2025 BMW X3 30 Driven: Evolved Into Something Better, Mostly

In recent years, BMW has had a knack for defeating prejudice. You’ll often read statements in reviews that go along the lines of “I wasn’t sold on the styling until I drove the car,” “BMW changed the excellent iDrive system, but I warmed up to this new setup,” or “there’s no more manual gearbox, but the automatic is actually brilliant.”

This can only mean one thing: that BMW isn’t afraid of taking risks. And often, these risks end up paying back. Look, if the car is well put together, drives well and its technology works, reinvention means that everyone wins, which is precisely how I would sum up the all-new, 2025 BMW X3. In many ways, it takes you out of your comfort zone, especially if you’ve owned BMWs before. But the new X3, somehow, mostly manages to come through as a better product than the model it replaces.

2025 BMW X3 Exterior: Simpler And More Angular, But Not Necessarily Prettier

BMW’s recent design language has been a mixed bag of disappointment, head-scratching and spot-on brilliant. Gone is the classic, understated, business-like look of its past. In its place is a more flamboyant, in-your-face and at times even offensive approach. But more recently, with newer models like the latest 5 Series, it seems Bavarian Motor Works has finally found a singular styling direction that seems to properly blend its past and its obviously more modern present.

The 2025 X3 moves forward in a similar direction. It’s more angular and less bulbous than the model it replaces. Panels are flatter, edges are sharper and the overall look is considerably more minimalist than ever before. And although that front kidney grille is larger than it has ever been, it somehow blends well with this new language.

In many ways, the X3’s simpler, more angular look brings back memories of BMW’s past, but from some angles, you’d swear this was a MINI Countryman. And I don’t know if this is due to the 30 model (BMW removed the i from its nomenclatures) acting as the baby, entry-level trim, but the X3’s design always feels naked, as if something’s missing.

Dimensionally, it rides on the same wheelbase as before. But the new X3 is less than two inches longer, about an inch narrower and an inch shorter than the model it replaces. The good news is that, in this age of ever larger and heavier vehicles, the new X3 30 weighs about the same as the old xDrive30i.

2025 BMW X3 Exterior Dimensions Versus Outgoing Model

2025 BMW X3: Differences Between The U.S. And Canadian Market

For both markets, BMW sells the new X3 with standard xDrive all-wheel drive through two trim levels: the 30 (as tested) and the M50. The full-fat X3 M is not yet available for this generation. You can also get the same 11 available paint colors and 10 available wheel options on both sides of the border. The main differences lie in the way the optional packages were set up.

U.S. Versus Canada Lineup Breakdown (model tested in bold)

Driving Impressions And Performance: It Still Feels Like A BMW

And this is where all my criticism of the X3’s looks quickly dissipated, which brings me to my original statement about the BMW brand as a whole. While you may not agree with the way this thing was designed, you’ll definitely appreciate the way it drives. Because even in 30 form, the X3 feels every bit like a BMW.

What does that mean? After only a few miles behind its wheel, the X3 feels rock-solid on the road, with no cabin rattles or annoying squeaks. Its steering is well weighted and direct. Its transmission shuffles through gears without hesitation, and its four-cylinder engine puts down more performance than it ought to.

That’s because the bones are essentially the same as before. The X3 still rides on BMW’s excellent CLAR multi-energy platform, allowing the carmaker to build both gasoline-powered and electric vehicles. But the chassis was revised to be both stiffer, more solid and safer across the board. The turbocharged, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (the B48) is also still mounted longitudinally in the X3’s engine bay, meaning it sends the power to the rear wheels first, like a 3 Series. And its eight-speed automatic transmission is still the always excellent ZF 8HP.

But BMW reviewed this excellent powertrain to extract even more brilliance out of it. The B48 engine is now mated to a 48-volt mild hybrid system for improved efficiency. It also pumps out more output; 255 horsepower (versus 248 hp) and 295 pound-feet of torque (versus 258 lb-ft). That horsepower figure also kicks in 500 rpm sooner than before thanks to revised turbocharging tuning and cooling.

The end result is a generally more playful and more potent little X3. Acceleration runs are immediate. The B48 punches well above its weight as it provides abundant low-end torque, while providing a consistent delivery of power across the power band. And the rear-biased layout allows for more graceful handling dynamics when negotiating a corner than what you’ll normally get from front-biased rivals.

2025 BMW X3 30 Technical Specifications

2025 BMW X3 30 Fuel Consumption

Although more powerful than its predecessor, the new X3 30 is considerably more fuel-efficient than the model it replaces, mostly thanks to the benefits of its mild hybrid system. According to the EPA, its average combined fuel economy is rated at 29 MPG, a clear improvement over the 24 MPGs of its predecessor. This new model also improves in city and highway fuel economy. As for me, since I was driving the X3 during a very cold week of January up here in Canada, the best-combined figure I could pull from it was 23 MPG.

EPA And As Tested Fuel Consumption

Interior Design And Comfort: Controversial Styling Direction, Great Ergonomics

The new X3 continues its styling reinvention inside where you’re greeted by an entirely different design direction from what the carmaker has accustomed us to in the past. If older X3s were known for their classy, mature and business-like interiors, this new model, rather, presents itself with a younger, funkier and somewhat more juvenile approach.

But the classic BMW strong points remain, such as solid construction, impeccable build quality and excellent execution of the vehicle’s ergonomics. For instance, BMW reinvents the way we operate lateral air vents by way of a pop-out, triangular setup, integrated inside the door card and operated using haptic feedback buttons. Normally, that would be the recipe for disaster, yet, it actually works.

There are neat materials inside too, like a wool-like texture that spans the dashboard and door cards, similar to what Mini offers in the Countryman I reviewed here a few months back. It’s a refreshing take on cabin materials, but it also feels somewhat immature compared to the more spartan approach of the carmaker’s past. The steering wheel is also square for some reason. I never quite understood this fad. And while the removal of the gear selector makes sense theoretically in an automatic car, enthusiasts who enjoyed shifting gears themselves using the lever versus the shift paddles might feel left out. I know I did.

But above all that, the X3 remains a comfortable and spacious place to spend some time in. Although, for some odd reason, BMW doesn’t publish headroom, shoulder room, hip room and legroom specifications for this 2025 model, the X3 remains a spacious SUV considering its relatively small size. I can comfortably sit behind myself back there, with ample headroom even if I’m tall.

Technology And Ease Of Use: iDrive Is Still Great, But This Latest Version Is Loaded And Sometimes Finicky

I’m a big fan of BMW’s iDrive infotainment software, especially the last-generation setup where, I believe, the carmaker had reached its peak in terms of user-friendliness. This new version, like all BMWs of late, remains excellent, but in an attempt to stay in tune with the times, BMW crammed it with so many new features and gimmicks that it proved a handful to take all in at first.

The always excellent rotary knob dial — which BMW will soon kill off — remains the best way to navigate through the system. I also like how the system remembers where you went the last time you operated the system, allowing you to quickly return to menus you’ve been to before. This eases its operation. But simple operations will require finding and accessing the menu assigned to them. That can be overwhelming for non-tech-savvy drivers. Icons are also tiny on the main screen, making them hard to grasp while driving. And there are a lot of them, adding to the confusion of it all.

With all that being said, BMW displays everything in a clean, well-presented interface, with nice graphics and quick response times. It all looks very good, to the point where I personally prefer defaulting back to the native system rather than using Android Auto due to its overall aesthetics. The digital gauge pod, however, is much simpler, presenting really only the information you truly need, but also allowing you to somewhat customize how everything is laid out using easy-to-grasp buttons on the steering wheel.

Cargo And Storage Space: Still A Cargo Space Leader

The last X3 was already one of the most spacious compact SUVs in its segment, and this new one simply improves on that front in all metrics. The X3 also walks all over its main competitors, such as the Audi Q5 (25.9 cu-ft/54.1 cu-ft) and the Mercedes-Benz GLC (24.4 cu-ft/56.3 cu-ft).

2025 BMW X3 Cargo Space Versus Outgoing Model

The X3 Is A Little Weird Now, But It’s Still Great

While the 2025 BMW X3 looks a little weird, has an oddly-designed interior and its technology is a mouthful to take in, it’s still an excellent premium compact SUV, one that not only drives wonderfully, but that’s also respectfully quick off the line, engaging, and still great at doing SUV things. It just goes to show you that, at the end of the day, a good vehicle is a good vehicle, regardless of the shape of its steering wheel.