The BMW X3 is all new for 2018 because it has to be. BMW's lineup of crossovers
is expanding in a big way. The X3 is already the brand's second most popular
behind the X5, and it joins the X1, X4 and X6. Soon there's going to be a BMW X2
and an X7 for a total of 7 crossovers, but today we're focusing on the number
three. Now in its third generation, can the X3 deliver sportiness and refinement,
and can a compact SUV justify a price of nearly 60 grand? I'm Clifford Atiyeh with
CarGurus, and we're going to find out.
You'll recognize the X3 as a BMW, especially from the front. For 2018 the
classic twin-kidney grille gets bigger, sort of like flaring your nostrils, only
it's attractive. Unlike Mercedes-Benz, BMW designers
haven't made anything too radical with their newest cars. They're not rethinking
any conventions or changing buyer expectations, so we have four round
headlights, an upright profile, and that signature Hofmeister kink on the back
window. It has just enough surface detailing and silver painted accents to
grab attention, but overall it's conservative and tasteful. This X3 will
still look good 10 years from now. The grille has shutters that open and close
to cut wind drag. Compared to the 2017 model, the body length and the wheelbase
are both 2 inches longer.
You can't get an X3 with a diesel engine or rear-wheel drive - not anymore.
All-wheel drive is standard, and the two gasoline engines are more powerful than
before. The xDrive 30i has BMW's 2-liter turbo 4-cylinder with 248 horsepower and
258 pound-feet of torque. There's a reason BMW is called Bavarian
Motor Works. This engine pulls so much harder than you expect. It's smooth, eager
to rev, and delivers strong acceleration even with several adults weighing it
down. It even sounds good. Seriously, you might think it's a
6-cylinder. If you want a real six, there's the xDrive
M40i. It's not a real M car, but the 3-liter turbo inline six is basically
straight out of the M2. It's rated at 355 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque.
In this car, of this size, that's overkill, but these days overkill's the whole
point of a car like that. Both engines mate to an 8-speed automatic that's
perfect. Quick and unobtrusive, it's one of the
best out there. Fuel economy for the 4-cylinder is 22 miles per gallon
city, 29 highway, 25 combined. The 6-cylinder gets 20, 27, and 23 combined.
I've been averaging 23. Our car has the Dynamic Handling package, which brings
adaptive dampers, torque vectoring, which breaks the inside rear wheel
around turns, bigger M Sport brakes, and variable effort steering. Now with this
package the X3 handles well enough, but it's not as razor sharp and driver
focused as BMWs used to be. There's a lot of compliance and body roll built in, no
matter which driving mode you choose. I never thought I'd say this years ago, but
today if you want a sportier SUV, buy a Mercedes. But unlike a Mercedes, when
you sit inside a BMW X3, you're not intimidated by the technology. Our car
has an optional digital instrument panel, yet it's a simple-looking screen that
mimics analog gauges. Sport mode switches the layout a little, but not so much that
you'll have to relearn anything. The iDrive controller is easy, with hard
buttons for common functions and a touchpad that lets you spell out letters
or zoom in on the map. The menus are intuitive. You can glance
at their functions before clicking, and unlike other German luxury cars, this BMW
has a real touchscreen. Scroll, swipe, tap, use the controls on the steering wheel,
or stick with the iDrive knob - BMW has designed this to work the way you want
to work, not the other way around. The stereo and climate controls work like
stereo and climate controls. Press this center button and you can choose which
safety features you want to activate, like auto braking, and which ones you
don't, like lane-departure warning. Now the interior may not be as stylish as
those from Mercedes or Lexus, but functionally I think it works much
better. Which design do you prefer? I also love this head-up display. Instead of a
generic navigation graphic that indicates your next turn, the X3 shows
you the actual intersection. You can scroll through audio tracks and see the
exact song playing without taking your eyes off the road. When parked the
360-degree camera system will show you things you've never seen before.
It blends the video feeds so perfectly you'd swear you're walking around the
car outside, and when you pull up to a space, the front camera activates
automatically. Wow. Material quality and panel finishes are top-notch, although
the seat bottoms are a bit stiff and flat. They're comfortable enough for long
drives, but they're not pampering. Headroom and legroom front and rear are
very generous, but the cargo hold is just average. It's smaller than the Range
Rover Velar's at 28.7 cubic feet. With the seats folded, it expands to 62.7
cubic feet. BMW has never been a value-centric brand. Our car stickers at
$57,620 with almost every option. If we were
in the M40i trim, we'd be well past 60K. Starting prices are just over
$42,000, but not a lot comes standard. Apple CarPlay costs $300,
and keyless entry is part of a $2,800 package. Now that
said, prices are on par with competitors, but just know that if you want an X3 as
nice as ours, be prepared to pay.
It may look the way it always has, but the 2018 BMW X3 packs smarter
technology and impressive performance under the skin. Despite not being very
large, the X3 doesn't come cheap, and it doesn't handle as well as old BMWs, but
it is luxurious, comfortable, and has an unexpectedly powerful 4-cylinder
engine. For more details on the new X3, check out my full review at CarGurus.com,
and be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel. See you next time, and thanks for
watching.