The Drive Report: 2025 BMW X3

. The most noticeable aspect of the design is the new illuminated kidney grille, which, although quite prominent, isn’t large enough to drown out the rest of the design updates on the front fascia.

The first thing that runs through my mind when pressing the throttle of the new BMW X3 is how palpably smooth its 2.0-litre diesel mill is. In fact, it’s hard to fathom how much more imperceptibly smooth and seamless a diesel engine can be. The cabin, now thoroughly overhauled with neon ambient lighting, is quiet to a fault, the sizable serving of torque at the bottom-end – delicious. BMW may continue to polarize with its avante-garde designs, but when it comes to driving fundamentals, the brand never misses. Unless you count its new-found preference for comfort over dynamism as some sort of compromise, in which case this isn’t likely to be your favourite iteration of the X3. Although, there are plenty of compelling reasons why it should be.
Design

While still recognisably an X3, thanks to its proportions, the latest-gen model is the least conservatively styled X3 while simultaneously being one of the more sensible looking SUVs from the present-day crop of Bimmers. The most noticeable aspect of the design is the new illuminated kidney grille, which, although quite prominent, isn’t large enough to drown out the rest of the design updates on the front fascia. Updates which include new, upswept headlamps with blue detailing that’s exclusive to the M Sport trim (the only one that the Indian market gets). Even the shoulder and the bonnet line are upswept with a tapering greenhouse lending the design a sportier appearance. The rear portion has been cleared-up a bit with the two paddle-shaped tail lamps capturing the eye.

Interiors

This is the real party piece of the X3. BMW has managed to nail the modern car aesthetic without going overboard with touchscreens (arguably they have gone overboard with their design as evidenced by the swift and unceremonious death of the BMW XM). It’s not the understated, beige-and-black cocoon that German cars used to be. Ambient lighting bars around the centre console and door panels work best at night, while the knitted texture on the dash top –made from recycled polyester – balances out the more shouty elements of the cabin with a hint of restraint. The texture, while serving as an interesting departure from the standard leather top dash, does require more maintenance and is best served with a portable Dustbuster.

BMW has missed a trick in not allowing Google Maps to have augmented reality inputs like Mercedes-Benz does. The 14.9-inch touchscreen which has otherwise been quite responsive to haptics and generally seems to be the preferred size for automotive infotainment screens did seem uncharacteristically glitch-prone, asking me to reconnect my phone every time I got in.
Driving the new X3
The new X3 gets the same 2.0-litre turbo petrol and turbo-diesel options as it did earlier, although the former is now detuned to put out only 190hp instead of a more generous and thrilling 252hp. Torque is also down from 350 Nm to 310 Nm. Thankfully the diesel motor remains unchanged and, if you’re willing to opt for a diesel keeping the current regulatory environment in mind, this is one of the very best in the business.

The more noticeable changes lie in how the suspension has been tuned to be softer and cushier, how the seat cushioning has improved and how BMW has swapped the run-flat tyres with standard tubeless ones. This combination of sprightly motor (the diesel puts out a healthier 197 bhp with 400 Nm of torque) and softly sprung SUV makes the most sensible X3 we’ve seen yet. It’s honed not around the Nurburgring but designed for everyday comfort, which in hindsight, seems like the most obvious course of action. The 8-speed automatic gearbox continues to be a gem, shifting cogs seamlessly, never missing a beat. But the adaptive suspension set-up remains the MVP. Switch to ‘Sport’ and it does curtail body roll a tad, but even so, the emphasis is steadfastly on comfort. Thankfully, adaptive suspension is a standard fitment, but then again, for Rs 72.5 lakh a pop, you expect it to be.Verdict

The X3 now offers the sort of wholesome mix of comfort and performance that can make it the segment’s most compelling offer. It’s quiet, absorbs bumps, the throttle and gearbox are imperceptibly smooth and short of hardcore off-roading, this soft-roader ought to meet every possible daily and weekend driving requirement you can throw at it. It also has ADAS and lane-keep assist features, snazzier interiors and flamboyant styling. For an SUV that’s always been overshadowed by the likes of the bigger X5 – the X3 has really come into its own.