Can the new 2025 BMW X3 take over the outgoing X3 and be the best selling BMW?
Exterior – Front
So, starting with the styling at the front and it is a bit of a departure from the outgoing model. To start with the BMW kidney grills are now separate and have slightly grown in size and have a sportier look compared to the square look to the outgoing model. The outline can now also light up just like the new 5 Series, 7 Series and XM, This grill is also helped with the central crease on the bonnet which houses the BMW logo and looks very similar to the sharp crease on the M4. The headlights also have a new shape and are now sort of connected to the grill. These headlights also have a double L incorporated in them giving it a unique look and something we haven’t seen before on a BMW. Lower down we get an exaggerated central air vent which has been done with this gloss black plastic and below this we get the central air vent which has been split with a body colour central parting. To the side of the front, we have something side vents with a gloss black outline again giving this car a sporty look.
Exterior – Side
Moving round to the side and we get a minimalistic design compared to what we are used to on the outgoing model. On this model the wheel arches are integrated this time and don’t have any add on parts. They are exaggerated with a bigger outline as well as a sharp crease lower down. We also get flush door handles as well as some big curvy wing mirrors which do slightly look out of place from what we are used to on a BMW. The wheel designs are very modern and give this car a sporty edge which I do quite like.
Exterior – Rear
Moving round to the back and we get a different BMW design to what we are used to. To start with we get some X style taillights which look very modern and very similar to the bigger X5. At first I didn’t like this design but it has grown on me and the reason why I didn’t like the overall design at the back was because they had moved the rear number plate onto the bumper. This has only been done on the XM and that doesn’t suit it but after a while it has started to grow on me on this car. It gives it a sporty look but is also gives it a minimalistic design at the back. What is also new on this car is that we get different naming for the engine placement. BMW has now got rid of the i on the petrol models so for example this M50 model would have been called the M50i on the previous model. Lower down we get some more gloss black cladding as well as 4 exhaust pipes that were only available on the full fat X3M models, but they have now trickled down to the warm M models. Talking of exhausts lets have a look and see what engine and gearbox options you can have with the new BMW X3.
Car and engine specs and price
So, the engine lineup consists of a diesel engine a petrol plug-in hybrid engine and 2 petrol mild hybrid engines. Let’s start with the diesel engine. This is called xDrive20d and it uses a 2-litre turbo unit which has 197 bhp and a 0-62 time of 7.7 seconds. This can be had only with an 8-speed automatic gearbox and is only 4-wheel drive. Now this engine we don’t know if it will come to the UK as of yet as we were told by BMW that we won’t get it but it is showing on their configurator so we will have to wait and see on that one. The next engine is the petrol plug in hybrid engine. This is called xDrive30e and this uses a 2-litre turbo 4-cylinder engine and a electric motor creating 294 bhp. This can do 0-62 in 6.2 seconds and has an electric range of about 53 miles which is very good and will allow most people to do a commute to work on electric alone. This is available only with an 8-speed automatic gearbox and is only 4-wheel drive. The next engines are the petrol engines. Let’s start with the base model first. This is called xDrive20. This uses the same 2 litre petrol engine as the plug-in hybrid but now has a 48 volt mild hybrid system, and it produces 205 bhp. The mild hybrid unit is a light mild hybrid unit and doesn’t help much with the power but more with economy and Co2. This gives the car a 7.8 second 0-62 time and just like the plug-in hybrid it is only available with an 8-speed automatic gearbox, and it is 4-wheel drive only. The final petrol engine is the M50 engine. This uses the usual B58 engine, and this is a 3 litre straight 6 unit producing 392 bhp and a 0-62 time of 4.6 seconds. This also has a 48-volt mild hybrid system. The price of the new BMW X3 starts at £48,375 which isn’t that bad considering what you are getting. Lets have a look and see what the interior is like.
Interior – Design
So, climbing inside the new BMW X3 and we get a mixture of old and new designs. The best way to describe the interior is like the outgoing X3 and the new 5 Series had a baby, and this is the result. On top of the dashboard, you get BMW’s dual screen setup with the central 14.9-inch screen running iDrive OS9. It is very easy and intuitive to use, and it works very well and has a crystal-clear display. The same can be said for the instrument cluster. That is easily configurable and easy to read too. We also get the same steering wheel as the new 5 Series, and this means that it now has a flat bottom design. We also get the new BMW crystal glass light up bar from the 7 series and 5 series but on the X3 it has been done slightly differently. You see this is where the older designs come in. the centre console has been separated on the dashboard giving it a driver focused look. Because of this the bar stops in the middle of the dashboard but you get extra lighting on the door card and the centre console. This also gives a cool design to the door card as well as some touch sensitive buttons for your seat memory and other functions. In the centre console inside the colour bar, you get a wireless phone charger as well as somewhere to store your key card and in the centre console you also get the same panel from the new 5 series which houses your iDrive controller and small gear selector. The overall dashboard design then is very modern, and driver focused and feels like a vast improvement over the outgoing model. One final new design in the new X3 is the seats. They have a new sportier design to them and they do feel more premium. They also hug you better and have a new thinner look too. Right, let’s have a look and see what the rear seats are like.
Practicality
Now moving into the back of the X3 and there is no surprise that there is plenty of legroom and headroom even for tall adults in the back. These new seats also help because they are thinner and have cut outs for your knees. The middle passenger will struggle a bit because of the hump in the floor. You do get some air vents as well as 2 USB C ports and an arm rest as well as some storage too. The overall materials are also decent in the back too. Let’s have a look and see what the boot is like.
Boot Size
Opening the boot, to the new BMW X3 and you are welcomed with 570 litres. Whilst this is 20 litres more than the outgoing model and is on par with the new Audi Q5’s boot, it is still down on the Mercedes GLC’s 620 litres. Another negative of this boot in the new X3 is that if you go for the plug-in hybrid option then you loose 110 litres of space because of the batteries. Folding the seats down and you are welcomed with 1,700 litres on the standard X3’s and 1,600 on the plug-in hybrid X3.
Summary
So, in summary then what do I think of the new BMW X3. Well, it has a much sharper and more modern exterior design which suits this car attitude well. On the inside it has a higher end feel with better technology and comfort and the practicality is also better than before. Just bear in mind that if you do go for the plug-in hybrid model you will loose boot space which is the only downside I have for this car but apart from that it is a decent premium family SUV.
Exterior 5/5
Interior 5/5
Practicality 4/5
Total 14/15
Model | BMW X3 M50 |
Engine | 3.0l Turbo, 392bhp, 0-62 = 4.6 Seconds, Four Wheel Drive |
Transmission | 8 Speed Automatic |
Price | £68,705 |
On Sale | October 2024 |
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