2025 BMW X3 Expert Review
Reviewed by Harja
Among BMW’s two compact crossovers, the X3 is the more popular and conventionally styled choice. In fact, it’s BMW’s best-selling model in the United States. For 2025, a redesign brings fresh styling, big screens, simpler trim names, and slightly more power. Competitors to the 2025 BMW X3 include the Mercedes-Benz GLC and Genesis GV70.
What’s New
- Updated exterior design
- About an inch longer, wider, and lower than its predecessor
- More powerful four- and six-cylinder engines with mild hybrid tech
- Increased rigidity, a wider rear track, and suspension modifications promise to improve cornering capabilities
- Large curved display with BMW Operating System 9
- Trims now called X3 30 xDrive and X3 M50 xDrive, dropping “i” from the model name
- New sport seats
- New gear selector toggle
- Standard automated parking assistant
- Dune Grey metallic paint option
What We Think
The previous X3 was a solid choice, so expectations are high for the new generation. We enjoyed the previous X3’s everyday usability and competent driving dynamics. Interior build quality was commendable, and the small SUV boasted ample cargo space, even if styling was uninspired. A fresher look should help it attract new interest.
Models with the base engine weren’t all that quick, but they’ll likely be quicker amid the redesign. M versions are appropriately a hoot to drive. For 2025, BMW is promising improved cornering dynamics via modified anti-roll bars as well as enhanced steering comfort thanks to a more direct steering ratio. An adaptive suspension with electronically controlled shock absorbers should improve ride comfort on models equipped with this tech.
The small luxury SUV segment is competitive, though—the next X3 will need its A-game to move to the top of the pack. Whether that’s through updated design, enriched feature content, improved driving dynamics, or a new electric model’s capabilities remains to be seen.
Performance
In the 30 model, a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine adopts 48V mild hybrid tech to produce 255 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. This is an improvement of 7 hp and 37 lb-ft over the previous four-cylinder. BMW is estimating a 0-60 mph time of 6.0 seconds, which would make it quicker than the previous X3 we tested hitting 60 mph in a leisurely 6.4 seconds.
Step up to the M50, and power increases to 393 hp and 428 lb-ft of torque with the help of a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine with a 48V mild hybrid system. Compared to its predecessor, that’s 11 more hp and 59 additional lb-ft. Reaching 60 mph? That should take 4.4 seconds, according to BMW, although this is likely conservative. We managed to make the run in just 4.2 seconds in the previous six-cylinder X3.
Both versions of the X3 route power through an eight-speed automatic transmission to all four wheels. Top speed is limited to 130 mph, or 155 mph with performance tires. It’s likely fuel economy will surpass numbers for the previous generation, which came out to 21/28 mpg city/highway on the four-cylinder AWD model and 21/26 mpg with the six-cylinder.
Fingers crossed: An X3 M could return for 2025 with upwards of 470 hp and 450 lb-ft of torque. Will BMW make a plug-in hybrid X3? It’s possible BMW could resurrect this variant, which would almost certainly improve on the discontinued X3 30e’s 17 miles of all-electric driving range. Regardless, we expect BMW will eventually introduce an electric X3.
Cargo Space and Interior Room
Like most small luxury crossovers, the 2025 BMW X3 offers seating for five. Cargo capacity has improved this year to 31.5 cubic feet of space, or a maximum of 67.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. Compare that to the 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLC SUV, which offers 21.9 and 56.3 cubic feet of luggage space, respectively.
Safety
Standard features include automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and a speed limit assistant. New for 2025, a parking assistant is now standard. Buyers can upgrade to a Parking Assistant Professional package, which can account for road markings and curbs as boundaries of a parking space instead of just other vehicles. In tight parking spots, the BMW X3 can maneuver in and out by remote control via smartphone.
Technology
The X3 is the latest model to receive BMW’s “curved display,” combining the instrument and infotainment screens into a single unit running across the dashboard.
A head-up display is optional. So is BMW Digital Premium, which supports video streaming on the central screen when parked, as well as in-car gaming via the game platform AirConsole.
2025 BMW X3 Prices and On-Sale Date
Buyers are looking at more than $50,500 for the base X3 30 xDrive model. Prices increase substantially with the M50 xDrive, which begins at over $65,000. BMW builds the X3 at its Spartanburg, South Carolina plant, and sales commenced in the fourth quarter of 2024.
2025 BMW X3 Trims and Pricing
|
Trim |
Price |
|---|---|
|
xDrive30i |
$49,950 |
|
M40i |
$64,700 |
2025 BMW X3 Videos:
