2023 BMW X3: Exclusive! Next-Gen BMW X3 Sports Activity Vehicle Review and Price

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2023 BMW X3 is BMW’s best-selling vehicle, a hot off midcycle refresh for the 2022 model year. This glorified little luxury SUV is incredibly sporty and fun to drive and offers reasonable storage and fuel economy as a five-seater, two-row vehicle.

The X3 sits between the compact X1 and the larger X5, which offers optional three-row seating.

2022 brings updated styling to the X3 and simplified power options. The plug-in hybrid model disappeared in favor of the standard inline four-cylinder model on the sDrive30i and xDrive30i and the six-cylinder model on the M40i.

The 2023 BMW X3 M40i comes with a mild hybrid system that features an improved starter-generator system and makes the engine more efficient in heavy traffic. All those changes lead us to believe that the update will be light for 2023.

The iDrive system, which BMW calls its in-car communication and entertainment system, will be updated and will probably fall in time for the 2023 model year vehicles.

The X3 competes in a bustling landscape and is a capable fare and all-arounder in the small luxury SUV class featured by the Edmunds Top Rated Genesis GV70, Mercedes-Benz GLC, and Acura RDX. If you’re looking for a third row, it might be worth a look at Edmunds’ Top Rated SUV, the Kia Telluride.

2023 BMW X3 Review

The 2023 BMW X3 is a compact luxury SUV with two rows of seating for 5 people and a choice of turbocharged engines that range from fresh and fuel efficient, to downright sports car in terms of how the powertrain rockets the X3 off the beaten track.

New BMW X3 2023

Look for the 2023 X3 which has only minor color and trim changes, especially as this nimble little SUV stays fresh from last year’s model mid-cycle refresh.

This latest update includes subtle changes to the front and rear of this luxury SUV, namely a rework of the front grille and exterior lighting.

The larger grille is the most polarizing feature, although it brings the exterior appearance of the X3 on par with the rest of the BMW lineup.

This refresh certainly helps the BMW X3 2023 to keep up with several rivals, including the Mercedes-Benz GLC, Audi Q5, Volvo XC60, Lexus NX, Lincoln Corsair, and Infiniti QX50. This is a very competitive segment, and standing still is not an option.

Exterior modifications are complemented by cabin updates centered on additional technologies and a larger screen.

The X3 has a 10.3-inch infotainment screen along with a 5.1-inch display located in the center of the driver gauge cluster.

If that’s not enough for you, BMW offers an optional 12.3-inch digital gauge display, plus a 12.3-inch display for the infotainment system. BMW revamped the overall design of the dashboard itself and added updated controls for the audio system, along with standard tri-zone climate control equipment.

One thing we hope to remain the status quo for the 2023 X3 is what options lie under the hood. Look for the rear-wheel-drive (RWD) X3 sDrive30i and all-wheel-drive (AWD) xDrive30i which come with a 248-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder coupled to an 8-speed automatic transmission.

For the 2022 model year, BMW decided to eliminate the plug-in hybrid model xDrive30e from the US range from the previous version’s mediocre 18 miles.

Next up is the X3 M40i, which is powered by a 3.0-liter inline-6 turbocharged engine coupled to a 48-volt mild hybrid system. It delivers a total of 382 horsepower to all four wheels, thanks to standard AWD equipment.

An 8-speed automatic is also installed and provides smooth and sharp gearshifts.

Last but certainly not least — both in terms of price and performance — the X3 M offers performance-seeking SUV buyers a turbocharged inline-6 for a total of 473 to 503 horsepower. This last number is what you get in the Manic Competition version.

Hit the gas pedal and you only need 4.0 seconds to go from zero to 60 mph.

Read next: 2023 BMW 2 Series: Next-Gen BMW 2-Series Preview, Price and Release Date

2023 BMW X3 Refresh

The 2023 X3 will likely be the carryover for the 2023 model year. It received a few minor upgrades in 2021 but was last redesigned in 2018.

As BMW tends to redesign this compact SUV every six years, the next redesign is expected to come in 2024.

The latest update to the X3 includes improvements to the grille, bumper, headlights, and new paint colors. Inside the cabin, the X3 receives a 10.25-inch screen like the 4-Series and an upgraded audio panel with 12 Harman Kardon speakers.

Smartphone compatibility, connected services, WI-FI hotspots, navigation with traffic updates, voice control, and remote software upgrades come standard.

The X3 has five seats and a cargo capacity of 28.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats. Once the seat is folded, it expands to 62.7 cubic feet.

BMW X3 2023 Model: New Features X3 2023

The BMW X3 2023 offers a lot of useful technology. For the interior, this includes the BMW iDrive infotainment system, which is available with a 10.3-inch or 12.3-inch infotainment system.

New BMW X3 2023

Additional interior features include a Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth connectivity, USB port, wireless smartphone charger, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration.

In addition, the X3 offers many features of driving assistance technology that enhance safety. These include adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and automatic emergency braking with forwarding collision warning.

BMW X3 2023 Specs

Buyers of the BMW X3 2023 have four engine options: a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six, a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, and a more powerful variant of the BMW X3. twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six for the X3 M Competition.

The X3 offers both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. Here are the horsepower and specifications for each of the X3 engines:

  • Turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder: 248 horsepower and 258 lb-ft . of torque
  • Turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six: 382 horsepower and 369 lb-ft. of torque
  • Twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six: 473 horsepower and 457 lb-ft . of torque
  • Twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six (X3 M Competition): 503 horsepower and 457 lb-ft of torque
  • X3 is very fast and fast. Acceleration times from 0-60 mph range from 6.0 seconds for the base trim to 3.7 seconds for the X3 M
  • Competition. For top speed, the X3 M model can go as fast as 155 mph. On the efficiency side, the X3 has an estimated fuel economy of up to 23 mpg city/29 highway. If properly equipped, the X3 can pull up to 4,400 pounds.

Compared to most other SUVs, the X3 is very agile. In addition, the X3 offers Dynamic Damper Control adaptive suspension with selectable driving modes. This includes settings for Comfort, Sport, and Eco Pro.

2023 X3 BMW Engine, MPG, and Safety Feature

The X3 2023 has several different powertrain options. The first is a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine paired to either four-wheel or rear-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic Steptronic transmission.

It delivers 248 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque and has an EPA estimate of 23 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined. Another option is a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine in two variations.

In 2023 the BMW X3 M40i makes 382 horsepower and 368 lb-ft of torque and in the M model, it makes 473 horsepower and 457 lb-ft of torque. For this, the estimated fuel economy drops to 21/26/23 mpg and 15/20/17 mpg, respectively.

BMW has equipped the X3 with many safety features that are likely to carry over such as LED headlights, automatic collision warning, front and rear parking distance control, stolen vehicle recovery, and rain detection wipers.

Other driving assistance systems include blind spot detection, ground departure warning, dynamic cruise control, brake pad wear indicator, and cornering brake control.

2023 BMW X3 Price: How Much BMW X3?

BMW X3 2023 We expect the BMW X3 2023 to have a starting price of around $44,000 for the entry-level sDrive30i model, and $46,000 if you want the extra grip the xDrive30i provides with AWD.

The sporty M40i should be around $57,000. While it’s not cheap, it’s consistent with many rival compact luxury SUVs. Moving to the X3 M lineup continues to be the budget-saving option for the X3 2023 lineup.

This wild performance SUV is expected to cost around $70,000 per copy or about $25,000 more than the excellent base model. After all, there aren’t many SUVs that can make sports cars and muscle cars chase their money when the traffic light turns green.

2023 BMW X3 Release Date

BMW X3 2023 Release Date with agile handling, fast acceleration, practicality, and a variety of premium facilities, the BMW X3 2023 is the right choice for the luxury compact SUV segment.

Find out the release date, price, specifications, and new features of the new BMW X3 2023.

The 2023 BMW X3 Release Date will be July 2022. It will be available for purchase at BMW dealerships throughout the United States and in various international markets.

The BMW X3 is currently built at the BMW Spartanburg plant in South Carolina. However, BMW may move production of the X3 to its factory in San Luis Potosi, Mexico.

Read next: 2023 BMW 4 Series Gran: All-New BMW 4-Series Gran Coupe Preview, Specs, Price and Release Date

2023 X3 M40i

An era where mid-range luxury SUVs can compete with American muscle cars is upon us. Take, for example, the $58,795 BMW X3 M40i, which sits between the X3 xDrive30i and X3 M.

New BMW X3 2023

It’s propelled by a 382-horsepower turbocharged inline-six that rockets this SUV to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds. As impressive as the stand-alone number is, the fact that it teases a lighter, more powerful V-8-equipped Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro is insane.

The Detroit-bred icons would nudge ahead of the X3’s 12.8-second and 107-mph quarter-mile track, but they couldn’t fit 24 carry-on-size boxes in their cargo hold while doing so.

Behind the X3’s new 2022 headlights and larger kidney grille, BMW’s ubiquitous and powerful 3.0-liter B58 delivers a 27-hp boost over the BMW inline six used before the 2020 model year.

The engine’s ability to transform from the smooth operation into uninterrupted torque loops never fails to impress.

So is the ZF’s eight-speed automatic, which has a relaxed demeanor under normal operation that mutates into the ability to stop fast gearshifts when it’s time for business.

The powertrain has been augmented by a newly added 48-volt hybrid system that fills the engine powerband gap but were it not for the automatic stop/start operation, its presence under the hood would not be detected.

Even with the electric motor and accompanying battery, the X3 M40i weighs 4,378 pounds, just 70 more than the previous M40i. Being from BMW’s junior range of performance tuning outfits, the X3 M40i comes standard with M Sport disc brakes measuring 13.7 inches up front and 13.6 inches rear.

Our test car sported the optional 20-inch Bridgestone Alenza 001 RFT summer tires ($600), which helped it stop from 70 mph in a neat 158 feet. Also standard on the M40i are the BMW Adaptive M dampers, which keep the body largely under control as the Bridgestones attach to the skidpad at 0.88 g while the optional electronically controlled limited-slip differential maximizes the available traction on the rear axle.

While the M40i features a dynamic display on the track, it is expensive for everyday use. BMW hasn’t tuned the electric-assisted power steering to our liking—it’s as if a Porsche or Cadillac product never graced its benchmark fleet.

The steering rack’s hyperactive response to input from the M Sport’s thick steering wheel requires frequent center angle correction, and there’s no sense of what the front wheels are doing.

And we wanted to explore the glass path that BMW used to sign adaptive damper tuning because, in the real world, the two damper modes (Comfort and Sport) might as well be labeled Uncomfortable, Spine Compression, and Rigor Mortis.

2023 BMW X3M

With agility and speed more akin to a lithe sports car than a chunky crossover, the 2022 BMW X3 M has the power to crush expectations. The facade looks fiercer than the more familiar BMW X3 that it’s based on, and once the driver flattens the M accelerator or turns it into a fast corner, the performance gap between the two will be confirmed.

With a tunable twin-turbo straight-six engine that produces up to 503 horsepower and an all-wheel-drive system that puts that power to the ground (and allows the booty ute to slide in rear-drive drift mode), the X3 M is either entertaining or downright entertaining.

Scary, depending on the skill level of the driver and respect for physics. The adult-friendly rear seats and ample cargo space also make it more practical than most other BMW M cars.

The 2022 BMW X3 M’s only major drawbacks are its too-fast ride and over-complicated drive mode settings, but the penalty is nothing compared to its excellent performance.

For 2022, BMW delivers the high-performance X3 M even higher thanks to new engine tuning and internal components from the M3 sedan and M4 coupe. While horsepower ratings remain the same, the regular X3 M now makes 457 pound-feet (up 13), and the Competition variant delivers 479 pound-feet (up 37).

BWM says the added torque lowers the already nosebleed-inducing SUV’s zero-to-60-mph time even further. The competition model also uses a set of lighter 21-inch wheels. The X3 M 2022 also sports a more exaggerated face than before – yes, the grille is bigger – and there are a few tweaks to the rear styling, including a striking set of taillights.

Inside, the cabin received several restyled design elements and updated switchgear. Drivers now face a 12.3-inch full digital gauge cluster, and a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen replaces the older 10.3-inch unit.

2023 X3M Price

With one model to choose from and a starting price already over $70k, we wanted the extra power and enhanced equipment that came with the Competition package.

It adds a glossy black grille and mirror cap as well as the standard sports exhaust system mesh and black 21-inch alloy wheels (versus the 20s on the regular M). Interior upgrades include a different “M” badge, more supportive front seats, and richer Merino leather.

Among the many choices, we also choose the Executive and M Driver packages. The former adds redundant luxuries such as a head-up display, heated steering wheel, gesture control, panoramic sunroof, self-parking assistance, and wireless smartphone charging. The latter unlocks a higher top speed (177 mph versus 155) and a day of professional driving lessons.