What does it cost?
For With the optional Variable Damper Control, the BMW X3 strikes a fine balance between comfort and agility. The cabin is classy and spacious, and running costs are low.
Against Its wide transmission tunnel makes life uncomfortable for a central rear passenger and the manual gearbox is a bit clunky. We’re yet to try the X3 on standard suspension.
What Car? says
The BMW X3 is the best compact 4x4 you can buy, and that's why it's our reigning SUV of the Year. It’s classy, practical and good to drive. The engines are very efficient, too, and standard kit pretty generous.
What Car? readers say
4.333333
There are 6 BMW X3 versions available
Buyer's notes
Target Price team says:
The entry-level X3, the xDrive20d SE is the one to go for. It provides all the performance you need and comes with lots of luxuries, including leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control, front and rear parking sensors and cruise control.
There are two other diesel engines avaialbe, both 3.0-litre units with either 255bhp or 309bhp. They're both fast, but cost thousands more that the perfectly-adequate 2.0-litre.
There's also an M Sport trim available, but we'd resist the temptation. It looks great, with a sporty body kit, but again, it costs thousands more than the SE.
BMW also offers numerous cost options, and we’d be tempted to specify the eight-speed automatic gearbox because the standard six-speed manual has a stiff action that makes it a bit too much like hard work.
Reader test team says:
BMW X3 4x4 xDrive30d SE 5dr
Just picked the car up several weeks ago and have done 1000 miles plus on a mixture of local and longer motorway journies, with one foray into the…
5
out of 5 stars
BMW X3 4x4 xDrive35d M Sport 5dr
I picked up my new X3 35D M Sport in January and love it. Having traded in my Z4 3.0 for this "beast" I still can't believe the X3 is faster and more…
5
out of 5 stars
BMW X3 4x4 xDrive20d SE 5dr
I needed a reliable all-purpose vehicle with a high driving position, a good long distance cruiser, reasonably spacious with good fuel consumption.…
5
out of 5 stars
BMW X3 4x4 xDrive30d SE 5dr
I have covered 400 miles in 3 weeks from new. I am retired and live in south Devon so have not been in any heavy traffic. The quality of the interior…
2
out of 5 stars
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Our pick of the range
BMW X3 4x4 xDrive20d SE 5dr
The BMW X3 xDrive20d SE is our pick of the X3 range. It has all the performance you need, and it's efficient enough to keep running costs down.
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