The fourth-generation X3 is an evolutionary step forward, with incremental gains in size, power, and equipment. We found it a delightful small luxury SUV, with a peppy, polished, and fuel-efficient powertrain, nimble handling, and comfortable seats. The cabin’s transformation is the most dramatic aspect of the new X3, shifting to a high-tech, minimalist interior aesthetic. Unfortunately, the controls are harder to use than in the previous X3, and the cabin doesn’t feel as luxurious as most other BMWs.
The reimagined X3 has two trims with distinct powertrains, both with standard all-wheel drive. The X3 30 xDrive utilizes a 255-horsepower, 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, while the M50 xDrive has a 393-hp, 3.0-liter turbocharged inline six-cylinder. Each is fitted with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system and uses an eight-speed automatic transmission.
“Overall, this is a really good package,” enthused one of our drivers. “The powertrain is zippy and the handling is satisfying, just like a BMW should be. Add to that the comfortable seats and a quiet interior. I found the ride quality a bit too firm, though.”
“The X3 is nicely sized, plus it’s quiet, modern, and has an upscale feel,” said a tester. “Once learned, I didn’t find the controls that bad, though I much prefer to have some physical buttons.”
“I love how easy it is to pass cars on the highway, but I found the power delays around town annoying to deal with,” said another driver.
We bought a 2025 BMW X3 30 xDrive for $56,860—anonymously from an area dealer, as we do with every vehicle we test—for the purpose of this road test review. The X3 is assembled in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
Driving experience
The X3 30 xDrive we tested uses a 255-horsepower, 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that feels crisp and energetic. It’s aided by a smooth-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission that always seems to be in tune with the driver, bringing quick downshifts when needed. With 60 mph arriving in just 6.7 seconds (a second quicker than the previous generation), this is a swift vehicle. The fuel-saving engine stop/start system, which turns off the engine at stoplights, is one of the most seamless we’ve encountered. Fuel economy is impressive—it managed a best-in-class 29 mpg overall on the required premium fuel in our testing.
Curvy roads are handled with the kind of confidence-inspiring agility you’d expect from a sports sedan. The steering turns in quickly, while the taut suspension keeps the body from leaning over much, even when you pick up the pace. Unfortunately, the steering feels too light and lacks the driver feedback that BMWs used to be known for. While the suspension is on the firm side, it mutes most bumps to acceptable levels while keeping the body feeling stable and controlled.
The X3 did well in our braking tests, with short stopping distances on both dry and wet surfaces. We found that the brake pedal required some extra modulation to be smooth out on the road, though, as the braking force tends to ramp up in a nonlinear fashion as you near your stopping point.
The cabin is quiet, with little road or wind noise. Even the turbo-four stays hushed during regular driving, and then takes on a pleasingly sporty character when accelerating with some vigor.
Cabin comfort
We couldn’t help noticing that, compared to the last X3 we tested, the new model’s interior has traded some of its traditional luxury trappings for a more spartan and contemporary feel. There isn’t any wood or chrome anywhere, and details such as the plain black plastic interior door latch (rather than chrome) are surprising, given our X3’s $57,000 as-tested price.
The front seats, on the other hand, are up to typical BMW standards, with a nice combination of lateral support and comfy padding. There’s lots of headroom up front and fairly well-placed armrests, although the one on the door has overly firm padding. We appreciated the clear view of the gauges through the steering wheel, and that the steering column has lots of adjustment range. But the flat-bottomed steering wheel can feel odd in parking situations when you shuffle your hands.
The rear seat has good headroom, plenty of foot space under the front seats, and decent under-leg support. However, unlike some other SUVs, the seatback can’t be reclined and is at a pretty upright angle.
The cargo space is wide and deep. The high floor is convenient for loading and unloading, but combined with the sloped rear design, it is limited in moving large, boxy items. Plus, the rear seats don’t form a fully flat floor when dropped down, restraining the maximum cargo volume somewhat.
Controls and usability
BMW’s latest infotainment system (now up to “iDrive 9”) retains familiar aesthetics, and overall, we think it’s slightly better organized than before. Notably, the side menu bar has been moved to the bottom of the screen and remains accessible from within other menus. But there’s still a steep learning curve to understanding the system’s nuances.
The climate controls are now split between two areas, and other than adjusting the temperature, none are easy to use. We’re also not fans of the slit-like dash vents, which are too low and a bit tricky to adjust. Further, the touch-capacitive control panel on the driver’s door—used for locking/unlocking, seat memory functions, and air vent openings—is difficult and annoying to use.
Other enhancements include a navigation system that projects directions onto the windshield via the optional head-up display to help keep the driver’s eyes on the road. Speaking of the head-up display, it remains one of the best on the market, with large, clear graphics. Besides showing the car’s current speed, it’s also handy for accessing recent phone calls or scrolling through radio stations.
We’re not fans of the lift-up (rather than the more conventional pull out toward you) exterior door handles. They lack enough surface area for your hand to grip them properly.
Active safety & driver assistance
Standard active safety and driver assistance features include automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic emergency braking that operates at highway speeds, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic warning, reverse automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane keeping assistance, and automatic high beams. Adaptive cruise control and lane centering assistance are optional. The available active driving assistance system also includes a lane-change assist feature, which works very well.
The available Parking Assistant Professional package can record a common parking maneuver path. Save the maneuver once, and it should be able to steer into parking spaces on its own after that. It also steers into and out of parallel parking spots. We found that it does this very well.
Both a rear occupant alert system and a belt minder come standard. The former is designed to remind the driver—based on rear-door logic—to check the rear seat when they turn the X3 off to help prevent children and pets from suffering heatstroke or hypothermia if unintentionally left behind in the vehicle. The belt minder alerts the driver if a rear passenger unbuckles their seat belt during the trip.