Google “best-selling BMW in the world,” and you won’t get the legendary 3 Series or 5 Series, nor will you get the big X5 or X7, nor will you get an electric car or a sports car. Nope, you’ll get the medium-sized crossover called the BMW X3. The Bavarian automaker sells over a quarter million of these machines annually, so when my dad told me he’d bought one and that I should give it a try, I couldn’t grab the keys quick enough. When I got behind the wheel I discovered what all the fuss was about; the BMW X3 is good. Really good.
I’m not even reviewing the new generation, which is coming out in the 2025 model-year; I’m reviewing my dad’s 2024 model, which he got for a steal. The base rear-wheel drive “sDrive30i” starts at $46,900 plus destination fee; my dad says he got his xDrive30i for around $45 grand all-in — not bad considering that stickers for $48,900 plus destination. And yes, it’s just the lowest-trim all-wheel drive model, but you wouldn’t know it looking at the car. It’s really stylish both inside and out.
What Is The BMW X3?
The BMW X3 is the Bavarian automaker’s bread-and-butter, and probably a vehicle you see all the time, perhaps without realizing it. It hits that sweet spot of affordability, fuel economy, luxury, size, and style. It’s among the top-dogs when it comes to sporty luxury vehicles in the mid-size crossover space, and its understated appearance, nice materials, and practicality at a decent price makes it so alluring for folks who want to move on from, say, a Chevy Equinox.
I know this because that’s exactly what my parents moved on from. This was their old car:
And this is the new X3:
To be sure, I’m a fan of affordable vehicles, so I’m definitely not hating on the Equinox for its lack of luxury. It was spacious, delivered a respectable 25-ish MPG, and offered a decent ride. But its problem was that its engine — a 2.4-liter Ecotec four-cylinder — was riddled with engineering flaws that ultimately led to the car’s demise after about 12 years and 150,000 miles in service. The timing chain failed and the pistons/rings led to excessive oil consumption. Add the fact that the six-speed automatic was sluggish, making the 181 horsepower engine feel rather anemic pulling around an 3,800 pound machine, and you have a car that didn’t really live up to expectations.
Whether the X3 will is something we can only know in due time, but the bones are there. Just ask my colleague Thomas Hundal, a genuine BMW expert, who has this to say about the X3’s long-term prospects:
With a proven ZF 8HP eight-speed automatic transmission and a B48 four-cylinder engine with a solid track record, long-term prospects for a BMW X3 30i are looking good. So far, they’ve proven to be remarkably reliable, and given how Mini’s been using this engine for a decade with no common reports of failure, it should do perfectly alright in these crossovers
So the X3 has the makings of a reasonably reliable, mid-size, sporty crossover with handsome looks and an acceptable base price. But what’s it like inside and how does it drive?
What’s The BMW X3 Like Inside?
Step into the X3, and it’s hard not to be impressed. That caramel interior — on the seats, center armrest, and door cards — is just gorgeous. And though it’s not real leather, that leatherette “SensaTec” is sublime. The seats — with all their power adjustment, including lumbar and thigh support — are well-bolstered and yet still wonderfully comfortable.
The center stack is simple and not overpowered by a huge screen (the infotainment display is 10.25 inches, which is relatively modest for a modern car). Physical buttons abound, with volume, heated seats, and HVAC controls all in the form of positive-feedback electromechanical switches:
As you can see above, the cameras are crisp, showing an overhead view, a rear view, and a front view.
The driver’s 12.3-inch digital cluster is nice and sharp, and the navigation map between the speedometer and tach is just cool. There is some kind of trip computer-related message on the screen that I can’t seem to get rid of, but maybe some more time fiddling will remove that prompt.
I love the hidden storage spot on the left side of the steering column on the dash.
The big glass roof is cool, in theory, but in practice, I don’t think I’d ever use it.
There’s plenty of space for an adult behind the front seats, though the center seat has a rather tall tunnel on the floor.
Cargo space is just good enough for my family’s golden retriever, but it’s not going to blow anyone’s mind. The truth is, the BMW X3 isn’t the most space-efficient package. Whereas my parents’ Equinox felt medium on the outside and humongous on the inside, the X3 feels medium on the outside and medium on the inside. It’s totally fine, but not incredible; as you can see, much of the vehicle’s length is its nose, and the swoopy and sporty profile means it’s not wide, tall, and boxy like the Equinox was.
I have a few qualms with the gorgeous cabin, namely this pad, which looks like a wireless charger but isn’t one:
Apparently you’ll know you have wireless charging if your car has this battery logo (on the left, highlighted with an orange rectangle):
I also don’t love that the ignition button is on the center tunnel just to the right of the driver:
Plus, I think the switch you hit to put the car into park is in a really strange spot, oriented vertically on the back of the shifter:
I do also wish those buttons on that center tunnel — sport/comfort/eco pro mode and the parking button and even some of the iDrive buttons — had a bit more feedback to them. They’re super shallow switches, and you really have to look down to know what you’re touching.
But otherwise, I’m a big fan of the X3’s interior.
How Does The BMW X3 Drive?
I’m currently hanging out at my parents’ place in a region called “Die Oberpfalz,” or in English, “Upper Palatinate.” That’s the area bordered in red on this map:
Today I headed to a castle for a hike, and then to the town of Weiden to do a bit of shopping. My dad — keen to read my review on his newly-acquired car — had left me the keys, as he wanted me to evaluate his new U.S.-spec steed, hence this little micro-review you’re now reading.
Right away, it was apparent that the X3 rides beautifully and it’s very quiet inside. I get that the roads in Germany are pretty much glass-smooth, but the X3 really feels like a magic carpet when you consider how well it handles. And boy does it handle well for a crossover; it’s cliche to say, but the X3 really does feel smaller than it actually is. It’s a 4,200 pound cruiser that can hustle in the turns without leaning too hard or running out of grip, and for sometimes-speed-limit-less Germany, that makes it almost perfect.
I will say that my favorite handling characteristic is the X3’s brakes. My parents also own a 2015 BMW 320i, and it’s a great car to chuck around, but its brakes felt a bit stickier. The BMW X3’s brakes feel really powerful, but not overly-sensitive. You press the pedal and the first bit of travel slows the vehicle down at a reasonable rate, but then as you apply more pressure, it really brings the car down to a halt quickly. It feels linear, but powerful, and it really inspires confidence.
I realize that 245 horsepower doesn’t sound like much, but those who have tested this thing’s 0-60 times measured around 6.5 seconds, and that’s not bad! Nothing about this car feels slow (especially in Sport mode, where transient response times are minimized), and that’s surprising given how heavy it is and given that my parents are observing 28 MPG. That’s better real-world fuel economy than their sluggish Equinox.
One thing that annoys my mom a bit, and something I totally understand is that the steering is really quick. There’s basically no play, either, meaning any small motion tends to dart the car left and right. I personally have historically been able to get used to this, but it doesn’t seem like my mom has. Do I think the X3 needs to have perfectly precise and quick steering? Given that most of its owners aren’t tracking the thing, probably not. But it’s all part of that “sporty” image, and the car does live up to that.
At higher speeds, the thing just moves, and with so little drama. It’s sure-footed, quiet, and always going faster than you think it is. The eight-speed automatic is perfect; the interior is almost perfect; the ride feels close to perfect given the handling, which itself is great; the fuel economy is solid; and the price tag is — given the competitive set — solid.
I’d never found the X3 to be a particularly exciting car to look at, and I wouldn’t say it’s quite exciting to drive, but after having driven this 2024 X3 xDrive30i, I have to say: I totally get why the BMW X3 is such a superstar. It just gets it done.
What is the big disc with the embossed lettering?
«The timing chain failed and the pistons/rings led to excessive oil consumption.»
Holy shit ,how is that possible.. A certain well respected auto journalist once said that engines with timing chains are the most reliable in the world.
David, do your parents a favor and take out the front caliper bolts in the 320i clean and grease them with appropriate (high temp) grease. If you want to be really nice buy and install a new set of pads (& sensor) you may find a world of difference on the brakes – I had a BMW and would bring it in and complain about the brakes and eventually the pads needed to be replaced – because one pad on the right side was down to nothing and the other side was almost new – the caliper had been sticking – after this repair it was braking better than when it rolled off the assembly line.
What an odd coincidence, My Wife just got a 2024 X3 i30, and traded a 2008 Pontiac Torrent AKA Chevy Equinox’s cousin! We’ve had all the same observations as you, although her torrent fetched $5k in used sale because it was in immaculate condition and the Pontiac 3.4 V6 is a tank. I was on vacation, the first road trip we took in it until today in fact.
Hers has the tech package, the premium package, the shadowline trim, Msport trim/wheels/steering wheel, and fancy stereo. SO! Everything but the adaptive dampers and Msport brakes. It all looks wicked slick on the new Brooklyn Grey Metallic color. I am typically not a fan of “glossy primer” as the fun new paint type, but the metallic has a pearl to it in the light that pops. With tint and shadowline, it looks exceptional. The adaptive cruise control is friggin amazing, as is the assisted drive, and you can’t use them both at the same time for obvious reasons. I got it to 60 in just a nit under 6 seconds when I did a test, LAUNCH CONTROL MY MAN! I have a 2014 335ix, and this thing is definitely a decade more refined, yet handles and feels better than mine as an SUV! Of course I didn’t whip it hard in turns heading to Yellowstone from Denver, but I did pass A LOT of cars once we got to Wyoming, the land of no cops and 2 state troopers.
Averaging 33+ mpg was also friggin amazing.
Hardly any wind noise at 100mph, they really got that thing tested in the tunnel.
I am legit jealous of my Wife’s BMW, but her friend bought a matching M3 Competition on the same day, so I should get some discount next time I buy ffs since I was the one who took them to the BMW dealer first when they were both shopping for something quick and new and fancy.
My family and I rented an X3 last year, and despite being a fairly base 30i xDrive model, we were all fairly impressed with it. My dad couldn’t believe it was a 4-cylinder, because that thing scooted. It had no trouble dipping into triple digits going up a hill, while still getting pretty good fuel economy.
I feel like the X3 is kind of an unloved competitor in this segment. The Porsche Macan and Alfa Romeo Stelvio get all the attention, and their hot versions get ALL The hype. I don’t know if I just NOTICE it more, but in SoCal it seems like I see more Stelvios than X3s. I definitely see more Macans than both, which is understandable, as it’s the least expensive way to get into a brand new Porsche. That’s not to mention the LEGIONS of GLCs Mercedes moves.
Hot Take
Warning: This is just me making a bit of fun at David’s expense. Please don’t send me any hate mail… again.
Please don’t take this the wrong way and hear me out for just a moment. With no disrespect intended, I feel like David should not be doing new car reviews. I’m saying this not as an insult, but from a place of love for David and my personal experience that plays into why I feel this way.
So, David is one of the reasons we’re all here and we all know him well enough to know his history on this and the other popular car site. Understanding of this history is critical to arguing the foundation of my opinion. We all watched as David honed is journalistic skills on shitbox Jeeps and other rusty shitboxes over the years and, from someone who has owned mostly used shitbox cars as daily drivers over the years, I know how easy it can be to praise anything considered late model. Every time I would drive someone else’s newer car or even a basic late model rental, I’d be amazed at how awesome of a car it was. My opinion was biased because of course the cars seemed great. Anything was an improvement if it didn’t have piss-poor handling, one nearly bald tire, and stalled randomly without explanation.
I’ve finally been driving mostly awesome late model cars now as a get on in life, so even a less-than rental now no longer seems like an upgrade. I get picky at the rental counter and want something at least as good as what I drive every day. However, I’m still so overwhelmed with the awesomeness of the cars I drive now that it’s hard for me to give any kind of honest review because I can’t find the negative.
I feel like David is still in this honeymoon stage, so-to-speak, that when he drives a clean late model car that of course he’s going to be impressed by it.
Am I wrong, David? Or is there a shred of truth to my assessment on this. Does anyone else who spends there life driving shitbox cars get easily impressed with anything that is suddenly clean, quiet, and reliable?
I had this exact thought, I also daily two rough around the edges 30 year old vehicles and whenever I rent a car I’m impressed my partner is still down to have me drive her everywhere in my vehicles. They’re quiet, fast, comfortable, safe, and in my humble opinion… a bit boring. I also feel easily impressed. The allure of a proper shitbox always seems to pull me back in before my thoughts of purchasing a newer vehicle can settle in, thankfully.
If I’m paying BMW purchase prices and suffering BMW “reliability,” I’m not buying a crossover.
And reliable means something different to a “genuine BMW expert” than it does to most folks in the small (medium?) crossover market. Hopefully, the non-experts opt for a lease.