BMW X3

The BMW X3 is a 5-seater German SUV that tends to bring a balance between performance and practicality. Over the years, the X3 has been more of a driver’s choice in its segment. And in its latest avatar and the arrival of the more performance-focussed X3 30 variant, the carmaker seems to have doubled down on that identity.

We’ve driven the BMW X3 30, and we realised it will encourage you to be more in the driving seat than being chauffeured around. The real question is whether that understated, driver-focused approach still speaks to you today, or if you’d rather be swayed by the newer, more feature-heavy alternatives. Let’s find out.

Design

The BMW X3 carries a design that stays true to its family identity, yet manages to carve out a distinct personality of its own. Do note that there are some minor styling tweaks between the regular and the more performance-focused X3 30 variant. That’s because it gets BMW’s M Sport Pro design package.

It’s mainly the fascia that helps the X3 distinguish itself from the other BMW X SUVs. The bonnet looks a bit more upright than the other models from BMW’s portfolio. Head-on, the front has character. It looks like a mean face that’s squinting at you, thanks to its sleek LED headlamps, which are smoked out in the X3 30.

The kidney grille is now finished in all-black, moving away from the usual chrome surrounds, and it works brilliantly for a stealthier look. Do note that if you opt for the standard variants, you still get that chrome surround. The LED DRLs add to the drama with their pulsating light signatures, and the illuminated grille definitely catches your eye.

At the sides, the X3 30 now sits on larger 20-inch alloy wheels (lower variants get 19-inchers), which also get a different design.

Unlike the simple star-like styling with X-motifs in the X3 20, the X3 30 gets a little more aggressive design, and the cherry on the top, quite literally, is the red brake callipers (only in the 30) that add character. We really liked the sporty character those red brakes bring to the SUV, and on a closer look, you’d also notice a small M-badging on the rims for a signature look.

Moving to the rear end, the minimal tailgate design might look basic to some, considering connected lighting is a thing now, but we do appreciate the wraparound styling here.

The X3 comes in five metallic shades: Alpine White, Black Sapphire, Tanzanite Blue, Dune Grey, and Brooklyn Grey. The Brooklyn Grey is a new shade added to the palette and is exclusively available with the X3 30. It will surely be a family favourite considering how nice it looks. But if you want more character on the road, it’s still the black that gives it a dapper look.

Design & Quality

The BMW X3’s cabin is offered in two upholstery shades: Espresso Brown and Calm Beige. The BMW X3’s dashboard feels clean, modern, and clearly driver-focused. The wide dual-screen setup looks high-tech; however, the dashboard has a huge expanse of emptiness in front of the co-passenger.

The expanse of multi-coloured ambient lighting on the centre console as well as the door panels, will surely give you great vibes when driving at night. 

But one aspect we really appreciate is the fact that BMW has replaced the fabric on the dashboard with soft-touch leatherette in the X3 30, which definitely feels a lot more premium than the fabric finish found in the X3 20. However, quality is strictly a mixed bag as there are a lot of hard and scratchy plastics in the lower part of the dashboard and door panels, which is not acceptable for a car that costs around Rs 80 lakh (on-road). 

Front Seats

The driver’s seat is electrically adjustable and comes with lumbar support that lets you adjust the width of the side bolsters as per your comfort. The tilt and telescopic steering wheel make it easy to find a comfortable driving position. The seat memory function is a welcome addition, especially if the car is shared with other drivers.

There’s plenty of space up front for tall occupants, and both front seats get extendable under-thigh support, which adds to long-distance comfort. The top-spec X3 also gets blue and red M-specific detailing on the seat belts that give it a racy look.

Rear Seats

The rear seat offers enough space to comfortably seat three passengers. The cushioning is slightly firm, but headroom remains generous even with the panoramic glass roof, and legroom and knee room are ample. Two six-footers can sit back-to-back in decent comfort; however, the lack of underthigh support will take away some of that comfort.

The recline angle of the rear seat is spot on, making it easy to relax on longer drives. The central armrest is well-positioned and aligns neatly with the height of the door armrests, adding to comfort.

Rear window sunblinds further enhance comfort by adding privacy and reducing heat.

Storage Options

Storage is practical and well distributed. All four doors get large bottle holders, there’s a large glovebox with a document tray, a storage box under the front armrest, two cupholders in the centre console, and a dedicated phone tray.

Rear passengers get seat-back pockets and two cupholders in the centre armrest, though the mesh-style pockets don’t look very premium. BMW has also provided mounting points behind the front seats for mounting your tablets.

Features

The X3 comes with a pretty large 14.9-inch touchscreen that’s merged with a 12.3-inch digital driver’s display. It looks clean and premium, and more importantly, it works well. The touchscreen is quick to respond, easy to understand, and the sporty graphics suit the X3’s personality well.

BMW still gives you the option to use the rotary dial on the centre console, which many will appreciate while driving. It looks premium with a glass-like finish; however, the flatter design doesn’t feel as natural to use as older BMW controllers. That said, once you get used to it, the system remains easy to live with. You can create multiple driver profiles with saved preferences, and wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connect effortlessly without dropouts.

Behind the steering wheel, the digital driver’s display feels sharp and customisable, offering multiple layouts depending on what information you want front and centre. You also get an AR-based head-up display, which projects navigation prompts and key driving data directly into your line of sight, making longer drives feel less tiring and more intuitive.

It is annoying that most of the basic functions can be accessed only via the touchscreen. This includes accessing the climate control, changing the distance for adaptive cruise and ventilated front seats. We would have really appreciated it if BMW had provided actual physical controls to operate these features. 

The X3 also scores well on comfort and entertainment. The 15-speaker Harman Kardon sound system delivers rich, surround-like audio that audiophiles will enjoy.

The ventilated front seats cool you down quickly, while the panoramic glass roof brings in plenty of light and makes the cabin feel more spacious and upmarket.

On the tech convenience side, BMW has thrown in some interesting additions. There’s a selfie camera inside the cabin for photos or recordings, along with a high-resolution 360-degree camera that offers multiple views and a helpful 3D mode for tight parking situations.

Augmented reality navigation adds another layer of usability by displaying turn-by-turn arrows directly on the screen.

Features like cruise control, a wireless phone charger, three-zone climate control, and front and rear camera washers round off the package. Overall, the X3’s cabin feels thoughtfully equipped, its premium Rs 80 lakh positioning easier to justify.

In terms of safety, the BMW X3 is well equipped with all the essentials like six airbags, tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS), electronic stability control (ESC), hill hold and descent control, all-wheel disc brakes, an electronic parking brake with auto hold, and a 360-degree camera, all of which work together to make everyday driving feel secure and confidence-inspiring.

It also packs in Level 2 ADAS (advanced driver assistance system) features such as adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, lane follow assist, and autonomous emergency braking. But accessing the distance control while using adaptive cruise requires digging through multiple layers on the touchscreen, which adds unnecessary steps and slightly takes away from what should otherwise be a seamless experience. A physical button for the same would’ve been better. 

The BMW X3’s Drive Recorder uses the car’s surround-view cameras to continuously record short video clips through a rolling buffer system. Instead of storing everything, it keeps overwriting old footage to maintain only the most recent recording. When the car detects an accident or a sudden impact through its sensors, which may not be severe enough to deploy airbags, the system automatically saves the footage. This includes 30 seconds of footage before and after the incident, along with key information such as time, location, and vehicle speed. The saved clip is stored in the car’s infotainment system and can be accessed later.

The X3’s boot can comfortably accommodate a three-suitcase set (small, medium and large) along with a couple of soft bags. But we’d advise you to stick to smaller luggage to use the space efficiently, as the boot isn’t the tallest.

The flat boot floor makes loading and unloading hassle-free, and folding the rear seats opens up a flatbed that’s handy for carrying larger items. Adding to the convenience is the powered tailgate with gesture control, which makes everyday use easier.

With the X3’s new flagship 30 variant, its petrol engine finds an update. It makes 68 PS and 90 Nm of output, more than the standard 20 variant, which will also be on sale. And so goes down its acceleration time too - the 30 has a claimed 0-100 kmph time of  6.3 seconds, which is around 1.5 seconds quicker than the X3 20. Here are the detailed specifications:

The X3 20 is available with both petrol and diesel engines, while the X3 30 comes with the petrol option only. We have driven both and here’s our experience:

BMW X3 20i (petrol)

This 2-litre petrol engine available with the X3 20i delivers a similar driving experience as the diesel unit, but with noticeably better refinement and absolutely no vibrations. It definitely feels less powerful than the diesel, but that difference won’t affect you significantly in your daily use. The acceleration is quick and overtakes can be easily executed without any stress.

BMW X3 30 (petrol)

This is the flagship engine option of the BMW X3. This upgraded 2-litre petrol engine puts out 68 horses more than the standard petrol engine and the difference can be clearly felt. In Efficient mode, the throttle response has been dulled out for a smooth drive. The gearbox shuffles through the gears early, prioritising fuel efficiency. And despite the duller throttle response, it offers more than enough performance to keep up with fast-flowing traffic and even highway runs. 

However, if you’re in the mood to have some fun, we would advise you to shift to Sport. Throttle response becomes sharper, the gearbox becomes more aggressive in its shifts and power is always on tap. The build-up of speed is also rapid, and this powertrain genuinely puts a smile on your face if you’re in the mood for some fun. For added convenience, you also get chunky paddle shifters if you intend to shift gears manually.

BMW X3 20d (Diesel)

While not as quiet as the petrol, this engine does feel refined with barely any vibrations, and power delivery is smooth and linear throughout. It gets to triple-digit speeds without much effort. Overtakes are easy both in the city and on the highway, helped by the 8-speed automatic that shifts quickly and smoothly. If you want to move on, all you need to do is press on the throttle, and the gearbox smartly drops one or even two gears when you need a sudden burst of speed. That said, while the X3 is undoubtedly fast, this engine doesn’t feel as thrilling as you’d typically expect from a BMW. The overall driving experience of the diesel engine leans more towards comfort than outright excitement, which aligns well with its SUV character.

Ride Quality

The BMW X3 offers a generally comfortable ride across most surfaces, easily handling small potholes and speed breakers. The adaptive dampers allow you to adjust the ride based on drive mode. Even in sport mode with a stiffer suspension, the ride quality isn’t jarring and while you do feel the surfaces, it doesn’t bother you. In comfort mode, as the name suggests, the ride is super comfortable, and the SUV glides over rough roads while keeping body movements under control.

Handling

In this department, the X3 does more than enough to keep the enthusiast in you happy, especially the new 30 variant. Yes, it does lean when you’re pushing hard through corners, but not enough to bother you. And like a typical German car, the X3 remains rock solid when driving on a straight line and feels confidence-inspiring when you want to drive it in a spirited manner. 

Overall, it remains the fun-to-drive option when you compare it against a Mercedes-Benz GLC or an Audi Q5. 

Now with the update, the BMW X3 can be had in two variants: the lower X3 20 with both petrol and diesel choices and the top-end X3 30 with a more peppy petrol engine.

The BMW X3 doesn’t try to be a classic, elegant German luxury SUV, and it doesn’t need to be. Instead, it leans towards a youthful car with an engaging driving experience, backed by its more powerful engine and enjoyable dynamics. At the same time, its thoughtful feature set and comfortable rear seats ensure that elders in your family can travel in comfort as well. Yes, there are irritants, such as accessing most of the vehicle’s controls via the touchscreen, and the plastic quality could have been better. But the X3 stays sensible between spirited driving and practicality, making it both fun and well-rounded.

Other Options To Consider

Mercedes-Benz GLC

Reasons To Consider

• More powerful petrol engine

• Subtle and premium looking design

Reasons To Ignore

• You prefer more attention grabbing/less subtle designs

• Suspension is not as comfortable as the BMW X3’s

Audi Q5

Reasons To Consider

• More affordable

• Powerful petrol engine option

Reasons To Ignore

• Less rear seat space

• No diesel engine option