The 2022 BMW X3 is an SUV with extensive enchantment. It provides quite a few powertrain choices with numerous levels of efficiency and effectivity. Plus, there’s even the X4 for those who wished a unique physique model in change for much less utility and extra money out of your pockets.
And whereas the X3 would be the most mainstream of all BMW fashions — it’s the corporate’s best-seller in america — that doesn’t imply it strays too removed from the pursuit of the “Final Driving Machine.” We favor the Porsche Macan and Alfa Romeo Stelvio relating to the pure driving expertise, however BMW isn’t terribly far behind. Even the fundamental xDrive30i mannequin displays enjoyable driving traits whereas sustaining a sure degree of driving ease and luxury. These wanting every thing BMW efficiency has to supply can dial up the X3 M Competitors with its 503 ponies and track-ready chassis, and there’s even the middle-of-the-road high-performance selection with the M40i and its clean inline-six.
Updates made for 2022 make the X3 way more aggressive with the tech-laden competitors, and its styling continues to be absolutely agreeable to our eyes. There are few standout options, that means it falls simply wanting being one in all our favorite compact crossovers, however you’d nonetheless be good to test it out.
Interior & Technology | Passenger & Cargo Space | Performance & Fuel Economy
What it’s like to drive | Pricing & Features | Crash Ratings & Safety Features
What’s new for 2022?
In brief, there’s quite a bit new for 2022. BMW handled the X3 to a mid-cycle refresh this yr, which incorporates modifications to the styling, inside, tech and even powertrains.
Exterior modifications embody a brand new, larger kidney grille, slimmer headlights and a brand new entrance bumper design. The rear taillights are rather more distinctive with a form resembling that of cooking tongs. BMW styled up new exhaust exit trim and is providing new wheel choices, one in all them being a particular 19-inch aero wheel that’s extra aerodynamic and 15% lighter than the usual cast-aluminum wheels. The X3 M provides a brand new entrance bumper with bigger openings, with the decrease space resembling the decrease bumper design seen on the new M3.
The inside good points a bigger infotainment system show (now 10.3 inches commonplace with optionally available 12.3-inch display), and the middle stack’s local weather and radio controls panel is up to date to resemble that of BMW’s extra just lately redesigned fashions. The console beneath has additionally been redesigned and contains a new gear selector, button structure and iDrive rotary controller — it’s the identical as you’ll see in the 3 Series. The usual instrument cluster continues to be partially analog and partially digital, however you possibly can possibility as much as the all-digital 12.3-inch cluster.
Different tech updates embody an expanded driver help suite, up to date iDrive 7 and better use of ambient lighting all through the inside. Maybe most noticeable of all, BMW has added a 48-volt mild-hybrid system to its X3 M40i mannequin, however we’ll get into extra element there once we talk about powertrains. Additionally in that part, we’ll element the power updates made to the X3 M and X3 M Competition. Lastly, the likable plug-in hybrid xDrive30e mannequin is lifeless for 2022.
What is the X3 inside and in-car know-how like?
The BMW X3’s inside boasts a lovely, clear design and is assembled with premium supplies. Nonetheless, even when extensively optioned, it doesn’t fairly rise to the plain luxurious you’ll see in a Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class and Genesis GV70, nor the ultra-cool trendy design of the Volvo XC60. That mentioned, the inside styling updates class it up a contact for 2022, and the tech is now much more aggressive. If you would like one thing flashy, the X3 M (pictured within the smaller footage above) and its added colors/zest handle to spruce issues up. It even shares its heart console with the brand new M3/M4 now.
BMW provides tri-zone local weather management, eight-way energy entrance seats with reminiscence, and a ten.3-inch infotainment system as commonplace tools. All fashions use the present era of BMW’s iDrive infotainment (iDrive 7) redundantly managed by touchscreen or a middle console knob. This technique is super-quick, has wonderful graphics and could be very aggressive within the luxurious house of infotainment tech. Fortunately, it provides each Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The bottom upholstery is artificial leather-based that BMW calls Sensa-Tec (typical for luxurious manufacturers), however leather-based could be optioned from the bottom sDrive30i mannequin on up, and particular variants such because the M fashions get distinctive inside choices to additional set them other than their friends. BMW’s entrance seats provide ample help and adjustment and could be had with each heating and air flow; rear seat heaters and a heated steering wheel are additionally obtainable.
How huge is the X3?
The BMW X3 has been a key participant within the compact luxurious CUV/SUV house from the very starting, and together with the Audi Q5, has helped form the section because it exists right now. Like its European rivals, it boasts a wheelbase roughly so long as a typical midsize household sedan’s and provides ample passenger and cargo room. The rear seats are roomy and cozy, and the obtainable cargo house behind the second row is aggressive, although not class-leading.
Those that need one thing the dimensions of the X3 however would like a much less typical look (and don’t thoughts the accompanying hit to practicality) ought to take a look at the BMW X4, which is the X3’s coupe-like mechanical twin.
Be aware that the 30e mannequin pictured above is just not obtainable on the market in america. It is practically an identical in look to the usual xDrive30i, save for the 30e badge and charging flap on the entrance fender.
What are the X3 gas economic system and efficiency specs?
The bottom sDrive30i and xDrive30i are powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four making 248 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The sDrive fashions are rear-wheel drive; xDrive denotes all-wheel drive. Each X3 has an eight-speed automated transmission. The sDrive30i is rated at 23 mpg metropolis, 29 mpg freeway and 25 mpg mixed (a 2-mpg mixed drop for 2022 on account of a discount in metropolis mpg); xDrive fashions are rated at 21/28/24. BMW estimates zero-to-60-mph occasions of 6 seconds for each.
The following step up is the X3 M40i, which makes use of BMW’s wonderful 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six, which makes 382 hp and 365 lb-ft of torque. New for 2022, BMW provides a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, however solely to this six-cylinder mannequin. It is able to doling out an additional 11 horsepower that BMW says helps on standing begins and may add an additional kick “throughout intermediate sprints.” The system additionally makes for smoother operation of the beginning/cease system, and it will even shut the engine off at pace when coasting. This turbo-six is paired to straightforward all-wheel drive and is EPA rated at 21/26/23 mpg. That is one mpg worse on the freeway versus the 2021 mannequin yr, so the 48-volt system hasn’t translated to raised EPA-rated fuel economy. Its 0-60 time is a scant 4.4 seconds, which is similar as 2021’s M40i.
Those that need efficiency, effectively, you’re in for a deal with. The excessive output X3 M variant with 473 hp and 457 lb-ft of torque from a 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline-six. Its 0-60 time is simply 3.9 seconds. That is a 13 pound-foot enhance over 2021’s X3 M, and a 0.2 second faster 0-60 time. If that’s not fairly sufficient, the Competitors bundle (pictured beneath) bumps the facility determine as much as 503 horses and 479 pound-feet (37 kilos of twist greater than earlier than). All-wheel drive is once more commonplace, serving to the Competitors scurry to 60 mph in simply 3.7 seconds (additionally 0.2 second faster than earlier than). The draw back is that the X3 M is rated at 15/20/17 mpg, which isn’t good, but additionally 1-mpg higher than final yr.
What is the X3 prefer to drive?
The X3 is mostly nice and even enjoyable to drive. The 30i variant could not have the zip of the varied M-branded X3 fashions, however it’s torquey sufficient for on a regular basis driving and we discovered it to be quiet, clean and undramatic. The step-up X3 M40i possesses that quintessential verve, poise and total really feel we have all come to count on from a BMW. The electrical-assisted steering stays a letdown because it’s disappointingly devoid of really feel, however the throttle could be very responsive and the chassis is prepared.
Sadly, fashions with the game suspension possibility, together with the M40i, include a agency trip that might simply get tiresome for homeowners who spend most of their time tooling round a metropolis with poorly patched pavement. The X3 M and M Competition models are extra tolerable on this regard as their performance-first mission will doubtless enchantment to drivers preferring a sharper total really feel on the expense of consolation, and because of the X3 M’s adaptive suspension, it may be rendered fairly docile when a keener edge isn’t essential. We advocate BMW’s obtainable adaptive dampers if you wish to each discover the X3’s efficiency limits and protect your important organs.
We’ve been much less impressed with BMW’s adaptive cruise management. Whereas it incorporates some helpful options, equivalent to an optionally available semi-autonomous visitors jam mode, its lane-following nonetheless is not as completed as some others on the market.
What different BMW X3 opinions can I learn?
2018 BMW X3 xDrive30i Road Test
Our evaluation of the preferred X3 mannequin, the xDrive30i. Though the X3 acquired a number of substantive updates for 2022, our authentic observations stay s
2018 BMW X3 M40i Road Test
Pictured beneath (it is the blue one), the M40i places on an honest displaying as a sport-tuned selection. The exhaust noises alone make it zestier than the 30i. Once more, this was a pre-refresh model of the X3, however our impressions stay broadly the identical for 2022.
2019 BMW X4 First Drive Review
Need styling zest? Take into account the X4, which is simply an X3 with a sleeker roofline, much less house and a better value.
2020 BMW X4 M Competition Review
For a style of what the X3 M supplies, take a look at our X4 M evaluation. The driving expertise needs to be an identical, however the inside extra sensible.
Comparison test: BMW X3 vs Acura RDX, Audi Q5, Mercedes GLC and Volvo XC60
We drove them back-to-back and picked our favorites. Though all however the RDX has since been upgraded, all of them belong to the identical era, and our total rankings and ideas haven’t modified.
2020 BMW X3 xDrive30e First Drive
Our evaluation of the X3 plug-in hybrid, the xDrive30e. This mannequin is discontinued for 2022, however you possibly can nonetheless examine it right here in case you have been interested in choosing up a used model of the PHEV.
How a lot is the BMW X3 value and what options can be found?
Pricing begins at $44,695 for the 2022 BMW X3 sDrive30i, together with the $995 vacation spot cost. That is simply $700 greater than final yr’s base mannequin. The all-wheel-drive xDrive30i tacks on $2,000.
Customary options highlights for the entire above embody 19-inch wheels, LED headlights, entrance and rear parking sensors, energy folding and heated facet mirrors, an influence liftgate, three-zone local weather management, eight-way energy entrance seats, driver reminiscence settings, SensaTec vinyl upholstery, a 12-speaker audio system, the ten.3-inch iDrive 7 touchscreen infotainment system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The M40i sport tunes most key mechanical components, together with the all-wheel-drive system, steering, brakes and the adaptive suspension. It additionally options extra aggressive appears to be like and good points extra commonplace tools. Principally, the identical could be mentioned of the X3 M, however all to a good better diploma.
The majority of choices come throughout the Comfort, Premium and Govt packages. There are additionally a handful of stand-alone choices, so BMW has maintained a point of customizability. A extra full breakdown of options, specs and native pricing could be discovered here on Autoblog.
sDrive30i: $44,695
xDrive30i: $46,695
M40i: $58,795
X3 M: $70,895
X3 M Competitors: $77,895
What are the X3 security scores and driver help options?
For 2022, the X3 comes commonplace with plenty of accident avoidance applied sciences: ahead collision warning with automated emergency braking and pedestrian detection, and lane-departure warning. The Driver Help Plus bundle will increase the pace vary of that forward-collision mitigation system and provides adaptive cruise management with stop-and-go functionality, lane-keeping help and blind-spot warning.
The 2021 X3 acquired prime five-star scores from the federal government for its total, frontal and facet crash safety — 2022 scores will not be out but, however we do not count on any modifications. The Insurance coverage Institute for Freeway Security gave it the best-possible scores for crash safety and crash safety. Customary headlights obtained a “Marginal” scores for 2021, whereas the Govt bundle’s upgrades get the best-possible “Good” score. It is doable these scores may change with the 2022 updates. That is the X3’s IIHS page that can have essentially the most up-to-date scores.
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