New BMW X3 Review: This car has a BIG problem

This is the new BMW X3!

It’s the fourth generation of BMW’s most popular SUV, but does the latest iteration offer enough to sway you towards competitor cars like the Mercedes GLC? Let’s take a closer look.

In terms of the design, the look of recent BMWs has been pretty divisive, and it’s no different with the new X3! However, we think it looks pretty smart, and the M50 edition we have here has a really imposing look on the road. At the front, there’s a large grille, coupled with an aggressive front bumper which is flanked by a set of real vents. The indentation on the bonnet is also smart and reminds us of the M4. Along the side black roof bars and M Sport side mirrors, while at the back there’s a set of nicely designed tail lights coupled with quad tailpipes.

On the inside, the X3 has a pretty minimalist design. There’s a large curved screen that houses the dials and infotainment system, and the seats are also pretty comfortable. However, the infotainment system can be a bit convoluted at times, especially when all functionality is housed within it - you won’t find any physical buttons here! What’s more, while some areas of the cabin are nice to touch, we saw quite a few places covered in scratchy, cheap-feeling plastic.

There are a couple of engine choices available. There’s a 2-litre diesel with 197hp and a 2-litre turbo petrol with 208hp. The plug-in hybrid edition uses the same 2-litre turbo petrol engine coupled with an electric motor to create 299hp, while the range-topping M50 is powered by a 3-litre straight-six turbo to create 398hp.

In terms of price, the X3 starts at around £48,000, rising up to around £67,000 for the range-topping M50. The thing is, it’s possible to add a load of options - the car we have here costs around £77,000! So is it worth it? Stick with Mat and see for yourself!

Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:34 Design
02:42 Interior
05:24 Price
07:17 Infotainment
09:22 Storage
10:27 Boot
11:20 Annoying Features
13:29 Cool Features
15:22 Engines
16:09 0-60mph
16:49 Country Road Driving
17:58 Motorway Driving
18:42 Town Driving
20:00 Verdict

[tonim]

If prices continue at this pace, I will keep using my 2010 car until it dies, and then I will probably buy a donkey

[yissibiiyte]

I love when my 80k "premium" car has more plastic inside than a Suzuki Swift

[bratkax]

Always amazes me how with every new generation car manufacturers manage to find and fit in cheaper and cheaper materials. It's almost an artform in itself at this point, when you think it couldn't get worse they still find a way.

[Foiiiii]

They cannot be serious with that interior quality, especially the door handles. They selected the cheapest plasics available for a car that costs over 67k.

[junaid_ahmed_]

I think Matt is on the MKBHD level where he should be able to cripple a company for using absurdly crappy design materials at the consumers' expense

[rickietee]

Imagine paying 80k to have your high beams hidden behind a menu… 🤦‍♂️

[Mr.ICan]

I personally like the previous generation X3 more...

[pancit]

This is awful. The previous X3’s interior design was miles ahead of this. It had actual places to put things, it was more well thought-out, had better controls, and (subjectively) looked way better than this. Absolutely horrible for a car in this segment.

[richardpatton]

“Minimalist” is just translation for “cost cutting”

Slapping a tablet in front of you and call it a gauge cluster is just lazy

All the best to everyone

[razvan]

Moral of this review: go right ahead and buy the old x3 m40i. Much better interior quality and layout, much more usable, better looking, lighter and more nible to drive and with the spare money you can either get a manual rwd roadster or use it for fuel and maintanance.

[urbanante]

I'm surprised Matt still gave this to shortlist it. I'd avoid it

[JonLondrezos]

Why is it that car manufacturer simply DON'T listen to what people want, ??? We want knobs for temperature and volume settings. And we don't want knobs designing the usability ergonomics ;)

[ahoymateeez]

German car industry dying with each car release.

[dazzaboy]

Definitely sticking with my 2024 model!!!

[bodrulm]

Interior is shockingly low rent. And you can't do basic things like high beam and cruise control distance without going through multiple screen menus? What a fail

[lornerydenolsen]

They should have spent the budget for the stupid tech on the cabin quality instead. This car should be at least 30, 000 cheaper.

[leslieham]

Oh dear! BMW what are you doing? It all starts with those really cheap looking glossy black plastic grilles. You get the impression their suppliers have production problems with the real McCoy and have given them something temporary to block off the front…

[Blackowl]

77k of plastics, maybe they want us to 3D print our own interior🤣

[tomjansen]

Love the channel, but hey what are you doing with your key pricking in the fuse box. Some of them are hot wired ⚡😣

[robdavis]

This is such a backwards step compared to the old one!