2019 BMW X3 Road Test and Review

2018 BMW X3 front three quarter driving along ocean ・ Photo by BMW

The 2019 BMW X3 is an athletic five-passenger sports-luxury crossover that is delightful to drive. In a crowded field of highly competent European crossover SUVs, the X3 stands tall based on its ability to deliver a driving experience that more than satisfies. Occupying a footprint similar to Mercedes-Benz GLC 300, Audi Q5, and Porsche Macan, the X3 brings traditional BMW styling and engaging road manners to the competition. 

Like its brethren, the X3 looks the part of a small SUV with upright styling, but it is honed for on-road driving rather than bashing through the brush. If off-road is a primary goal, you should look to Jeep or Land Rover as wise alternatives. In the overall scheme of crossover SUVs, the X3 has compact exterior dimensions, which translates to limited interior space. Still, its interior cargo volume bests its most logical competitors in the segment. If your desires are for a taller, easier-to-get-into sports sedan, the X3 is worthy of strong consideration.

Exterior Design and Assembly

One thing is certain: The X3’s exterior styling carries BMW’s DNA. From the double-kidney grille to the “propellor” emblem on its liftgate, there is no question that the X3 is a BMW. After some time with the X3, there is also no question that its designers have struck a good compromise between interior space and exterior expanse.

The first iterations of the X3 were remarkably cramped inside, perhaps the result of BMW’s reluctance to field crossovers in the first place. But this version of the X3, introduced in the 2018 model year, offers much more interior volume while appearing svelte and sporty outside. The X3 also has a distinctive shape in a class of vehicles that all have a tendency to look alike. You can thank the grille and side vents for aiding that distinction, and we’d have to opine the current X3 is the best-looking version BMW has brought to market.

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Interior Design and Execution

The BMW X3’s interior strays a bit from the purposefulness BMW interiors exhibited in years past when the Japanese designers used them as their models of efficiency. The X3’s interior is all over the map with the infotainment screen sprouting from the top of two center vents like the screen at a drive-in movie. (But smaller.) 

The instruments are ensconced in a deep, driver-oriented nacelle — all to the good — and they are as comprehensive as they come these days. The round gauges are a bit of a throwback — a welcome one — and the thick-section wheel enables a 9-and-3 grip if that’s what you fancy. The front bucket seats are comfortable and supportive. They adjust 10 ways, including adjustable side bolsters to hug you if desired. The rear bench is less accommodating, though it does offer reclining seatbacks, and it’s just fine for two adults. Three adults would literally rub shoulders. The use of materials is representative of the BMW brand, and the fit and finish is flawless.

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Infotainment and Controls

In general, the BMW X3’s infotainment system fills the bill, but there are a few areas where it has a shortfall. Depending upon your point of view those shortfalls could be deal-breakers. For one, the standard display is just 6.5 inches, which might be fine for an economy car but seems unacceptable in a luxury crossover. The only remedy to that is purchasing a package that includes both a 10.25-inch screen and navigation.

Since many use phone apps for navigation that seems a bit onerous, but equally onerous is the absence of Android Auto even at a premium. Apple CarPlay is available, but it requires an additional purchase; it’s not standard, though Bluetooth phone pairing is. You can also hook up to the single USB port or, at extra cost (of course), you can get a second USB port. The iDrive infotainment system is controlled by a joystick-analogous knob on the center console, and it takes a little getting used to.

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Powertrains

The X3’s standard powerplant is a turbocharged 2.0-liter gasoline-fueled in-line four-cylinder engine that produces 248 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. It is mated to a highly efficient eight-speed automatic transmission.

For those with a hankering for more performance — and don’t mind the considerable added expense — the X3 M40i stuffs a turbocharged in-line six-cylinder engine under the hood. It rolls out 355 horsepower, which proves transformative to the X3’s 4,000 lb of mass. The sDrive30i is the base rear-wheel drive version of the X3; the xDrive30i employs — you guessed it — all-wheel-drive. The M40i’s all-wheel drive system is a big help in getting all its torque to the pavement.

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Driving Impressions

The X3 might well be the “ultimate driving machine” among the compact luxury models in its segment. The most obvious contender for that title is the Porsche Macan, which offers identical horsepower and a bit more torque squared off against very similar curb weight. At the same time, the much more specialized M40i can more than hold its head up against equally esoteric versions from Porsche and Mercedes-Benz, among others.

The X3 does a creditable job of providing excellent ride, handling, and interior quietness in day-to-day conditions while being equally able to kick out its tail in spirited mountain-road driving. The intelligent all-wheel-drive system is networked with the Dynamic Stability Control, enabling the power split among all four wheels to be constantly varied. The net? Handling characteristics that mimic rear-wheel drive. The M40i ups the acceleration ante significantly, but it doesn’t do it at the expense of reasonably comfortable around-town drivability.

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Safety and Driver Aids

As you might expect from a car of its pedigree, the BMW X3 can be equipped with an impressive array of active safety features. The downside is that few are standard, but instead are available in extra-cost packages.

The Driving Assistance Package includes active blind-spot protection, a lane-departure warning, daytime pedestrian protection, a forward collision warning with city collision mitigation, a rear cross-traffic alert, and speed limit information. The Driving Assistant Plus Package offers active cruise control with stop-and-go, active lane-keeping assistance with side collision avoidance, a traffic jam assistant Evasion Aid and front and rear cross-traffic alerts. The ParkNow service, available in the iDrive infotainment system, allows drivers to locate roadside and parking lot parking spaces, book them in advance, and pay for them without cash. Nifty.

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Cargo and Towing

Due to the new design that began with the 2018 model year, the X3 manages to fold a lot of interior and cargo space into a compact, easy-to-handle package. It offers 101 cubic feet of passenger volume.

With both rows of seats in use, the cargo hold is a generous 28.7 cubic feet, which dwarfs the 17.6 cubic feet available in the Porsche Macan and the 19.4 cubic feet offered by the Mercedes-Benz GLC 300. The X3 offers 62.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the front seats with the second-row folded. That compares favorably to the 56.5 cubic feet of the GLC 300, 53.1 cubic feet in the Audi Q5, and 52.9 cubic feet in the Macan. The X3 also offers an available hands-free automatic liftgate, and it’s the first BMW suv to include a factory-installed trailer hitch that will enable customers to use a broad range of accessories including tongues, drop tongues, towing balls, and bike racks. Properly equipped, the X3 offers maximum towing of over 4,400 pounds, among the best in its class.

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Fuel Economy

If you look at the compact size of the X3, you might expect stellar fuel economy. The fact is the X3 offers better than representative fuel economy for its class, but it is not as economical as a compact sedan. With a curb weight of just over 4,000 lb, the X3 is big for its length, yet it does better than its competitive set in fuel economy.

The EPA ratings for the four-cylinder rear-wheel drive X3 are 23 mpg city/30 mpg highway/26 mpg combined, while all-wheel drive cuts those figures by 1 mpg. This compares to the Porsche Macan’s EPA-estimated 20 mpg city/25 mpg highway/22 mpg combined. The high-performance all-wheel-drive M40i has EPA ratings of 20 mpg city/27 mpg highway/23 mpg combined. 

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Multiple Trim Levels

The X3 is available in three different configurations: sDrive30i, xDrive30i, and M40i. The two 30i models feature a turbocharged in-line four-cylinder engine, while the M40 features a turbocharged in-line six-cylinder.

The two 30i models are very similarly equipped in base form to which packages of equipment can be added. The M40i, which costs about $14,000 more than the sDrive30i, also has a significant amount of added features starting with intelligent all-wheel drive. Even the base sDrive30i is pretty well equipped, though some might object to the fact Apple CarPlay and electronic safety aids are optional rather than standard equipment. Most will find the sDrive30i or xDrive30i delivers all the performance and handling they want and need. The M takes it all to a higher level.

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Pricing and Value

The least expensive BMW X3 has a base price of over $40,000, which is absolutely in the ballpark with its German rivals. The base sDrive30i has an MSRP of $41,000 plus a $995 destination charge. For the xDrive30i all-wheel drive model, the MSRP climbs to $43,000 plus destination. For those seeking the highest performance X3 available through normal channels, the M40i has an MSRP of $54,650 plus destination.

In total, the BMW X3 represents a good value versus its European rivals, and its exceptional fun-to-drive characteristics help seal the deal.

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