2023 BMW X3 M SUV

　　

2023 BMW X3 M Review

byChristian WardlawCorrespondent

　　Christian Wardlaw has worked in the automotive industry since 1994. He has written nearly 10,000 car-related articles and tested and reviewed more than 2,000 vehicles over the course of his career. Chris is a correspondent at zzdcar and was the first editor-in-chief of zzdcar.com in the 1990s. He has also contributed to Autotrader, CarGurus, J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, NADAguides, New York Daily News Autos and WardsAuto. His mom claims that his first word was “car,” and Chris believes that Miata is always the answer.

　　The BMW X3 M is a performance-tuned compact crossover SUV that’s based on the popular X3 (reviewed separately), and it easily feeds your need for speed. With over 500 horsepower on tap in the top Competition model, this M-tuned sport-utility vehicle emphasizes the "sport" portion of that equation without giving up any of the standard X3's "utility."

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2023 BMW X3 M 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl 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

　　$274/mo  for X3 M Base

　　X3 M Base

　　4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A) (Most Popular) - $72,900 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　Last year, BMW gave the X3 M more power, new tech and updated styling. This year, the automaker makes no additional modifications, which is mostly fine by us. Our main complaints about the M-tuned X3 involve its stiff ride quality and loud cabin, but that's the price enthusiast drivers must pay for the SUV's thrilling driving dynamics. You can always choose one of the other X3 models if you need a cushier and quieter companion for the daily commute.

　　Upgrading to the X3 M over the X3 M40i costs a little more than 13 grand. In exchange, you get a stronger turbocharged six-cylinder engine with 91 extra horsepower, which shaves half a second off the acceleration run to 60 mph, according to BMW. The optional Competition package makes the X3 M slightly quicker still, thanks to its 503 hp, getting the SUV to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds by the automaker's stopwatch.

　　Naturally, BMW backs up the powerful engines with a comprehensive hardware upgrade. The changes range from a modified eight-speed automatic transmission and rear-biased xDrive all-wheel-drive system to more aggressive suspension, steering, braking and exhaust tuning. The result is a high-performance SUV boasting a near perfect weight distribution, comfortable seating for four people (five in a pinch), and 28.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back seat.

　　A handful of alternatives to the BMW X3 M exist. For example, you could get a gas-fueled Porsche Macan GTS, which costs more and offers less interior room. You could go electric and try the Tesla Model Y Performance, which can just nudge the BMW in straight-line acceleration and is far less expensive. Or you could get a plug-in hybrid from Volvo, the XC60 Recharge Polestar Engineered, which isn't as fast or outright fun to drive but might offer you enough electric range to handle daily commuting duties without burning any fuel.

　　Still, in this rarefied segment, it's hard to improve on the X3 M. And if you prefer something sleeker, you can always consider the BMW X4 M, which is the same SUV with a more aggressive roofline.

　　

Which X3 M does zzdcar recommend?

The X3 M comes in a single level of specification that you can upgrade with a handful of equipment packages and individual options. We don't recommend the expensive Competition package due to its modest performance improvement. Instead, save that money for the Driving Assistance Professional and Executive packages, which install plenty of useful and desirable features.

　　

BMW X3 M models

The 2023 BMW X3 M is a performance-oriented version of the BMW X3 compact SUV. It has a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine (473 horsepower, 457 lb-ft of torque) paired with an eight-speed M sport automatic transmission and a rear-biased, M-tuned version of BMW's xDrive all-wheel-drive system. Additional modifications include M-specific drivetrain, steering, braking, suspension and exhaust system modifications.

　　X3 M

　　The X3 M's standard features list includes:

　　20-inch wheels with performance tires Adaptive LED headlights with automatic high-beam operation Power-folding, heated exterior mirrors Power liftgate Hands-free keyless entry Digital instrument panel Ambient interior lighting Carbon-fiber interior trim Dual-zone climate control Heated, power-adjustable front sport seats Leather upholsteryBMW equips the X3 M with an iDrive 7 infotainment system. It includes:

　　12.3-inch touchscreen display Apple CarPlay Android Auto Satellite radio Navigation system Natural voice recognition system Connected services including access to a Wi-Fi hotspot 16-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio systemThe X3 M also includes several driver assist systems, such as:

　　Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Blind-spot intervention (automatically steers the car back into its lane if you try to change lanes while a car is in the vehicle's blind spot) Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane) Front and rear parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible behind or in front of the vehicle when parking) Automatic high beamsBMW offers three option packages for the X3 M:

　　Competition package More powerful engine (503 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque) M Sport exhaust system 21-inch wheels Black-painted exterior trim Premium leather upholstery and upgraded sport seats Driving Assistance Professional package Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the X3 M and the car in front) Lane keeping assistance (steers the X3 M back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker) Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane) Evasive steering assistance (enhances the forward collision mitigation system with steering-based collision avoidance) Emergency stop assistance (brings the X3 M to a safe stop if the driver becomes unresponsive) Executive package Panoramic sunroof Heated steering wheel Heated rear seats Rear side window shades Gesture control (allows you to control certain aspects of the infotainment system by gesturing in the air) Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line onto the windshield) Automated parking system (steers into a parking spot with no driver intervention) Additional options for the X3 M include:

　　Remote engine start Ventilated front seats Wireless smartphone charging Drive Recorder (records up to 40 seconds of your drive for playback or export to a device, and can automatically capture images in the event of a collision)

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