2021 BMW X3 review: Best mid-sized luxury SUV?

CarExpert

Is the BMW X3 the best mid-sized luxury SUV? It offers a punchy four-cylinder petrol engine, along with a nicely kitted out interior and the BMW badge. But, does the 2021 BMW X3 offer enough to take it to the Mercedes-Benz GLC and Audi Q5? Paul Maric finds out!  Hardness tester results: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/121Auf6HGvaBqRToYcuAz94alin7Sw55SpOPECBDlnKE  More BMW content: https://www.carexpert.com.au/bmw More BMW X3 content: https://www.carexpert.com.au/bmw/x3  Skip Ahead: Intro: 00:00 Exterior 00:49 Interior 03:06 Infotainment 04:26 Safety Tech 06:28 Practicality 07:31 On the road 10:59 Verdict 15:30  We review every new car on the market, bust car myths, cover the latest car tech and answer your burning questions.  Whether you need new car advice, purchase validation or simply love learning more about new cars and technology, we are your car experts.  Subscribe to Car Expert: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7DvMhvy3H7ntEgn9n3xQcQ?sub_confirmation=1  You'll find us dropping new video content three times a week. If you'd like to ask a question about one of our videos, simply leave us a comment. If you'd like to give us any feedback on our content, feel free to email us, or alternatively, hit us up on social media.  Finally, we want this channel to grow with your support and feedback. If there's anything you don't like or would like to see us change, we'd love to hear from you!  Follow us on social media to see what we're up to and to ask any questions!  CarExpert: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarExpertAus Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/CarExpertAus Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carexpert.com.au  Paul Maric: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaulMaric Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/PaulMaric Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/PaulMaric  #bmw #x3 #review

Transcript

00:00 G'day, I'm Paul. So the BMW X3, there's nothing really too new about it, but we don't have a review of it

00:05 It's really popular and I thought you know, let's drive one and see exactly what it's like

00:09 So today we are reviewing this. It's kind of the mid-spec model

00:12 It's the BMW X3 xDrive30i, which means it's the all-wheel drive version. This is priced at a little under

00:19 $86,000. If that's a little too much though, the entire range kicks off at just over 70 grand

00:25 This competes with things like the Audi Q5 and the Mercedes-Benz GLC. Today

00:31 we're going to do a detailed review of this car

00:33 So if you do want to skip ahead to other parts of the review

00:35 Use the time codes up on the screen there or if you're on YouTube scroll down and use the chapters below and if you haven't

00:41 Done so already, I'd love it

00:42 If you could subscribe to our channel and press the bell icon as well

00:44 So you can find out every single time we drive something different

00:47 Now before we talk about the exterior, I've got to apologize for the audio quality

00:52 It is extremely windy out here today and we're kind of under a flight path as well, which doesn't help

00:56 Now you've got seven external colors to pick from and all but white is an additional

01:01 $2,000 that is some expensive paint. The X3's design hasn't really changed a great deal

01:07 So the previous generation of this it kind of looks quite similar, but I think it's a progressive change. It's not really something

01:13 They're revolutionizing and I think that's a good thing because it's quite a smart looking design and they've kind of kept with the family face

01:19 It looks like a mini version of the X5, which is a good thing for buyers of this car

01:23 You've got that twin kidney grille up the front here with lashings of chrome around the center stacks

01:29 You've also got this open section down the bottom with the radar built-in little camera down here for the 360 camera and then the BMW

01:36 Roundel up the top there. In terms of the headlights you have full LED headlights with LED daytime running lights and matrix LED function

01:43 So it's an active shadowing setup. We actually shot a video comparing headlight technologies today

01:48 So if you do want to check that out click up here

01:50 That'll give you a bit more of an insight into how all of this works and then a fog light down the bottom

01:55 We'll come around to the side now

01:56 This normally comes standard with 20 inch alloy wheels

01:59 But as a no-cost option are these 19 inch alloy wheels

02:02 One of the things we often criticize BMWs for is just being far too firm and in something like an X3

02:08 It's a bit of a family car and if you're not going for the M version

02:10 You don't necessarily need something that is super firm and super sporty

02:14 So the 19 inch alloy wheel will give you the best of both worlds

02:16 You have adaptive damping and then with the 19 you've got a little bit of extra cushioning

02:21 It does look a little strange from the side though, because it looks like there's a bit too much profile in this tire

02:26 But anyway, let me know what you reckon in the comment section below. I like the wheel design

02:30 It's just a simple single color and this has the M Sport package

02:33 So in the background you get those blue calipers and then an M badge there and another M badge just off to the side

02:39 Over on your wing mirror you have an indicator built in there plus another camera there for the 360 camera

02:44 You've got roof rails up the top and then back here you have a set of LED lights built into that cluster

02:50 And then a reflector down the bottom. X drive indicates that this is all-wheel drive

02:54 S drive indicates that it's just a two-wheel drive. 30i is the engine designation

02:59 Now, let me know what you reckon in the comment section below

03:01 Do you think the design has aged well, or do you reckon they need to sharpen it up a bit?

03:05 Let me know your thoughts down there.

03:06 So we're sitting inside the X3. Let's start off with the key

03:09 So you've got unlock, lock, boot and then a button to flick the lights on temporarily

03:14 It's a proximity sensing key. So you just leave that in your pocket. Along the side there

03:18 You've got the BMW M symbol and this is all metallic

03:21 So it's nice and cold to the touch. Once you do hop inside the car

03:24 You have a push button start along the top here. In terms of the styling, look, I personally think this looks pretty smart

03:31 You've got the infotainment system sitting atop the dashboard there

03:34 All of these materials are fairly sort of rubberized. There's nothing too fancy about it

03:39 It is fairly German and generic

03:41 It doesn't sort of pop out or stand out

03:43 But I think it is nice and classy and it does the job there

03:46 Dividing that infotainment system in the lower section of the car is this textured material in the center and there is a ton of

03:53 Piano black around here. Standard thing, I say this in pretty much every review, it marks really easily

03:58 So that is one thing you need to keep in mind when buying a car like this

04:01 That you're gonna spend a lot of time cleaning that material. Now, what about your touch points?

04:05 So center console there is pretty, it's a little bit firm

04:09 But it's sort of soft if you rest your elbow on it. Same story over on the door. They're not too bad

04:13 How soft are they?

04:14 Well, we've tested the main surfaces in this car with our durometer

04:17 If you want to see how this compares to other cars we've tested before, look at the link in the description. Then build quality

04:22 Look, it's all pretty solid. Nothing to complain about here. Let's talk infotainment

04:27 So BMW has just updated iDrive. So there's a brand new version of it coming

04:32 But this is what they currently use throughout most of the cars on the market. It's a 10.25 inch unit

04:37 Now we do have a detailed review of iDrive. You can click up here to watch that but today I'll give you a brief overview

04:43 So not only is this a touchscreen, you can use your finger to shift between those

04:48 You can also option gesture control as well. With gesture control you can move your hand around, it'll control the screen

04:53 You also have the iDrive controller down here that moves everything around as well

04:57 You've got your shortcuts down the side there and then also down the bottom here

05:00 You can apply shortcuts to different items, everything from radio stations to different menu items. In terms of radio

05:07 You have AM, FM and DAB plus digital radio

05:11 There's a standard six speaker sound system. On the smartphone mirroring front you have both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

05:17 Now Apple CarPlay, I'll show you what that looks like. Here it is here and that is wireless

05:20 Which is a really nice integration. Full screen as well, very high resolution

05:25 I've mentioned this in our previous reviews. It's really strange, but Apple CarPlay for some reason

05:30 I can't just use the iDrive controller to jump over to that menu

05:33 I've got to literally scroll all the way across through all the menus before it actually comes up there

05:38 So there's a little bit frustrating. You can do that in Android Auto

05:42 Just not in Apple CarPlay and this is what Android Auto looks like. So it's wireless as well

05:47 So it takes up the full screen, but it's a little bit deceiving because over here you have a clock

05:51 But if we go back to the main menu, you can actually assign different items to that side

05:56 So here it's the the maps and that's what it appears like. Same story in terms of the integration

06:01 It's full screen, really high resolution

06:04 And like I mentioned before

06:05 You can use the iDrive joystick to jump between those menu segments without having to scroll through everything to get there

06:11 There is also a 12.3 inch display ahead of the driver

06:15 You can configure some of the components on here such as the right hand side where we can flick between

06:20 Different display items and then you have speedometer on the left, tacho on the right and then ahead of the driver is a head-up display

06:27 Let's talk about safety technology. So you have low and high speed autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection

06:34 It works both in forwards and reverse. You have blind spot monitoring built into the wing mirror

06:39 You also have lane departure warning, a lane keeping assistant, rear cross traffic alert, front cross traffic alert

06:45 You have a semi-autonomous steering function. Look, this doesn't actually work that well

06:49 I was trying it this morning on the way here and I don't know it just bounces around inside the lane and it's

06:53 It's not very confidence inspiring. So I just basically switched it off and didn't really use it. In terms of the camera

07:00 You have a 360 degree camera with front and rear parking sensors. I'll show you what that looks like

07:04 There it is there

07:06 So you can select different views as you go or the car will automatically select those views for you

07:11 And then you can also see guidelines there that move with the steering wheel as well

07:16 You can also package like we do in this car the comfort package which also brings with it

07:21 Park Assist amongst other features. If you want to see how this technology works

07:25 We actually shot a video detailing exactly this and how it all comes together. Click up here to watch that. Okay, let's talk about

07:31 Practicality and we'll start with our connectivity. So you have one USB-A port down the front here, 12-volt here

07:38 You have a wireless charging pad for your phone as well

07:41 You have a USB-C outlet in the center console. In terms of storage itself

07:47 You can pop your phone here in the cup holders or it can live down there on the wireless charging pad

07:52 And then for your coffee cup, floral one today, it can go down the front here

07:57 It's actually quite a decent storage slot for both bottles and coffee cups because it allows them to sit nice and tight

08:03 It's got those teeth on the side there. I'll show you what it looks like with a bottle in there

08:07 It holds it in nice and tightly. Okay. Now, what about our big bottle? Obviously doesn't fit down there

08:12 But we'll try fit it inside the doors. Easily fits in there and then you have extra storage space as well

08:18 Plus storage down here. The center console is a decent size

08:21 And then we also have a glove box as well that is reasonably sized. Now, what about comfort?

08:27 You have dual zone automatic climate control

08:29 You have electric seat adjustment for the driver and front passenger with memory for the driver as well. Seats themselves

08:37 They're interesting. They're a little bit boring

08:38 They're just sort of this leatherette sort of material with the stitching down the sides there in that center section

08:44 They don't really have any perforations

08:46 So in summer you're probably going to get a little bit hot against these but they are comfortable and the bolster extends at the bottom as well

08:53 I love the steering wheel here in BMWs. Fills the hands really nicely

08:57 Makes the paddle shifters easy to reach and then the steering itself has tilt and reach adjustment with all of these controls within easy reach as well

09:06 Okay, second row of the X3. I've actually got a reasonable amount of room here

09:11 I've got my seat pretty far back in terms of the driver's seat and knee room is decent

09:16 Toe room is really decent and headroom is pretty good. So we have a panoramic sunroof up the top here

09:23 So one of the options you can get with the X3

09:26 There are air vents down here plus a third zone of climate control for your rear passengers, two USB-C outlets

09:33 You have map pockets in the back seats. You've got a center armrest here with two cup holders built into it

09:39 I'll show you what it looks like without a standard bottle in there

09:42 Rubber teeth to hold everything in place and then you have extra storage inside the doors where you can hopefully fit one of these

09:50 There you go. That's pretty impressive. So kids have mammoth drink bottles

09:56 They're going to be able to store those fairly easily

09:58 Now this center seat also folds down so you can get access to the boot if you need it

10:03 And for the little ones you have ISOFIX points on the two outboard seats that are joined by two top tether points as well

10:09 Let's sort cargo space. So you've got a power tailgate, one push of that opens it up

10:15 So here with the second row up you have around 500 litres of cargo space available. Off to the sides

10:21 You'll see some hooks and also a 12-volt outlet

10:24 Then you have storage down the side for your first aid kit and then also storage beneath here as well

10:29 Now under the cargo floor because this has run flat tyres, you don't have a spare tyre under here

10:34 But you do have some additional storage and I'll show you what it looks like with our bags inside

10:39 Laptop bag in first and then suitcase next

10:44 There you go. So plenty of room. Now if you do want to expand the space, it's actually a pretty straightforward process

10:50 Off to the side here you have these little levers that drop the second row and then when you do have the second row drop

10:56 That space increases to 1600 litres

10:58 Okay, we're on the road in the BMW X3

11:02 So powering this spec is a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine

11:07 It makes 185 kilowatts of power and 350 newton meters of torque and it's all mated to an 8-speed torque converter automatic

11:16 Now it's good news because there is no dual clutch gearbox here to make life hard

11:20 It is just very smooth and very straightforward and that means when you're behind the wheel you can just get stuck into it

11:26 And it just feels really nice and punchy

11:29 There's barely any delay and I don't know the benefits of a dual clutch in being quick

11:33 It just really aren't that evident here. BMW claims a combined fuel economy of 7.4 litres per 100 kms

11:39 If you're gonna be doing slightly harder driving like we've been doing today, we're averaging 9.6 litres per 100

11:46 So it's gonna be a little thirstier than the official claim. Let's talk drive modes

11:49 So you've got a few of them to choose from here

11:52 So you have adaptive which just looks at your driving style and then adjusts it accordingly

11:56 You have sport, comfort and Eco Pro. Eco Pro being the one that sort of dulls all the

12:01 Sensory parts of the car, reduces air conditioning and everything in the hunt for a little bit more economy

12:07 The thing I find interesting we have adaptive suspension and there is a fairly noticeable difference between all of these drive modes

12:14 So in sport there you can actually feel that it becomes significantly firmer and then when you switch over to comfort

12:19 It sort of smooths out nicely

12:21 So that's gonna be the key difference there with those 19-inch alloy wheels

12:24 You can still have comfortable ride without having it throw you about all the time and speaking of sport mode

12:30 Let's give this a little punch

12:32 Look it's it's got a fair bit of hustle, but I don't know, it just kind of sounds like a sewing machine

12:38 It really doesn't sound very good at all

12:42 Yeah, okay, I don't love that I was hoping it'd have a bit of rasp a little bit of crackle and pop

12:48 Yeah, I don't know it just sounds like it's just whirring away

12:53 There's no real sort of emotional character to it

12:55 But I did notice here in the sport mode that the gearbox is doing a really good job of holding gears

12:59 So that I have torque available all the time. It's actually quite impressive

13:04 I didn't even need to slide that over into the sport mode for the gearbox

13:07 So yeah, that's pretty cool the way it does that. BMW claims a 0 to 100 time of 6.4 seconds

13:13 We put it up against our stopwatch to see how it'd go

13:16 Okay the ride let me pop this back into comfort

13:28 It is really impressive

13:31 So the 19s plus the adaptive suspension give this a really nice and smooth ride

13:36 So even out here in the country where we're getting sort of bumps mid-corner and you know, just really nasty road surfaces

13:43 It's doing a pretty good job of handling it all you can still feel the sporty intentions beneath

13:48 So it hasn't completely dulled everything but it's not exactly

13:51 Breaking your neck like it is in something like, you know

13:55 The the m40i version of the x3 steering feel is pretty impressive and as we come up to a few corners here

14:01 Pop that into sport

14:04 It's nice and flat and it's it's just got a real surety to it

14:08 It kind of feels confidence inspiring and you know that if you do find a few corners

14:13 It's just really gonna let you get settled into that and just get stuck into the throttle

14:17 The all-wheel drive system does a really good job of giving you that confidence as well

14:21 It's not like one of those on-demand systems that just snaps into front or rear-wheel drive when it senses traction loss

14:27 This is just constantly monitoring the situation and just giving you everything that you need

14:31 So what about noise while you're driving out here?

14:33 There is a fair bit of wind noise because it is very windy today

14:36 But the road noise is actually not that bad and that's also again

14:40 I keep singing the praises of these 19-inch alloy wheels, but that comes partly

14:44 Thanks to that you have a lot of rubber on the sidewall there and it's not translating everything into the cabin

14:48 So you can still hear a little bit of stuff on this course chip surface out on a country road at highway speeds

14:53 But it's actually quite a nice place to be seated. Let's talk visibility at the front there. It's it's excellent

14:59 The rears are very good. Wing mirrors are huge. They've got the blind spot monitor built into them as well

15:04 I don't know

15:05 It doesn't feel like a massive SUV to drive and with the cameras that you have the front and rear parking sensors

15:10 It's actually pretty straightforward to park as well

15:13 So it is it is a car that I think you could really put anyone in and they'd be confident driving it. Finally, ground clearance

15:19 Yeah, okay. No off-roading, but if you do want to go a little bit off-road

15:24 104 millimeters of ground clearance which is enough to get you to a campsite or something like that

15:28 So the BMW X3, I think this is a car that really strikes a good balance between sportiness and comfort

15:36 especially with the 19-inch alloy wheels

15:38 Where the GLC is more on the comfort side and the Q5 is I guess more on the comfort side as well

15:43 This really gives you a good option if you do want a bit of that punchy sportiness behind the wheel

15:47 But you still want all the tech and the gadgets and all the fun stuff

15:50 So yeah, I think the X3 is really nice. In terms of downsides

15:53 Look, I don't know there are a few options there that should probably be standard

15:56 I mean heated seats on an $85,000 car that would be nice if that sort of stuff was standard

16:02 But anyway, this is how they get that little bit of extra money from you

16:05 But anyway, look outside of that I think it is a really exceptional machine

16:09 It is heaps of fun to drive and it has all the latest bells and whistles as well

16:12 So let me know in the comment section below. Did you buy one? How's it all going? Did you pay for heated seats?

16:17 Let me know what you think if you did enjoy this video

16:20 Make sure you hit the like button and if you haven't done so already subscribe to our channel and press the bell icon so you

16:25 Can find out every single time we publish something new but until next time take it easy

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