BMW X3 Review: A budget X5?!
BMW X3 Review: A budget X5?!
This is the BMW X3!
It received a mid-life facelift in late 2021, and Mat’s about to find out whether the M-Sport plug-in hybrid edition still stands the test of time against newer competitors such as the new Mercedes GLC \u0026 Genesis GV70.
Well for starters, let’s check out the design. It’s relatively similar to the original X3, but there are a couple of design changes. Around the back, there are updated 3D-effect taillights, some real exhaust tips and an updated diffuser (which to be honest, is likely to have little to no effect). Around the side, there are bold creases across the doors and protruding side skirts to help with the sporty looks, and upfront there’s an updated bumper and a few new vents. Naturally, though, there’s a huge grille up front, which doesn’t do much for the looks.
Step inside and there are only a few changes to the original X3. There’s an updated infotainment screen and full digital dials; otherwise, it’s all the same. That’s not such a bad thing, but when you consider newer BMWs come with a full-length, curved infotainment/dial screen, this already seems a bit outdated. Thankfully there are quality materials throughout most of the cabin, although if you reach a bit lower you may be met by some scratchy plastics.
In this video, we’ve got our hands on the xDrive30e. It’s powered by a 2-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with an electric motor, which combines to deliver 292hp and 300Nm. BMW claim it will hit 60mph in 6.1 seconds, and it comes in at a cost of around £56,000.
The BMW X3 range starts from around £47,000. But should you still choose it over the competition? And if you’re in the market for a plug-in hybrid SUV, is it really the smart choice instead of the newer GLC? Stick with Mat and see for yourself!
Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:36 Design
02:04 Interior
04:40 Back Seats
06:31 Boot
07:30 5 Annoying Things
09:02 5 Cool Things
10:50 Engine
11:14 Town Driving
13:11 Motorway Driving
14:20 Country Road Driving
15:48 0-60mph
16:23 Verdict
Mat’s BMW X3 deal: https://bit.ly/Mats-X3-Choice-1206
Genesis GV70 review: https://bit.ly/Genesis-GV70-Review-2023
Volvo XC60 review: https://bit.ly/Volvo-XC60-Review-2023
Lexus NX review: Lexus-NX-Review-2023
Sell your car with carwow: https://bit.ly/Buy-Sell-WOW
Content
0 -> this is the BMW X3 and it's a little bit
3.36 -> like a Hugo Boss tracksuit because it's
6.54 -> designed to be comfy practical and a
9.179 -> little bit sporty plus of course it's
11.519 -> German now in this video I'm going to
13.2 -> tell you everything you need to know
14.4 -> about this car I'm going to talk you
16.02 -> around the exterior the interior take it
18.18 -> for a drive tell you what's good about
19.92 -> it
20.82 -> nice what's not so good about it
24.08 -> and of course I'm going to launch it to
26.4 -> see how quick it is from naught to 60
28.019 -> miles an hour because I'm at Watson and
30.24 -> you're watching Carl wow Buy sell car
33.719 -> wow
35.54 -> let's start this video by talking about
37.739 -> the design of the X3 so a couple of
40.079 -> years ago BMW just gave it a mid-life
42.239 -> facelift with some revised bumpers and
44.28 -> lights and stuff like that not major
46.5 -> changes I do quite like the 3d effect of
48.78 -> the lights not so sure about the rear
50.64 -> bumper though with this fake diffuser
52.5 -> those exhausts are real though thank God
54.3 -> they lead directly into the pipe that is
56.1 -> good I like that let's clean on this
58.44 -> vape pen bit there anyhow wheel sizes
61.199 -> start at 19 inches these are 20s
63.66 -> although you can get 20 ones don't think
65.64 -> you need 21s 20s are fine moving down
67.86 -> the sides it's got like creases in the
70.02 -> doors and this side skirt that pushes
72.54 -> out slightly makes it look sporty and
74.64 -> this being the M sport you get either
76.5 -> blue or red calipers you choose this is
79.08 -> less sporty though fake vent there it's
80.759 -> totally pointless moving to the front
82.979 -> and it really is not a locker this being
85.14 -> the end sport it has a more aggressive
86.58 -> lower bumper other models slightly less
88.92 -> so but
91.14 -> yeah at least these vents aren't fake I
94.799 -> don't know what's going on there really
96 -> it's not the best looking car and its
97.799 -> segment is it anyhow pricing it starts
100.14 -> from 47
102 -> 000 pounds now if you want to see how
103.619 -> much money you can save on a BMW X3
105.72 -> through car wire or any car for that
108.36 -> matter just click on the pop-out banner
109.979 -> up there for the link in the description
111.659 -> below to get a car wow now if you want
113.88 -> to do that at a later date and need some
115.799 -> help choosing which car to buy just
117.72 -> simply Google help me car wow we will
120.84 -> help you choose your ideal car and get
122.52 -> it for a fair price from one of our
124.079 -> trusted dealers here on the inside the
126.119 -> only major update the BMW made to this
128.16 -> car a couple of years ago as part of
129.66 -> that facelift was to upgrade the
131.459 -> infotainment system with a bigger
132.84 -> Central screen and fully digital dials
135.3 -> though this now seems a little bit out
137.819 -> of date compared to BMW's latest and
140.34 -> beautiful curved infotainment screens
142.5 -> one good thing about this older system
144.06 -> though climate control is controlled
146.16 -> using buttons here easy access rather
148.62 -> than having to dig around in the menus
150.239 -> on the screen I like that
152.64 -> I'd like that off as well there we go in
155.099 -> terms of the design yeah it's pretty
156.72 -> nice you know it's all right it's
157.86 -> functional not quite as interesting to
160.14 -> sit in as a Genesis gv70 and if you
163.08 -> don't know what that car is then you
164.34 -> definitely should click on the pop-out
165.54 -> banner up there I'll follow the link in
166.86 -> the description below to see my review
168.42 -> of it it's basically Hyundai's version
170.819 -> of Lexus Genesis and
173.22 -> it's a luxury Korean SUV in terms of
175.5 -> quality
176.459 -> always good perceived quality in the BMW
178.56 -> here in the X3 things only feel a little
180.599 -> bit cheap when you reach lower down and
183.06 -> you get well that's not scratchy
184.2 -> actually there is though
186.239 -> can't fault out screw together look the
189.3 -> center console wobble test
191.04 -> that's a definite pass
193.5 -> right here you have another control for
196.379 -> the infotainment system so it's a touch
197.76 -> screen but you can use an old-fashioned
199.319 -> swivel well if you want and then you've
200.94 -> got your driving controls here with your
202.5 -> nub in
204.06 -> of a gear selector the driving position
206.099 -> itself is pretty good usually it's in
208.68 -> BMWs and there's plenty of adjustments
211.019 -> look at this look at that in the
213.06 -> steering wheel and the seats so big or
215.4 -> small you will get comfy and I quite
217.5 -> like these upgraded Sports seats you get
219.9 -> with the M sport version as well as the
222.299 -> M sport branded steering wheel and the M
225.299 -> tricolor here on the seat belts adds a
228.06 -> little bit of extra interest to the
230.22 -> cabin in terms of the practicality it's
232.5 -> pretty good look largest Central cubby
235.08 -> got USBC in there underneath here you
238.56 -> have two cup holders look
241.26 -> you have bottles and stuff like that
243.12 -> wireless charging pad and then this is
245.519 -> the holder for the key which is Handy
247.019 -> there's another USB there an
248.819 -> old-fashioned one one for your mum glove
251.28 -> box is an okay size but it's lined with
253.439 -> felt so things don't rattle about in
255 -> there door bins though they'd be big
256.859 -> look huge oh huge
260.16 -> fit and then there's more space behind
262.86 -> it so where's the there it is
265.5 -> the bottle I had earlier there we go
267.96 -> plus down here we have another storage
271.08 -> area there perfect for your keys or
273.6 -> random things you might have with you
275.94 -> we're going to be losing that I'm never
277.199 -> going to say again
278.28 -> we're going back to BMW anyway let's
280.32 -> check out the back seats well there's
282.12 -> plenty of Headroom lots of knee room you
285.3 -> can stretch out underneath the seat in
287.04 -> front the seat bases are quite deep
289.32 -> which is good but a slight problem with
291.479 -> this plug-in hybrid version is the fact
293.34 -> that there's some batteries underneath
295.199 -> the floor here and that means the
297.06 -> footwells aren't quite so deep as on the
299.94 -> normal internal combustion engine only
301.68 -> x3s so your knees are a bit higher than
304.199 -> they would otherwise be which means you
305.82 -> have less under thigh support which for
307.62 -> longer Journeys makes it slightly less
309.72 -> comfortable now this isn't a problem you
311.58 -> have in the plug-in hybrid version of
313.08 -> the Volvo XC60 that really is my only
315.6 -> complaint though because there is lots
318.12 -> of room here in the back you've got a
320.04 -> big middle seat and while there is a hub
323.22 -> to straddle there is enough room here in
326.22 -> the back for three adults it's not bad
328.199 -> at all to tell you the truth now brings
330.3 -> you on to fitting a child's seat there's
331.86 -> enough space back here to even maneuver
333.72 -> a big bulky rear facing seating and the
335.88 -> isofix anchor points are just so easy to
337.86 -> get to look
340.199 -> it's enough of that other things I like
342.12 -> about this car this
345.96 -> I can recline the seat backs also check
348.12 -> this out
349.259 -> arm rest and you have cup holders that
352.38 -> are covered so you don't end up putting
354.78 -> your wrist in them when you're not using
356.58 -> them there's through loading as well so
358.56 -> you can carry longer items and have two
360.72 -> people either side well sorry one person
363.36 -> each side two people in total
366.539 -> you know what I'm not going on about
367.86 -> you've got some storage there big door
369.84 -> bins climate control here in the rear
372.36 -> and two USBC ports and
375.84 -> the rear windows they go all the way
378.3 -> down which is Handy let some fresh air
381.24 -> in
383.52 -> I'm quite impressed
385.68 -> but will I be as impressed with this
387.6 -> car's boot I've got a feeling I won't be
389.819 -> and I'll show you why now you see the
393.06 -> batteries for the hybrid are even more
395.16 -> intrusive here in the boot because
396.78 -> that's where most of them are kept as
398.639 -> you can see you end up with this Rich
400.08 -> that makes it harder to get heavy items
402.6 -> in and out because you just slide them
404.4 -> off this Ridge and then maneuver them
406.259 -> that's not the biggest problem though
407.759 -> this lump of batteries actually reduces
410.46 -> the boot capacity on the X3 from 550
413.699 -> liters which is pretty good down to 450
417.36 -> liters for this plug-in hybrid now there
420.36 -> are some things that are good like look
421.68 -> 12 volt socket Little Hook to hang stuff
424.979 -> off a few tie down points and when you
427.319 -> fold down the rear seats look
430.74 -> get a lot more space and it's actually
433.02 -> okay to slide heavy items in
436.259 -> what's annoying though is when you have
438.78 -> to get them back out again because this
440.46 -> Ridge from the batteries creates it a
443.28 -> lip that makes it a real pain
446.759 -> to lift heavy stuff over ah
450.539 -> and that most certainly brings on to
452.58 -> five or nine things about the BMW X3 if
456.66 -> you look here you will see the doors
458.4 -> don't quite cover the Sills fully that
460.68 -> means that if you've been driving in
462.06 -> muddy conditions and you get out because
464.759 -> the cells extend as well you always end
467.819 -> up just rubbing the backs of your legs
470.22 -> over those cells and then the mud gets
472.319 -> transferred onto your trousers which is
474.539 -> not good the EV only range on this car
477 -> is pretty pathetic it's 31 miles on a
480.599 -> full charge by comparison an Audi Q5
483.12 -> plug-in hybrid has a range of 39 miles a
486.36 -> Volvo XC60 plug-in hybrid 48 miles and a
490.199 -> Mercedes GLC plug-in hybrid 80 miles as
493.8 -> if that wasn't bad enough this
495.479 -> particular car is pretty much almost 100
498.199 -> full of charge and it's saying the range
501 -> on electric only is actually just 14
503.759 -> miles one of the problems with
505.74 -> extendable seat bases on the BMW X3 is
508.74 -> that you can often tell if someone is
510.539 -> been eating in your car when you've lent
512.88 -> it to them look at all these crumbs who
515.7 -> the heck has been enjoying almond
518.159 -> covered croissants
520.32 -> for some reason you can't adjust the
522.06 -> height of the seat belt in the X3 like
524.399 -> you can in its competitors
526.38 -> why not oh no look at this there is no
530.459 -> little washer system for the rear view
532.68 -> camera it means that when you're driving
534.36 -> along then it's Mucky conditions this
536.64 -> gets covered in Grime and the only way
538.26 -> to get it off so you can see where
539.64 -> you're reversing is to wipe it with your
542.1 -> finger however it's not all bad this
544.8 -> does bring me on to five cool things
546.48 -> about the BMW X3 for instance the
550.2 -> surround View Camera you can get on the
551.7 -> X3 is absolutely brilliant look at it
554.94 -> it's like playing a video game and of
557.64 -> course you can control it we gestures oh
560.7 -> there's some other things this car can
562.14 -> do it's got something called a reversing
563.76 -> assistant what that means is that if I
566.16 -> drive forward like this
569.18 -> oh maybe go this way
574.26 -> if I put the car into reverse
577.019 -> it'll actually remember exactly where I
579.3 -> went so I just control the accelerator
581.7 -> and it'll do the steering for me which
584.04 -> makes it easier to get out of tight
586.8 -> parking spaces because you don't have to
588.6 -> do anything the car will remember the
590.519 -> way you came in and take you out exactly
592.56 -> the same way you can preheat or pre-cool
595.44 -> the car remotely using the key just set
597.959 -> the temperature you will want out inside
599.58 -> the car press this button and then it'll
602.58 -> just get it all set for you so it's the
604.5 -> right temperature when you get in it
606.32 -> this is
609.48 -> a load cover
612.3 -> this is supposed under floor storage
615.6 -> does the load cover fit
618.6 -> in storage area
620.64 -> it appears it bloody well does Bravo
623.1 -> many automatic cars have paddle shifters
626.1 -> so you can change gears manually
627.6 -> yourself but most of them will
629.94 -> automatically shift up if you rev it all
633.12 -> the way to the red line not this BMW X3
636 -> though it may be a family-friendly SUV
638.459 -> and it may be a plug-in hybrid but if
640.92 -> you don't change up yourself on time
643.32 -> it'll have your pinging off the limiter
645.36 -> like a sports car oh yes a BMW is a true
649.32 -> drivers machine all x3s have all-wheel
651.72 -> drive and an 8-speed automatic gearbox
653.88 -> but which engine Choice should you go
655.98 -> for and which trim level well to help
658.26 -> you out I am going to configure my ideal
661.2 -> BMW X3 using the car wire configurator
664.74 -> if you want to find out what the model
666.779 -> is and the saving through car wire just
668.7 -> click on the pop-out banner up there or
670.32 -> for the link in the description below to
672.36 -> get a car wow now I'm going to drive it
674.339 -> let's start off this drive in town so
677.399 -> I've put the car into electric only mode
681.12 -> silent as you'd expect they're all
683.519 -> silent aren't they they're plugging
684.66 -> hybrids when you're just cruising along
686.16 -> one thing that is a bit annoying about
688.14 -> this particular car is that it doesn't
690.24 -> have one pedal driving so if I lift off
693.06 -> the accelerator the region effect has
695.1 -> slowed me down really isn't there it's
696.72 -> quite unusual I wonder if you can
698.459 -> actually increase that I'm not sure but
700.38 -> a bit disappointed it's just rolling
702.3 -> forwards almost like a normal internal
704.16 -> combustion engine car definitely no one
706.2 -> pedal driving you will have to use the
707.94 -> brakes so let me just tickle the brakes
709.56 -> if they feel natural
711.3 -> bit spongy actually at First I'm going
714.12 -> to just turn around test out the
716.04 -> maneuverability so the Turning circle on
718.019 -> this is 12 meters not quite as good as a
721.2 -> Volvo XC60 in fact if you click up there
723.72 -> on the pop out Banner you can see my
725.22 -> full in-depth video review of that car
726.839 -> now though I think I'm going to have to
729.06 -> engage the cameras to see where I'm
730.68 -> going come on cameras I'm not going to
732.54 -> make that round no chance I mean that
734.519 -> was quite a big ask anyway but here we
736.74 -> go three-point turn
738.2 -> thankfully the steering is quite light
740.1 -> in town it's not bad at all and
741.66 -> visibility is pretty good as well
743.279 -> Dormers are fine if you hit the back
745.26 -> window is okay it's not brilliant but
747.3 -> it's not bad either and general Comfort
749.16 -> levels when you're just pootling about
750.779 -> are fairly decent this particular car is
753.72 -> fitted with the upgraded adaptive
755.82 -> dampers it's worth noting the plug-in
758.04 -> hybrid doesn't feel quite as comfortable
759.74 -> as a standard X3 because it's heavier so
764.639 -> it just doesn't go over bumps quite so
766.62 -> well speaking of which if you're going
768.36 -> for an M sport version of one of the
770.279 -> normal combustion engine models they
772.38 -> have stiffer suspension and that does
774.36 -> affect the Comfort yet again so be
776.399 -> warned do you want maximum comfort from
778.32 -> your X3 go for a basic petrol engine car
781.32 -> with smaller wheels and the normal
783.24 -> suspension setup it's a little tip
786.06 -> from your friendly motoring journalist
787.92 -> anyway let's try this thing on slightly
790.92 -> faster roads so here we go I'm going to
792.66 -> floor it
794.82 -> slight delay kind of thing that you
796.74 -> expect with these plug-in hybrids no
799.32 -> better no worse than the competition and
801.48 -> then it took off pretty well in fact
803.279 -> decent performance I'd say the engine
805.579 -> they can be a little bit on the noisy
807.959 -> side especially the Diesels when you
809.88 -> accelerate this plug-in hybrid with the
812.16 -> two liter turbo petrol isn't too bad and
814.56 -> when you're cruising along it's all
815.88 -> quite relaxing I'd say the only thing
817.92 -> that I'm noticing is quite a bit of road
820.139 -> noise I don't think this car is quite as
823.44 -> relaxing to just cruise on the motorway
825.42 -> as a Lexus NX that is a bit of a left
828.48 -> field choice but if you want to see my
830.1 -> full in-depth video review of that car
831.899 -> and why I think it is actually one of
833.82 -> the very best hybrids click on the
835.5 -> pop-out banner up there I'll follow the
837.06 -> link in the description below to go
838.44 -> watch my video As for the economy well
841.38 -> this thing is supposed to do 109 miles
843.66 -> to the gallon but I'm getting just over
846.079 -> 33. yeah if you're doing lots of
848.399 -> Motorway miles get a diesel really you
851.16 -> have to be driving quite a bit around
852.6 -> town and charging the car regularly to
854.76 -> to get anywhere near BMW's claim figure
857.16 -> for the plug-in hybrid anyway I'm really
859.74 -> going to the efficiency now
861.36 -> because we come to a twisty Road and I'm
864.18 -> going to go into sports mode with extra
866.16 -> boost which means maximum power from the
869.04 -> electric motor right let's see how this
871.44 -> thing handles a BMW it's supposed to be
875.16 -> fun regardless of whether it's an SUV or
878.88 -> a sports car yeah I can feel that extra
880.86 -> boost now the throttle response is
882.48 -> actually really really good it's like
884.76 -> the turbocharged engine and that
886.98 -> electric motor just working so well
888.66 -> together I can go to manual mode for the
890.82 -> gearbox change gear myself using these
893.519 -> paddles and generally the gearbox seems
895.92 -> pretty quick it's not a dual clutch
897.839 -> system like you're getting an Audi Q5
899.639 -> but for this type of car yeah the
902.88 -> changes are fast enough it also handles
905.16 -> pretty well plenty of grip when you go
907.32 -> around the corners it doesn't lean too
909.42 -> much that said because this guy has the
911.579 -> Adaptive dampers they are stiffer in the
913.92 -> sporty setting but yeah it goes where
916.32 -> you point it it grips around corners
918.24 -> very very BMW like it's a fine handling
920.94 -> car though I should point out yet again
923.04 -> the plug-in hybrid handles the least
925.38 -> well of the x3s because once again all
928.92 -> of that weight the best handling
930.6 -> versions are the m40i and the m40d
933.72 -> because they have special sporty
935.76 -> suspension plus they have six cylinder
937.92 -> engines with loads of power they're my
941.04 -> favorite ones
942.24 -> sleep however that does bring us on to
945.18 -> how quick this plug-in hybrid version is
948.12 -> when you launch it BMW says the plug-in
950.76 -> hybrid version of this X3 should do not
952.68 -> to 60 in 6.1 seconds and to find out the
955.74 -> reality Now using my specialist timing
958.019 -> gear I'm going to launch it
962.22 -> says launch control it has a launch
964.44 -> control did it help
968.3 -> 6.35 Ah that's a shame that was slow
972.54 -> than claimed I actually wasn't expecting
974.519 -> that especially with launch control I
976.92 -> wasn't expecting that either but yeah it
978.779 -> didn't help
982.82 -> so then what's my final verdict on the
985.26 -> BMW X3 should you avoid it should you
987.779 -> consider it should you shortlist it or
990 -> should it just go right ahead and buy it
991.98 -> well for the internal combustion engine
994.38 -> BMW X3 I'd say shortlisted it's a good
997.259 -> car for this plug-in hybrid though I'd
999.42 -> avoid it and instead get the Mercedes
1001.399 -> GLC plug-in hybrid it's just got way
1003.86 -> more electric range anyway I hope you
1006.019 -> all enjoyed the video if you did give it
1007.759 -> a like click on those windows there for
1009.74 -> more videos and on that box there it's
1011.6 -> got a car wow to sell your car the easy
1014.3 -> way all you have to do is upload some
1016.579 -> photos of your car give a brief
1018.56 -> description then dealers all across the
1020.959 -> country will bid on your car pick the
1023 -> highest offer they'll come to your house
1024.5 -> take the car away and put the money into
1026.6 -> your account it's easy
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfXVwawi_Ik