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Last year, the all-new generation BMW X3 entered the market. At first glance, the car is an evolution of the previous model. After all, you shouldn’t change too much to a successful recipe. The design is also an evolution, with BMW opting for somewhat calmer lines. The kidneys this time have a relatively modest size, although depending on the version they still stand out with partially diagonal bars.

BMW X3 goes against the trend

On a technical level, new BMW X3 goes against the trend. Despite the fact that BMW is also strongly committed to electrification, there is no longer an all-electric BMW iX3. However, this can be logically explained: the iX3 will be succeeded by a completely new model based on the Neue Klasse platform. What remains for the new X3 is the plug-in hybrid 30e xDrive.

Furthermore, the engine range is remarkably traditional, with (mild hybrid) fuel engines on gasoline and “even” still diesel. In both cases there is a choice of four- and six-cylinder. The gasoline driver can choose from the 20 xDrive and the M50 xDrive, and for the diesel driver the 20d xDrive and 40d xDrive are available. A traditional BMW has a six-in-line gasoline engine, so while we still can, the M50 xDrive is our choice.

BMW X3 M50 xDrive: specs and performance

As M50 xDrive, the new BMW X3, to be precise, is equipped with a 3.0-liter six-in-line, delivering a whopping 293 kW (398 hp) and 580 Nm. Via an eight-speed automatic transmission, all four wheels are driven. The 100 km/h is already reached in 4.6 seconds and the top speed is limited to the usual 250 km/h.

To experience those figures in practice and to do the X3 M50 xDrive justice, we drove it to its home region. No, not South Carolina, where it is produced at BMW’s Spartanburg plant, but Bavaria, where the car was conceived and developed.

Equipment BMW X3 M50 xDrive

Before departure, we first set everything to our liking. There are quite a few options for that. As standard, the BMW X3 is already not exactly a bare-bones car; as an M50 xDrive, it is already equipped with almost every convenience. The 14.9-inch Touch Control Display offers access to at least as many apps as the average tablet. From extensive connectivity to the aforementioned setup options. From seat position and climate settings to little things like your favorite color ambient lighting.

Due to the multitude of apps and setting options, you have to take some time to study the infotainment system at first. Thanks to the driver profile, everything is easy to save, though. Just remember to select the profile first. The Guest profile selected by default appears to have no memory. After turning the car off and back on once, we had to set everything all over again… But: once you have set the driver profile to your liking, with one or two taps on the screen everything is back to your preferences. Handy when sharing the car with several drivers.

On a journey with the BMW X3

Our journey begins with a long drive through the Netherlands. The unfortunately legally required speed warning quickly pops up, but fortunately it can be turned off with a hotkey. For the lane assistant you do have to enter a menu each time. Fortunately, it is not so bad how annoying this system is. In fact, it is one of the more pleasant systems on the market. Unnecessary interventions are rare and when the system does intervene, it is smooth and subtle.

Furthermore, in good BMW tradition, the BMW X3 offers a fine balance between sportiness and comfort. On good Dutch roads, the latter even predominates. Once across the border on the often less smooth German asphalt, bumps are more perceptible, but not in a disturbing way. On the contrary, it contributes to a somewhat better experience of speed.

As expected, the BMW feels a bit more at home at higher speeds on the Autobahn. The traffic is too busy for a really fast pace, but we can cruise wonderfully at about 150 mph. A drive-time message from the BMW (and a growling stomach) convince us to stop, but we were as rested as when we got in.

Freude am Fahren

Having reached the Bavarian interior, the BMW X3 M50 xDrive gets more and more comfortable. As if it is happy to be home. With much Freude am Fahren – both in the car and its driver – it lets itself be steered along the winding roads through the hills.

Time to engage Sport mode. The BMW immediately feels even more like it. In Sport mode, the (optional) adaptive suspension becomes even tighter and the steering heavier. The eight-speed automatic also changes character. It keeps the revs a bit higher so that the engine reacts even more directly, but also knows how to time the shifts perfectly. Changing gears yourself with the paddles behind the steering wheel is actually not necessary: the automatic feels exactly when to shift up or down. When accelerating, but even when downshifting before a corner.

Own Nürburgring

All this is accompanied by the beautiful dark tone of the six-in-line. Partly through the speakers, but certainly also just through the exhausts, which also occasionally treat you to thuds. The Bavarian back roads become our own Nürburgring. Well, sort of. Because of the temperatures around freezing point, we do not seek the limits and apart from that we keep it responsibly on public roads. Still, it’s great steering and the BMW gives us the confidence to pick up the pace a little. Thanks in part to the xDrive all-wheel drive, the X3 seems to drive on rails.

Closing highlight

It is a pity when it is time for the return trip again, but on the way there the BMW X3 has already proven that such a long drive is by no means a punishment. Moreover, the return trip is on a Sunday morning and an almost empty Autobahn lies before us. The BMW secretly invites us to pick up the pace little by little. Go on then, get everything out of it one more time. By way of a spectacular farewell, the M50 xDrive shows us that it can easily reach its top speed. That – apart from a lot of wind noise – also with the same comfort on board as some cars at 130 km/h.

Practical consumption BMW X3 M50 xDrive

Meanwhile, fuel consumption was also not too bad for us, considering the performance in return. According to the WLTP cycle, the BMW X3 M50 xDrive has an average consumption of 7.7 l/100 km (1 on 13). When we drove with the flow of traffic in the Netherlands, we easily beat that: an average of 7.1 l/100 km (1 on 14). At the end of the trip, i.e. including Bavarian roads and Autobahn, the trip computer average was 8.8 l/100 km (1 on 11).

Conclusion

Although the BMW X3 M50 xDrive has all-wheel drive instead of rear-wheel drive, it still offers all the traditional BMW values that make for the familiar Freude am Fahren. In that regard, the only way to drive an even more traditional BMW is to choose a traditional body style, such as an M340i xDrive Sedan or Touring. Or a 330i, if you only want rear-wheel drive. The BMW X3 still offers a very fine combination between sportiness, comfort and luxury.

BMW X3 prices

The less fun chapter: that does come with a hefty price tag. The new BMW X3 is available starting at 67,973 euros, for the plug-in hybrid 30e xDrive. For the M50 xDrive we drove, you are already at 106,161 euros. For completeness: the test car was additionally equipped with, among other things, 21-inch alloy wheels (1,762 euros), the adaptive suspension (748 euros), a glass panoramic roof (1,602 euros), the beautiful red body color (1,295 euros) and a striking “crocheted” fabric on the dashboard (534 euros). Together with a few other items, the total price of the test vehicle comes to 118,312 euros.