2020 BMW X3 Review

　　

2020 BMW X3 Review

byTravis LangnessReviews Editor

　　Travis Langness has worked in the automotive industry since 2011. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career.

　　Quiet, spacious and engaging to drive, the BMW X3 has long been a desirable small luxury SUV. The X3 boasts an upscale interior and top-notch construction we've come to expect from BMW. Under the hood, the X3 offers the choice of two powertrains: the respectably strong four-cylinder in the s- and xDrive30i or the potent six-cylinder in the M40i.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 BMW X3 sDrive30i 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$176/mo  for X3 sDrive30i

　　X3 sDrive30i

　　sDrive30i 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $41,950 MSRPxDrive30i 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) (Most Popular) - $43,950 MSRPxDrive30e 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric plug-in hybrid 8A) - $48,550 MSRPM40i 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A) - $55,900 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　For 2020, BMW has upgraded the M40i engine; it now makes 382 horsepower, compared to 2019's 355 hp. Joining the lineup for 2020 is the xDrive30e, which features a turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a plug-in hybrid system. It performs well, but it's actually thirstier than the non-hybrid unless you often make short trips and are frequently plugging it in. Also for 2020, the factory navigation system now comes bundled with the optional full digital gauge cluster (BMW's Live Cockpit), but the rest of the features carry over from the previous model year.

　　The lack of Android Auto smartphone integration in the X3 is unfortunate, which might dissuade tech-savvy buyers. But that's pretty much where the drawbacks end. Options are plentiful, and the interior is big enough to seat adults in all the major seating positions. Overall, the 2020 BMW X3 is an impressive SUV that's easy to recommend if you're shopping in the small luxury SUV category.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　7.8

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.5/10

　　How does the X3 drive? We tested the X3 xDrive30i. Around town, the eight-speed transmission smartly keeps the smooth 2.0-liter engine right in the heart of its power delivery. The high 6-second 0-60 mph result we recorded should be quick enough for most people. The brakes are strong for panic stops and easy to modulate in typical driving.

　　Around turns, the X3 provides composed and enjoyable handling that's often associated with BMW. Alas, the steering is typical of a modern BMW too. It's too easy to turn the wheel in the Comfort setting, making it a little imprecise. The Sport mode provides additional heft and quickness, but there's still not a whole lot of feel coming through the wheel.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the X3? The front seats deliver the comfort and support needed for long stints at the wheel. A wide range of adjustments ensure a good fit for almost everyone. On bumpy roads, our test X3 had a fairly busy ride quality, which we partially attribute to it being outfitted with the optional Dynamic Handling package. The solid level of control means you feel impacts, but they don't reverberate through the cabin or bounce your head around.

　　At idle, it's so silent that you'll want to check the tachometer to see if the engine is running. There's a little bit of wind noise from the driver-side window at freeway speeds. Engine noise is pronounced under moderate to hard acceleration, but it's not unpleasant.

　　

Interior

8.0/10

　　How’s the interior? The X3's cabin is spacious and smartly arranged. Most controls are immediately understandable. The large doors translate to big openings, and the sills are low enough so that you don't have to step up into the cabin. Various driver's seat and steering wheel adjustments ensure all instrumentation falls easily into view. There's plenty of headroom for all passengers, while foot- and legroom is adequate for even tall passengers.

　　A tall roof means large windows all around, so there's a good view outside no matter where you look. Cleverly, the rear headrests are short so they don't cut into your view through the rearview mirror. The large side mirrors and optional blind-spot monitoring make lane changes safe and easy.

　　

Technology

7.5/10

　　How’s the tech? The mixed digital and analog gauge cluster looks clean and classy, and the entertainment interface is powerful and quick. BMW's voice controls are able to understand natural language, allowing control over almost all the cabin's features. Driver aids are similarly impressive in scope but not always reliable. (We experienced some parking camera and adaptive cruise control glitches during our test.)

　　While wireless Apple CarPlay works great, you have to pay for it, and Android Auto is not supported. Wireless device charging is an optional extra too. This, along with the finicky driver aids, brings the X3's score down significantly in this category.

　　

Storage

8.0/10

　　How’s the storage? Generous cargo space and plentiful interior storage options make the X3 a versatile SUV. There's a healthy 28.7 cubic feet behind the second row, which can easily be lowered from release handles in the rear, revealing 62.7 cubic feet of space. The door pockets are large and numerous, and we like the small compartment to the left of the steering wheel.

　　Car seat attachments are easy to access, and there's plenty of space for large child seats. The X3 can tow up to 4,400 pounds when it's equipped with the optional 2-inch receiver that includes seven- and four-pin connectors. We laud both the capacity, which is among the best, but also the clean integration of a Class III hitch.

　　

Fuel Economy

8.5/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The EPA rates the X3 xDrive30i at 26 mpg in combined city/highway driving, which is an average number for a luxury SUV with a base engine. Still, our X3 beat that rating both on our standardized 115-mile evaluation route (27.7 mpg) and throughout its two-week test period (26.2 mpg average). An impressive result.

　　

Value

8.0/10

　　Is the X3 a good value? Though the interior lacks the aesthetic appeal of some competitors, the quality is evident. Gaps are tight and uniform, and the switches and controls feel solid. The X3's pricing structure and feature availability line up squarely against the Audi Q5 and the Mercedes-Benz GLC. A bit of an advantage comes from a few ownership perks, such as a longer free scheduled maintenance period.

　　

Wildcard

7.5/10

　　Despite being a small SUV, the X3 relays driving excitement through its steering, handling and engine sound. These attributes make it a bit more entertaining to snake up a mountain road or barrel through a freeway on-ramp than some other vehicles in the segment. The X3 has an instantly recognizable shape that looks somewhat like a miniature X5, and that's a good thing. But we're less enthusiastic about the interior, which lacks the richness found in rivals.

　　

Which X3 does zzdcar recommend?

It's tempting to load up the BMW X3 with all the available features, go for the high-performance M40i engine and bury the throttle on your way out of the dealership parking lot. For most shoppers, though, we'd recommend going with one of the base models: the sDrive30i (with rear-wheel drive) or the xDrive30i (with all-wheel drive). The base four-cylinder engine provides respectable acceleration and a more reasonable price point. Also, you can option up the base X3 as much or as little as you want, adding abundant performance, luxury and safety features.

　　

2020 BMW X3 models

The 2020 BMW X3 is a five-passenger crossover sold in four trim levels: sDrive30i, xDrive30i, xDrive30e and M40i. The rear-wheel-drive sDrive30i and the all-wheel-drive xDrive30i are powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (248 horsepower, 258 lb-ft of torque). The all-wheel-drive xDrive30e uses this engine but pairs it to a plug-in hybrid system (288 hp, 310 lb-ft). The M40i is powered by a 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine (382 hp, 365 lb-ft of torque) and comes standard with all-wheel drive. All X3s use an eight-speed automatic transmission.

　　Standard 30i and 30e features include LED headlights and foglights, a power liftgate, tri-zone automatic climate control, power-adjustable front seats, simulated leather upholstery, BMW's iDrive infotainment interface, wireless Apple CarPlay compatibility, and a 12-speaker audio system.

　　There are multiple option packages available for the 30i and 30e models. The main ones you'll want to check out are the Convenience, Driving Assistance and Driving Assistant Plus packages. The Convenience package brings you keyless access and a panoramic sunroof, while the other two equip the X3 with a variety of additional driver safety aids.

　　Want a sportier X3? The M Sport package adds some stylistic enhancements, while the Dynamic Handling package equips the X3 with adaptive suspension dampers, upgraded brakes and variable-ratio steering.

　　The M40i includes much of the above as standard equipment. Other notable X3 options you might want to look for are heated and ventilated front seats, leather upholstery, a larger 10.3-inch central touchscreen, a digital gauge cluster display, wireless phone charging, and a 16-speaker Harman Kardon sound system.

　　

2020 X3 Highlights

Type: SUVPlug-in HybridM40iSUV

　　Trim: sDrive30ixDrive30ixDrive30eM40isDrive30i

　　

Base MSRP	$41,950
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	27 MPG
Cost to Drive	$176/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	28.7 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles