reply is easy: get the X3. It’s the model’s candy spot—sufficiently big for household life, full of tech, enjoyable to drive, and priced proper alongside the typical new automotive in America. BMW’s lineup might be overwhelming for newcomers transferring up from Toyota, Honda, or rival luxurious manufacturers, however the X3 hits the proper steadiness between efficiency, practicality, and worth.
Practicality and Loaded with Tech
The X3, whereas not a full-sized SUV just like the X5 and X7, provides ample house for a small household with satisfactory storage capability. Plus, it comes with commonplace all-wheel drive, a helpful characteristic for these residing in colder climates. Apart from, whereas the inside might have been extra luxurious, the G45 is loaded with tech, together with 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, 14.9-inch touchscreen, iDrive 9, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, head-up show, and varied driver-assistance methods.
To not point out, the upcoming iX3, designed on the Neue Klasse platform, will get iDrive X, therefore making it BMW’s most digitally superior car but.
Participating Driving Dynamics with A number of Powertrain Choices
Being constructed on the identical rear-wheel-drive CLAR structure as the three Sequence (and never the front-wheel-drive-based UKL2 platform utilized by the X1/X2) means the X3 delivers a really participating driving expertise. Certainly, the bottom X3 30 delivers 255 horsepower and a 0-60 mph time of 6 seconds, which is greater than enough for each day driving. In the meantime, these in search of extra efficiency can go for the X3 M50, which supplies 393 horsepower and a 0-60 mph time of simply 4.4 seconds.
Notably, the G01 X3 M Competitors produced 503 horsepower and will dash from 0 to 60 mph in lower than 3.5 seconds (it packed the identical award-winning S58 engine because the M3/M4). After all, a G45-based X3 M will not be anticipated, however an all-electric X3 M is reportedly within the works.
Worth for Cash
The X3 has a beginning worth of $50,900, aligning carefully with the typical transaction worth of recent vehicles ($48,907) in america. Its major rival, the Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class, is priced equally, at $49,250. In distinction, the Porsche Macan—usually lauded for its superior dealing with—comes with a considerably greater MSRP of $64,600 for the inner combustion engine (ICE) variant and $78,000 for the electrical mannequin.
Transferring on, the X3’s five-year resale worth is 46.1 %, which is healthier than bigger BMW SUVs just like the X5 (41.6 %) and X7 (42 %). In the meantime, knowledge from CarEdge additionally means that the X3’s ten-year upkeep prices ($19,075) are similar to these of the smaller X1 ($18,824) and X2 ($18,854), serving to to maintain total possession bills in test.
Conclusion
We’ve spent loads of time behind the wheel of the new-generation X3—first in camouflaged prototype type, the place its steadiness and steering precision already stood out, then once more on the media launch, and later residing with it as a each day driver. Every time, it impressed with how a lot of BMW’s conventional driving really feel it delivers in an SUV physique. This isn’t simply principle for us, both. We as soon as owned the very first-generation BMW X3, powered by a naturally aspirated inline-six, and it stays one of the vital enjoyable SUVs we’ve ever had. In reality, it was our very first BMW SUV—and the mannequin that satisfied us BMW might construct a utility car that also felt like a real driver’s automotive.
Make no mistake—the X3 isn’t excellent. As talked about above, its interiors go away loads to be desired. Moreover, when it comes to outright efficiency, the three Sequence is superior, whereas the X5 is a greater total SUV—usually known as the “Swiss Military Knife” of the BMW vary. And in comparison with rivals from different manufacturers, many critics are likely to favor the GLC-Class, the Genesis GV70, and the Macan.
Nonetheless, the X3 was BMW’s best-selling automotive in 2023 and SUVs are the largest factor proper now so it is smart to go for the G45 in the event you’re planning to purchase a BMW for the primary time.
