BMW X3

The 2022 BMW X3 xDrive30e is a fantastic demonstration of plug-in hybrid technology, but with such a lofty price tag, does the value equation stack up?

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The entry-level, diesel-powered X3 represents a practical – if a little pedestrian – option for luxury SUV shoppers.

Is the X3 M going to shake up performance SUV market?

Sixt Australia will take delivery of approximately 100 BMW iX3s, the fifth electric vehicle available to rent through the NRMA-owned rental car company.

The next BMW X3 has been spotted in Europe with M petrol or diesel power, ahead of first Australian arrivals reportedly due from late 2024.

The BMW 520d Touring and X3 xDrive20d both require AdBlue in Australia – but ample supply at BMW dealers means owners shouldn't be concerned about a shortage.

BMW's mid-size electric SUV challenger arrives in November with a lower starting price than its rivals, at $114,900 before on-road costs.

Tristan is ready for another family SUV but wants more luxury and satisfaction this time around.

Welcome to the CarAdvice.com News Desk, a regular video wrap of the latest happenings in the automotive world and Australia's new-car market.

If you've ever been to New Zealand, you're likely aware that it is one of the most naturally beautiful places on the planet.

With snow season in full swing, a question that often comes up at this time of year is — what is Alpine Diesel? When do I need to use Alpine Diesel and do I really actually need Alpine Diesel? CarAdvice reader Tom e-mailed us asking this question.

I was looking for an SUV that was economical as we drive every weekend to our beach house in Blairgowrie VIC. I was working for a media buying company that handled BMW and I could access vehicles off there press and executive fleet, As it turned out our vehicle had been used by Drive, Cars Guide and other publications. My budget was $65K and the X3 was my choice. It was the first diesel car that I had owned and I was pleasantly surprised with the torque and cruising ability and the economy was a big improvement on my BMW 330ci coupe that I had been driving. We loved the Mineral White colour with the Mocha brown leather interior and also the panoramic sun roof. There was not much that we disliked, apart from my car nut friends who were not fans of diesel cars. I really like the way that the car drives and I tend to leave it in standard drive as the economy setting is way to sluggish and the sport setting is very noisy and too jerky and responsive. The car drives really well and is ideal for cruising with an excellent cruise control system. The engine is well matched with the transmission and it is quite sprightly off the mark. The technology is good apart from the Sat Nav and connectivity for devices e.g. music streaming. One very annoying issue has been the front distance sensors which are too sensitive and will go off sometimes due to wet roads or foliage on median strips when stopped on a divided highway - we have had them reset which was an improvement but they are still annoying The car has been very reliable and we have only been let down by the run flat tyres on 3 or 4 occasions over the 6 years and 100,000 kilometers which the vehicle has travelled. It is a very comfortable and reliable care wuth great interior space and flexibility qnd good load carrying capacity which works for us. The only improvements would be sat nav and music connectivity which I have no doubt are up to speed in more current models. The vehicle still looks good on the road and changes in body shape on later models have been evolutionary, so it still feels contemporary . The run flat tyre issue is an interesting debate - in my view I would prefer the extra interior and luggage capacity over 6 the years compared to being inconvenienced 3 - 4 times that we have been inconvenienced. All in all a very reliable and practical vehicle which looks good, performs well and has remarkable fuel economy. I have also been impressed with the warranty and service costs which have totaled $5,500 over the 6 years that we have owned the car. I was disappointed with one issue which was a load click in the sunroof when you traveled over bumps on the highway - I only mentioned it at one service and was told that it would have been rectified under warranty, however the warranty on my vehicle had just expired! - I thought that this issue should have been managed as a vehicle recall or rectification.

I have driven my X3 30D for over 2 years and 35000 kms now and have been very happy with the ownership experience. I bought this model due to the quality, space of the cabin, value for money considering the features and superb driving traits. The power and economy of the 6 Cyl 3lt 195kw /620nm Diesel is simply outstanding. Try under 6.5 lt /100 economy around the city and acceleration of 0-100 in under 6 secs. I usually get 1000kms a tank. Tremendously smooth, linear power coupled to the best Auto on the market. Just a slight clatter off idle is all that gives it away. Now where it really shines is towing, I frequently tow an almost 2 ton Van and ski boat which it does with aplomb! So much effortless power in reserve for any situation. It even holds top gear going up a hill. Towing the van economy around 12l t/100 and boat 8lt/ 100. My previous Kluger was almost 20! The ride is definitely firm but liveable. Cabin space is acceptable for a family of four. I use a luggage pod on big trips. M Sport seats are comfortable, very adjustable and typical BMW user friendly Idrive. I love the way BMW angle everything to the driver and have buttons for all the features as apposed to touch screens. Bluetooth Connectivity is excellent over multiple phones, Audio streaming, Apps, it all just works. The Active cruise control is just flawless, the parking with all the sensors and cameras is a dream as are the LED active headlights. Where have they been all these years. It even knows where the roundabouts are and puts the sidelights on to illuminate them. . The main thing I love about this model is that its not overly big and on its own in Sport mode it can essentially be a hot hatch, it really does perform! Then when family time comes its big enough to tow and carry everything we need for the family with the pod. Improvements -not a lot, maybe a softer ride. It has been extremely reliable except for a DPF related issue which was fixed with a software update. I have 5 years free servicing and the Dealer has been very good. I am keen on the 30E hybrid when it comes out. I almost think that would be a perfect machine.

1969 was a fantastic year. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin stepped foot on the moon, the Concord flew to Australia, Richard Nixon, aka Tricky Dicky, was preparing to be scandalous and – more importantly to the six year old me, Skippy the Bush Kangaroo appeared in Canberra. People lined the streets to catch a glimpse of the marsupial superstar. My mother had been able to get me into the Monaro Mall to be one of the “select few” to see and meet Skippy. Sadly, we were pushed to the back of a crowded room and, despite my mother hoisting me as high as she could, all I managed to see were two furry ears. However, I was far from disappointed. Those furry ears belonged to Skippy! I was ecstatic. Fast forward some forty eight years to 2017 where I was seeing, in horror, one of Skippy’s distant relatives bounce along the bonnet of my BMW X5 and slide onto the road. Both car and kangaroo were now deceased and the only bright part was the X5 had bore the full brunt of a 90kg big red (yes, I know Skippy is a wallaby), which left me and my family safe. As I waited for the tow truck I realised there was another silver lining in this cloud. I’d be needing a new car. Normally one should spend days, nay weeks, selecting and comparing cars; but we needed a car in short time and we had criteria... of sorts. It had to be white, our preferred colour, an SUV and a BMW. The last criterion may seem a bit strange, but we’d grown fond of the X5. A BMW probably wasn’t the best value proposition, since there are remarkably good cars with as many bells and whistles from other manufacturers for less, but we’d had a number of BMWs in the past and felt comfortable with the brand. I headed to the local dealer to check out the latest X5, but like the modern trend of super sizing cars, BMW had made it larger and as I drove it I felt like it touched both edges of the lanes at the same time. Unhappy, I drove it back and spied, hiding in the corner, a white demonstrator F25 X3 that had only done 1000km on the clock. I got in and felt comfortable since it was similarly proportioned to the E53 X5 and appeared to drive in a like manner. Now, whilst there are disadvantages in buying a demonstrator such as no choice in the options and not knowing how well it’d been treated beforehand, there is one powerfully good thing... it exists and is there, ready to purchase. So a fews days later off I drove with a white F25 X3 2.0d optioned with the M-sports package. The engine is a turbo charged 4 cylinder jobbie, which manages about 140 kWs power and 400 Nm torque. This meant it’d be good to tow a small caravan, which is one of the things my wife and I were considering at the time, and a handy 8s 0-100km/h, which I get told off if I actually use. Provided you drive conservatively, you can achieve about 7 litres per 100kms around town, and the 8 speed ZF auto box is a delight with smooth gear changes. Handling is good and, as my bottom tells me, firm. Note to self: in the future option dynamic damper control. The M-sports package means BMW has plastered M badges everywhere. This has one on each wheel, one on each front side panel, one on each brush plate as you enter and, believe it or not, one on the steering wheel. With all this badging you’d be forgiven for not realising the 2.0d X3 is about as close to a proper “M” car as, say, a Toyota Corolla. Coming from an E92 M3, this trend is disheartening. Nevertheless, I understand BMW’s desire to “pimp” the M branding as much as possible, and many of the German marques are doing this such as Benz’s “AMG-line”, Audi’s “S-sports” or VW’s “R-line”. Disheartening, but fact of life. Sigh. Moving to the inside; the technology is light years ahead of the E53 X5 and shows how far things have come in a decade. It has comfort access with keyless entry (you touch the door and it opens) and a power opening boot, but not one where you do an Irish jig under the bumper and it automagically opens. There’s a start button plus, next to it, another button to cancel the stop-start malarky that all manufacturers seem to enjoy. The iDrive system is excellent and has bluetooth streaming with 20Gb to store your music. The non-adaptive cruise control uses braking rather than the engine, as our old X5 did, plus blind spot monitoring, several driving modes ranging from eco-pro to sport, and a surround view camera system with not only reversing cameras, but forward cameras. The cabin feels premium with brushed aluminium trim in the centre console and softer plastics. The gauge cluster is a mix of old school moving parts with some LCD components providing additional information. Personally, I prefer this since I like actual needles that actually move rather than pictures of moving needles, although paradoxically I prefer electric front seats over fussy manual ones. Who needs to be consistent, eh? One pleasing addition are adjustable side bolsters, despite the fact that in a 2.0 litre four cylinder SUV it’s difficult to envisage needing them. We got the Navigation System Professional option that include an 8.8 inch display with the ability to type your letters on the iDrive knob. Now, this sounds good but remember the iDrive controller is on your left and so, while it works well for my wife who’s left handed, I find it awkward being right handed. Besides typing on an iDrive controller and looking where you’re driving are, in my opinion, mutually exclusive activities. And finishing “the fancy bits we got” spiel: bi-xenon lights so people coming in the opposite direction can flash me ‘cos they think I’m on high beam (I’m not); a dual climate zone, which is somewhat daft since you don’t get a “one person hot; one person cold” effect but more of “everyone’s at an uncomfortable temperature” state; and voice control that had the understands English like Manuel in the old Fawlty Towers series. One downside is that it has already been back to BMW for a recall over the exhaust gas valve. After booking it in, the dealer replaced with little fuss coupled with a loaner. However, the warning messages popping up as we were driving in Sydney made us think automotive Armageddon was approaching. A phone call to the dealer sorted out our anxiety, but why can't car messages say something like: "OK, mate relax. This is just a small message to let you know that you should ring BMW when you can. Chill and have a great day." Sheesh. We’ve driven the car on long journeys between capital cities and it’s very comfortable, which is to say that you can find your bottom’s still connected to your body after a half day’s drive and not back in the cabin while you wander with numb legs. Probably the only things I miss and would have like, in retrospect, are a heads up display and adaptive cruise control. Oh yeah, it’s also missing a kangaroo detector, not that it was an option, but every time my wife and I drive at dusk our eyes scour the sides of the road for kamikaze kangaroos. Speaking of... Sonny: What’s that Skip? Skippy: [wallaby noises] Sonny: Old codger in an F25 X3 2.0d BMW with a flat battery on Mugga Way? Lead the way!

The all-new and technologically advanced G01 BMW X3 has been released in the US recently, becoming the German marque’s freshest SUV (pardon me, SAV – that’s the way BMW like to call it). Debuting a new design language for future X models – borrowed largely from the new X1 – this X3 marks a step forward from its hugely successful predecessor in terms of technology, luxury and driving dynamics. In anticipation of the G01’s local launch in November, I thought that I would put a review together of my Grandparent’s F25 LCI 2015 X3 xDrive 28i to outline aspects of the X3 that I hope BMW evolved, kept, or eliminated entirely for the third-generation model. Grandma and Pa had never owned a European car before the X3, so my Pa made sure that the car was tailored exactly to their needs. Subsequently, he decided to do a BMW factory order in March 2015. He picked the xDrive 28i, finished in Glacier Silver Metallic with Black Premium Dakota Leather and Brushed Aluminium Trim. He didn't go all out with the options, opting to have his car fitted with the M Sport Package (along with the more attractive 20-inch Double Spoke 310 M Alloys), Lane Change Warning, Driving Assistant and ConnectedDrive Lifestyle. They took delivery in June 2015 and, unfortunately, without me! Now that the car has just turned two, and has well over 40,000 KM under its belt thanks to many interstate road-trips, my Grandma (the main driver of the X3) has given me some of her thoughts on the car for me to add into this review. So, let’s begin! Powertrain Powered by BMW’s infamous 28i engine (replaced now by the 30i moniker with the B48 engine), in X3 application it develops a meaty 180kW of power at 5000rpm, and 350Nm of torque which can be accessed at approximately 1200rpm. The engine is capable of pushing the X3 to 100km/h in 6.7 seconds according to BMW. Grandma believes that the car is plenty quick, yet can be a bit lethargic in its Comfort setting after I popped it into Sport mode for her once. It also has somewhat of a rorty exhaust note which I found interesting, albeit if it sounds nearly identical to the 2.0L diesel in our X5 at idle, which if you have read my review of it, produces a yucky noise. Because of the many road trips that Grandma and Pa have been on, they have the authority to say that the engine provides confidence when overtaking trucks on dual carriage ways. This means that overtaking is an absolute breeze. Another aspect of their X3 that adds to this surefootedness is the tried and tested ZF 8-Speed automatic gearbox, which just like in our X5 and every other BMW I have been in – is an absolute gem. While it may not be as modern as the gearbox in the GLC or DCT gearbox fitted to an Audi Q5, it has none of the inherent DCT jerkiness that the latter is accustomed to. Speaking of rivals – particularly the Mercedes-Benz GLC 250 – the BMW has the upper hand when it comes to powertrains. They both produce the identical torque figure of 350Nm, but the BMW has 25kW more power than the GLC which makes the BMW a substantial 0.6 seconds quicker on the sprint to 100km/h. If being fuel savvy is your priority, it is worth taking a look at the 28i’s diesel counterparts, the xDrive 20d and xDrive 30d. Grandma is averaging about 10.0L/100km, which is nearly 30% more than what BMW is claiming (7.2L/100km). Interior If there is generally one area where BMW falls apart when compared to its German rivals, it is always in the interior. Sure, there are exceptions to this in the lineup. For example, the new X1, X5, X6, new 5 Series and 7 Series all buck the trend, yet the universal consensus about BMWs is that their interiors are dated, and my Grandparent’s X3 falls into this category. Obviously, this has been dramatically improved in the new G01 X3, but that isn’t on sale yet… we are talking about what is currently on offer, and unfortunately, the interior is just ‘old.’ Coming from our X5 and into the X3, there should be a difference in luxuriousness, but definitely not to this scale. The X3’s interior looks like it is from another age. For starters, the layout of the dash is overly simple, with shiny black cladding covering it. It is not up to the same standard as the cladding in our X5, and the X3’s interior feels more low-rent as a result. The centre stack is similar to that of our E70 X5, which was released back in 2006, meaning that the interior is essentially over a decade old! It by no means is terrible, but I have driven in a GLC and the interior is much more sophisticated and much more pleasant to sit in. One aspect of the X3’s interior that does attract merit is the materials used to finish the cabin. They are stereotypical BMW – they may not be fancy, but exude class and top-notch craftsmanship. Everywhere you touch, there is either mushy plastics, leather, or rock-solid aluminium. I actually find that the leather in this car is more sumptuous than that in our X5, which is probably due to the Nevada Leather. Overall the X3’s cabin focusses more – and probably to an excessive degree – on substance rather than style. While I may prefer the all glitz and glamour of the GLC’s interior (and all Mercedes interiors for that matter) my Grandma actually favours the simplistic, Germanic approach to the X3’s interior and the embedded screen that was “so 2011.” Being older than me, the calmer approach to the interior and button layout probably helped her get her head around the car better when she first took delivery. The X3’s ergonomics are stellar for a car that is at the end of its life-cycle. Though, if there was an Achilles heel of the X3’s ergonomics it would be to do with the location of the button that turns off the Auto/Start Stop feature. My Grandma hates this part of the car, and when she gets in the car, she has to look around the indicator stalk to turn it off so she doesn't accidentally turn the car off (the starter button is adjacent to it). Even taller folk like myself will still struggle to do this without taking your eyes off the road. Oddly, this issue isn’t apparent in our X5. Hopefully, this is addressed in the new G01, which from photos at least, has the starter button mounted higher up on the instrument panel. Grandma argues that the starter button panel should be mounted on the right-hand side of the steering column, while I think it should just be mounted higher. It would be too expensive to just move the button for the RHD markets. Both Grandma and Pa have now figured out the basics of iDrive, and can input destinations to the navigation with relative ease. It took them a while to get used to it, but in this instance, iDrive is the best system for them, as they aren’t really tech nerds like myself and need an easy system to use. I can guarantee you that if they had Mercedes’ COMAND or Audi’s MMI (which is in isolation fairly easy-to-use media system), they would still be figuring out how to use it, even after two years of ownership! On the odd occasion that there are rear seat passengers in my Grandparent’s car, both leg and head room is ample. It definitely is not as expansive as the X5 (and nor should it be), but it still is nothing to complain about. My one gripe would have to be with the driveshaft hump in the floor, which does impede on foot space and the comfort for the unlucky one who has to sit in the middle seat. Ride/Handling As with its larger X5 sibling, the X3 inherits the typical BMW-ness in terms of its handling poise. Before all you wagon fanboys and SUV haters go on about “Oh Will, it doesn't handle as well as a 3 Series or 5 Series wagon, you need to actually drive before you can make comments like that,” I have heard you all rant before and there is no need to go on about it in the comments… again! An SUV is never going to handle as well as a wagon, but in the case of the X3 (and all BMW X vehicles for that matter), the gap has been drastically closed, as proved by numerous reviews. In my opinion, the X3 is probably the best handling SUV that you can get in its class before going into the territory of the beautiful Jaguar F-Pace and stunning Porsche Macan. The ride is notably firm, probably too firm – but it is never jittery or crashy over bumps. Adding to the comfort is probably the seats… the lumbar support, premium leather, cushy padding and excellent bolstering make for an arm-chair like experience. Grandma says that the car has handled well in all situations that she has been in, but let’s face it – she has never pushed it that hard! As such, I will just include this quote from Mike Costello from his GLC vs X3 comparison, which I believe is on the money. “It [the X3] stays so flat in corners and turns in with such veracity and balance. If you like the odd blat on a weekend, this is your SUV of choice.” As for steering, when my Dad drove his parent’s X3 back in January he said it felt heavier than that of his X5. For that reason, it feels more involving and feelsome while having none of the weird on-centre vagueness that our X5 has. Overall, the X3 lives up to the brand’s motto of being an “Ultimate Driving Machine,” as well as it can. Style The X3 has always been considered the nerd in the handsome BMW X line-up. The more muscular X5 and the newer and stylish X1 have outdone their sibling in terms of looks. Some angles can lend a flattering stance, while others do the complete opposite. It is sufficed to say that there are many other better-looking cars in BMW’s lineup, but that doesn't mean the X3 is an ugly duckling by any means. My Grandparent’s car, fitted with the M Sport Package, has a much sportier and premium looking exterior compared to entry-level models, which to put it bluntly – look a little underdone. The black cladding and small wheels of the entry these cars don't really help the X3 in the design department. I believe that your money is well spent if you upgrade to the X-Line or M Sport vehicles, the latter of which is my personal favourite – particularly with the 20-inch wheels. Those wheels coupled with Sapphire Black paint and the M Sport pack make for an attractive looking car. It is still easily identifiable as a BMW too. The L-shaped headlights, corona rings (or squares nowadays), hoffmeister kink and bold kidney grilles are all trademark design cues of a Beemer. It is just that some of these look a little disproportionate on the X3, but are nicer on the X1 and X5. Reliability I commonly refer to my Grandparent’s X3 as the “Friday build,” because of the many little niggly issues that have arisen throughout ownership due to a lack of attention to detail on the behalf of the workers at Plant Spartanburg. So, here is the list of what they have had go wrong with the car so far… • Ariel fix – the satellite navigation was not working and this was only 3 months into ownership • Fog light adjustment – the fog light came loose within the bumper • Leather on the seat not sealed correctly, exposing the insides of the seat when you pulled the leg rest out • Rattle from the boot • Seatbelt rattle These issues are very surprising to me. Having now had three X5’s now, the first coming from Plant Rosslyn in South Africa, and the more recent two from Plant Spartanburg (where the X3 is built), we have had faultless ownership experiences. The only issue we had was with the 2007 X5 that we had (built in South Africa) where there was a rattle/squeaking noise coming from the undercarriage. If you own an X3, let me know of your ownership in the comments below. It will be interesting to see if these are just isolated issues or common problems (I suspect it will be the former). Conclusion Overall, the X3 has been an excellent car for my Grandparents. Besides the niggly reliability issues, they have thoroughly enjoyed being part of the BMW family. Now as I mentioned, I will tell you what I hope BMW has evolved, kept, or eliminated entirely for the new model. • Powertrain: Keep! This is one of the best powertrains in the industry. With the new 30i (B48) engine and constant improvements to the ZF gearbox, BMW has the upper hand on the Q5 and GLC. • Interior: Major evolution… The current car’s interior is just plain old and needs a major overhaul. And it isn’t the car’s fault – time never does anything good in terms of looks to anyone. The new car looks to have rectified this. • Ride/Handling: Evolution. The X3’s point of difference between its rivals is its car-like handling. BMW need to continue this, as it will be one of the selling points of it; it is the perfect blend. However, the suspension setup on the new car should err more on the side of comfort rather than handling. Not many X3 owners will be getting to the limit of their car, so the added comfort would not go astray in the excellent X3 package. As you can see, there is nothing that I think BMW need to eliminate from the next generation X3. They already have a great base to work from. The new platform will take all the good parts of this car to the next level, and make a currently “ok” car excellent. While BMW does believe that evolution is better than revolution, it isn’t a bad thing. They focus on perfecting rather than being game changing. But to be game changing, they need to be perfect… something that the X3 should be able to do in its third generation.