The new-generation BMW X3 lineup is here, and the range-topping variant is the X3 M50 xDrive.
This six-cylinder sweetheart is the most powerful version in the mid-size premium SUV model range – for now, at least – and it’s also the most expensive.
So is it worth considering? And does it offer ‘M’ levels of performance for the price? Read on and find out.
How much does the BMW X3 cost?
The flagship BMW X3 M50 xDrive isn’t cheap, but it does offer a pretty impressive value for money equation if you’re looking for a six-cylinder super-SUV.
| Model | Price before on-road costs |
|---|---|
| BMW X3 20 | $86,200 |
| BMW X3 30e xDrive | $102,900 |
| BMW X3 M50 xDrive | $128,900 |
To see how the BMW X3 stacks up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
What is the BMW X3 like on the inside?
The new-generation X3 is a massive step up in terms of interior design and finish compared to the previous model.
The last one was pretty good, but this? In a lot of ways, it looks and feels genuinely premium… but even so, I noticed a couple of ill-fitting plastics around the console, and there has been a bit of criticism around the material finishes more generally.
Is it a $130k car interior? Well, I think it’s pretty good, but maybe not as good as it should be for that kind of cash.
The design is neat though, with a really big focus on lighting and tech as the mainstays of this cabin treatment, and if that’s your thing, it’s got that bling.
There’s a head-up display, which is excellent, and a fully digital instrument cluster with loads of menu controllability. You can manage it via the steering wheel buttons – just note that the glossy finish on those controls can look a bit grubby over time.
I’m not a huge fan of the reflective surfaces, but functionality-wise, everything’s where you’d expect.
You’ve also got cruise control and paddle shifters, including a Boost paddle that delivers maximum power when held down. It’s pretty fun to use, let me tell you.
There’s also a 14.9-inch touchscreen media system which supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus it has a heap of built-in functions, including cloud-based satellite navigation.
The system is packed with menus, some of which you can unlock through subscriptions for extras like Audible, YouTube, and more. It’s pretty intuitive overall, though some features might take a bit of learning, and I still found it a bit confusing for some of the things I wanted to see quickly, like a trip computer display (which, unless I’m wrong, can’t be shown up on the driver info screen!).
There’s also a drive recorder (though you’ll need to be logged in to access it), a favorites tab, and a recently used panel for quicker navigation. Climate control is handled through a fan button that opens up further settings, including air direction and speed, so yeah, in that way it’s like a lot of new cars with menus on menus to adjust simple things, but there is a voice control system that seems to get it right more often than not.
Surprisingly, the ventilation system is one of the highlights. You get haptic sliders for fan speed and toggles for vent direction. It is a clean, clever design. Even the door-mounted vents have touch controls and adjust the airflow direction with motorised fins.
Open the door, and you’ll notice more thoughtful details: illuminated controls, memory seat settings, and even light-up hazard indicators integrated into the door and dash trim. It’s impressive and adds a futuristic, high-end feel.
You can option a textile dashboard made from recycled materials, but even the standard soft-touch finish feels refined. The seats are trimmed in high-quality synthetic leather. Convincing, soft, and comfortable – and if you want real leather, you can get it for an extra fee.
The front seats are electrically adjustable, heated, and include driver memory settings as standard.
There’s a centre console area BMW calls the ‘jewellery box’, which includes a wireless phone charger, a second phone pad, USB ports, and dual cupholders.
You’ll also find an iDrive controller, which is a bit old-school maybe, but it’s a great alternative to the touchscreen for navigating menus. The only downside is the glossy finish, which is a fingerprint magnet.
You’ll appreciate that there’s a volume dial, drive mode selector, and quick-access buttons for your car settings. Switch to Sport mode, and the cabin lighting, instrument display, and even the character of the car change. It’s a small touch that makes a big difference.
There’s also a shortcut to car settings, where you can disable lane-keeping assist or adjust driving characteristics.
The central-screen camera system is fantastic, offering multiple views, including 3D mode, car wash alignment, and a reversing assistant. It’s genuinely one of the best systems I’ve used. And it has the Reversing Assistant feature, which can back the car out of a situation you’ve driven into, if you’re not confident you’ll be able to do it (there’s up to 50m of reversing possible!).
You’ve got a toggle-style gear selector, electronic park brake, idle start/stop button, a decent centre console bin, and a fairly spacious glovebox. The door pockets easily accommodate large bottles.
Up top, there are illuminated vanity mirrors, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, SOS call button, interior camera, and your overhead light controls. It all feels smartly designed and pretty posh.
Now, to the back seats. With the driver’s seat set to my driving position (I’m 182cm/6’0” tall), there was decent foot room, and the scalloped seatbacks help with knee space, but it’s not the roomiest back seat in the segment. Headroom was also a little tighter than expected.
But in terms of features, it’s excellent for families. You get grab handles, coat hooks, overhead lights, map pockets, and ventilation with stylish controls. Rear climate settings and USB-C ports are there, too.
There is a large transmission tunnel, so squeezing three adults across might be a challenge. But you do get ISOFIX child seat anchors on the window seats, three top-tether points, and a fold-down armrest with cupholders. The door pockets are big, and the doors have soft padded trim, keeping things comfortable and premium-feeling.
The boot is bigger this time around, too.
There’s 570 litres of cargo capacity in the new-gen X3 with the rear seats up (20L more than the last version) and that expands to 1700L with the seats folded down (up 100L compared to before).
A bonus thing to note is the rear seat has a 40:20:40-split folding design, so you can make the space more useable than in some other vehicles in this segment. There are numerous shopping bag hooks, a 12V port, storage netting and good lighting in the cargo zone.
There is no spare wheel, though. Just a tyre repair kit, despite the fact there is a space-saver-style shape in the boot area.
| Dimensions | BMW X3 M50 xDrive |
|---|---|
| Length | 4755mm |
| Width | 1920mm |
| Height | 1660mm |
| Wheelbase | 2865mm |
| Cargo capacity | 570L (5 seats) 1700L (2 seats) |
To see how the BMW X3 stacks up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
What’s under the bonnet?
As I’ve made clear, this one is the six-cylinder variant in the range, with petrol power and a whole heap of horses.
| Specifications | BMW X3 M50 xDrive |
|---|---|
| Engine | 3.0L 6cyl turbo-petrol 48V MHEV |
| Power | 293kW |
| Torque | 580Nm |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic |
| Drive type | All-wheel drive |
| Weight | 1980kg (kerb) |
| 0-100km/h (claimed) | 4.6 seconds |
| Fuel economy (claimed) | 8.2L/100km |
| Fuel economy (as tested) | 9.3L/100km |
| Fuel tank capacity | 65 litres |
| Fuel requirement | 98-octane premium unleaded |
| CO2 emissions | 187g/km |
| Emissions standard | Euro 6 |
| Braked tow capacity | 2200kg |
There is a much more affordable four-cylinder variant (the X3 20) with rear-wheel drive, and the mid-range plug-in hybrid X3 30e is a lovely vehicle too, and it has AWD if you need it. But this one is a honey.
However, it’s also the thirstiest version in the range, with a claimed official combined fuel consumption figure of 8.2L/100km. On test, I saw above that – with a mix of driving returning a still-respectable 9.3L/100km.
It needs premium 98-octane unleaded, so that’ll add to the running costs, and the fuel tank capacity is 65 litres.
To see how the BMW X3 stacks up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
How does the BMW X3 drive?
The straight-six turbo-petrol engine in the M50 is a cracker, with a huge amount of shove and some serious theatre to it, too.
There’s a lovely engine note, and it amasses speed with such effortlessness that you will need to be mindful of your licence. It’s seriously fast.
What I love about the drive experience in the more aggressive drive modes is that the assertiveness of the transmission when it upshifts is fantastic. It’s a very involving experience, and properly forceful.
You can take matters into your own hands if you want to, of course. There is a set of paddle shifters but, honestly, I don’t think you need them.
This eight-speed auto is a winner. It’s so predictable and smart in the way it shifts – and speedy, too. I really, really like this powertrain.
The M50 does have adaptive M suspension to set it apart, and it feels super sporty in the way it behaves. It’s not necessarily punishing in its firmness, but it’s a little less forgiving over sharp edges and bumpy bits.
This is particularly noticeable around town, where it can feel a little bouncy over bumps and lumps in the road, and pogo-ey through slow-speed, offset intersection moments.
The steering is excellent, too – it has a bit of a weighty feel, but it’s not too heavy, and it’s very manoeuvrable in low-speed situations as well. There’s no silly all-wheel steering here, either, so it is a more natural and pure drive than some rivals.
You can really feel the rear-bias of this powertrain. It definitely eggs you on, and certainly lives up to the notion of it being an M-Lite car.
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It brakes beautifully as well, with positive and enjoyable responsiveness, and you can really trust the pedal action in this vehicle. It is tuned to be enthusiastic, but it’s not overbearingly sporty.
The only real downside is that, on country roads or over really coarse-chip surfaces like some parts of the M4 motorway in Sydney, it can be a bit loud inside. Sports over luxury, in that instance, then.
To see how the BMW X3 stacks up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
What do you get?
Here’s a rundown of the standard equipment across all three grades currently available in the G45-series BMW X3 lineup.
2025 BMW X3 20 xDrive equipment highlights:
- 19-inch alloy wheels
- Run-flat tyres
- M Sport package
- Adaptive suspension
- Adaptive LED headlights
- BMW Iconic Glow illuminated kidney grille
- Acoustic glazing
- Power tailgate
- 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
- 14.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring Operating System 9
- BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant
- BMW Digital Premium (90-day trial)
- Remote software updates
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- DAB+ digital radio
- Six-speaker sound system
- Wireless phone charger
- Head-up display
- Tri-zone climate control
- Anti-dazzle exterior and interior mirrors
- Comfort Access and Digital Key Plus
- M Sport leather steering wheel
- Anthracite M headliner
- Veganza upholstery
- Power-adjustable front seats
- Heated front seats
X3 30e xDrive adds:
- Fixed panoramic glass sunroof
- Roller blinds for rear side windows
- Heated steering wheel
- Ventilated front seats
- Heated outboard rear seats
X3 M50 xDrive adds:
- 21-inch alloy wheels
- Metallic paint
- M-specific kidney, mirror caps and aerodynamic elements
- Quad exhaust outlets
- M Sport Pro package
- High-gloss Shadowline with extended contents
- Radiator grille frame and struts
- Tail light trim detailing
- Tailpipe trims
- M Lights Shadow Line
- M Sport brakes with red calipers (blue also available)
- M seatbelts
- M braking system with red calipers
- Privacy glass
- M Shadowline headlights and extended contents
- 15-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system
- M seatbelts
If you’re shopping up to this grade, you can also accessorise it a bit, with a choice of a few different wheel finishes, interior trims and more. The towing package costs $2200.
To see how the BMW X3 stacks up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
Is the BMW X3 safe?
There’s still no safety rating from Euro NCAP or ANCAP for the new-generation BMW X3.
However, it has a host of standard safety technology and equipment, including the following highlights:
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Pedestrian
- Cyclist
- Junction
- Evasive assistance
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Lane departure warning
- Steering and Lane Control Assistant
- Adaptive cruise control with stop and go
- Surround-view camera
- Parking assistant
- Reverse Assistant
- Drive recorder
- Tyre pressure monitoring system
Other tech includes a speed sign recognition system, but thankfully it’s not frustrating, and nor is most of the active safety tech, making this a rather agreeable vehicle to live with.
To see how the BMW X3 stacks up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
How much does the BMW X3 cost to run?
BMW Australia offers a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.
| Servicing and Warranty | BMW X3 |
|---|---|
| Warranty | 5 years, unlimited kilometres |
| Roadside assistance | 3 years |
| Service intervals | N/A |
| Capped-price servicing | Up to 5 years |
| Average annual service cost (5 years) | $495 |
| Pre-paid service package (5 years) | $2475 |
The German brand doesn’t have set service intervals for its models; instead its vehicles have ‘condition-based maintenance’ requirements, meaning the car will tell you when it’s time for a service.
Typically, you can bank on it being every year or so, and there’s a five-year/80,000km prepaid service package you can choose, for $2475.
The X3 comes with three years of roadside assistance included at no cost, too.
To see how the BMW X3 stacks up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
CarExpert’s Take on the BMW X3
There is no doubt the BMW X3 M50 xDrive is a dynamic and joyous thing to drive in the right situation, and it’s the sort of SUV that encourages you to go and find that situation, too.
More than just a family-friendly luxury SUV, it’s a fun one. And I think it’s well worth the money for someone who’s looking for exactly that.
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