BMW has refreshed the fourth generation of its X3 off-roader in a bid to ensure the model remains one of the company’s top money makers.
Prices at home in Germany will start at €57,900 when the SUV leaves showrooms later this year and the manufacturer has opted for a no-risk policy with this emergency update.
The next SUV will be based on the acclaimed ‘new class’, which features a new modular drivetrain and control systems, while this new model retains the same CLAR multi-powertrain platform as its predecessor.
But let’s not go too fast. The latest X3 is a more conservative competitor to cars like the Audi Q5 and Mercedes GLC, although the garish, glowing LEDs around the kidney grille may put off some buyers.
The styling is generally understated for a contemporary BMW and the emphasis is on proportions rather than provocation.
It is no coincidence that the car is a few centimeters wider, flatter and looks fresher than the old model.
Where chrome once shone, LED strips now shine – for example around the otherwise ordinary kidney grille. Only the enormous air outlets underneath testify to the exuberance to which the BMW designers have occasionally succumbed in recent times.
The fourth generation of the bestseller is now 4.76 meters long and the wheelbase is no less than 2.87 meters. The
Above all, the new X3 drives like a typical BMW. It feels tight on the road and offers the kind of driving experience that is lacking in many competing SUVs and sedans.
The wide track improves handling and this car is one of the more dynamic off-roaders available.
Initially, the driving force will be a choice of four-cylinder engines, both petrol and diesel. These have an output of 153 kW/208 hp or 145 kW/197 hp and are both mild hybrids with 48 volt technology that should reduce fuel consumption. BMW also offers a six-cylinder petrol engine with 293 kW/398 hp for the top-of-the-range X3 M50 and plans a new six-cylinder diesel for 2025.
Even the basic petrol engine accelerates from a standstill to 100 km/h in 7.8 seconds and has a torque of up to 330 Nm at its disposal. It reaches a speed of 215 km/h, with a speed of 250 km/h reserved for the powerful variants.
While there will no longer be a purely electric iX3, a plug-in hybrid with a noticeably larger battery will fill the gap. It has a system power of 220 kW/299 hp and has an electric range of up to 90 kilometers.
Inside, the operating concept points cautiously to the future, but much is known. The slightly curved double display can be seen in other models, the steering wheel still contains old-fashioned switches and there is even a toggle switch for the gearbox on the center tunnel.
But when it comes to ventilation, the Bavarians play with sensor strips under the center console and on knobby control islands in the doors. It may be new, but it seems cheap and requires more attention to use than the old sliders and dials.
And even budget brands would probably be embarrassed by the light strips around the doors and the shelf between the seats, as they look far too colorful and down-market for a premium car like this.
Otherwise, there is little to criticize about the new X3 from a driver’s perspective. It’s suitably sized, pleasantly shaped, efficient engines and still a lot of fun to own.
Moreover, electronics make life easy. There is hardly a better voice control system on the market. And apart from the playful air conditioning, everything on board is intuitive. With all this help, autonomous driving may not be far away.
However, cyclists, drivers of smaller cars and others who share busy city streets will likely be less enthusiastic about a steamy car of this size.
Amid a slow uptake of electric cars, BMW is expected to keep some ICE models, such as this one, in its range to keep sales high.
