For those who’re shopping for your first BMW, the reply is straightforward: get the X3. It’s the model’s candy spot—large enough for household life, filled with tech, enjoyable to drive, and priced proper alongside the typical new automobile in America. BMW’s lineup may be overwhelming for newcomers transferring up from Toyota, Honda, or rival luxurious manufacturers, however the X3 hits the right stability 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 normal all-wheel drive, a precious function for these dwelling in colder climates. Apart from, whereas the inside may 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 techniques.
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.
Partaking Driving Dynamics with A number of Powertrain Choices
Being constructed on the identical rear-wheel-drive CLAR structure as the three Collection (and never the front-wheel-drive-based UKL2 platform utilized by the X1/X2) means the X3 delivers a really partaking driving expertise. Certainly, the bottom X3 30 delivers 255 horsepower and a 0-60 mph time of 6 seconds, which is greater than ample for each day driving. In the meantime, these in search of extra efficiency can go for the X3 M50, which offers 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 is just not 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 intently with the typical transaction worth of latest vehicles ($48,907) in america. Its principal rival, the Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class, is priced equally, at $49,250. In distinction, the Porsche Macan—typically lauded for its superior dealing with—comes with a considerably larger MSRP of $64,600 for the interior combustion engine (ICE) variant and $78,000 for the electrical mannequin.
Transferring on, the X3’s five-year resale worth is 46.1 p.c, which is healthier than bigger BMW SUVs just like the X5 (41.6 p.c) and X7 (42 p.c). In the meantime, information from CarEdge additionally means that the X3’s ten-year upkeep prices ($19,075) are akin to these of the smaller X1 ($18,824) and X2 ($18,854), serving to to maintain general possession bills in test.
Conclusion
We’ve spent loads of time behind the wheel of the new-generation X3—first in camouflaged prototype kind, the place its stability and steering precision already stood out, then once more on the media launch, and later dwelling 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 concept 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 truth, it was our very first BMW SUV—and the mannequin that satisfied us BMW may construct a utility car that also felt like a real driver’s automobile.
Make no mistake—the X3 isn’t excellent. As talked about above, its interiors depart rather a lot to be desired. Moreover, by way of outright efficiency, the three Collection is superior, whereas the X5 is a greater general SUV—typically referred to as the “Swiss Military Knife” of the BMW vary. And in comparison with rivals from different manufacturers, many critics are likely to want the GLC-Class, the Genesis GV70, and the Macan.
Nonetheless, the X3 was BMW’s best-selling automobile in 2023 and SUVs are the most important factor proper now so it is smart to go for the G45 when you’re planning to purchase a BMW for the primary time.
