Latest news with #X3M50
Khaleej Times
18 hours ago
- Automotive
- Khaleej Times
2025 BMW X3 M50 xDrive Review: A sharper, sportier take on the everyday SUV
As SUVs gained popularity for their space and utility, the appetite for sportscar-like performance grew too. The 2025 BMW X3 M50 xDrive answers that call — it's a high-performance Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) we recently tested. But first, a quick rewind. The X5 redefined the SUV segment, paving the way for the X3 over 20 years ago. By 2023, it had become BMW's bestseller. Now, we meet its fourth-generation evolution. DESIGN & AESTHETICS This is an all-new X3, and it's a radical transformation. At 4,755mm in length, 1,920mm in width, and 1,660mm in height, it's a mid-size SUV that's longer and wider, with a lower stance and broader tracks than before — yet, it appears more compact. BMW calls it a 'monolithic overall appearance', and unlike the disjointed designs of recent models, this one feels cohesive. Even the flared wheel arches — housing 255/45 R20 front tyres and wider 285-section rears — are seamlessly sculpted into the body. Grabbing attention up front is the oversized BMW kidney grille, featuring vertically and diagonally arranged bars. The optional BMW Iconic Glow adds contour lighting around the grille for additional drama. Flanking it are adaptive LED headlights with non-dazzling matrix high beam and distinctive double L-shaped daytime running lights. The side profile is sleek and unified, highlighted by a sharply rising beltline that gives the X3 a crouched, speed-ready stance. At the rear, fighter jet-style LED lamps sit on a concave tailgate, complemented by purposeful quad exhaust tips that look ready to aurally unleash all 400 horses with authority. The all-new interior has a distinct sci-fi feel, with illuminated surfaces, wedge-shaped and corrugated line details across the dash, door pulls, and a wireless charger — which, by the way, is angled well and easy to access. The BMW Curved Display impresses, featuring the latest iDrive, though the lower console tilts slightly away, making controls harder to read in sunlight. The digital cluster echoes the wedge motif, with graphic-style tacho and speed readouts, plus optional in-cluster navigation. A standout detail is the clock — neither digital nor analogue, but spelled out in words. The dash and doors use a funky engineered mesh that adds flair but may trap dust or scratch. There's also a noticeable use of plastic at touchpoints like the inner door handles, which feels slightly unrefined for the price. The flat-bottom three-spoke steering wheel is both stylish and functional, with truss-like spokes and red-blue cross-stitching, though the small toggle switches suit smaller hands. The brown perforated leather sports seats are soft and supportive, with good lateral hold. Slightly larger seat bases would improve comfort, but the manual thigh extenders are a plus. Rear legroom is adequate, though shoulder space is tight for three adults. POWERTRAIN & PERFORMANCE The M50 features the most powerful inline six-cylinder petrol engine ever fitted to an M Performance model. The 3.0-litre M TwinPower Turbo, paired with 48V mild-hybrid tech, produces 398 PS and 580 Nm, channeling power to all four wheels via an 8-speed Steptronic Sport transmission and BMW's xDrive system. The result is full-bodied acceleration that inspires confidence — whether launching from a standstill, overtaking, or darting through traffic. With Launch Control engaged, 0–100kmph comes in just 4.6 seconds, and the Sport Boost function delivers an additional 10 seconds of thrust on demand. Standard on the M50 are M Sport suspension with adaptive dampers, variable sport steering, and an M Sport rear differential. Steering is sportscar-like — every small input feels immediate, with consistent grip that gives spirited drivers the traction and predictability they crave. Despite its dynamic focus, ride quality remains composed and surprisingly plush. Braking is equally impressive, with sharp stopping power delivered via vented discs: four-piston fixed calipers up front and single-piston floating calipers at the rear. While the M50 is a precision driving tool, the experience feels slightly synthetic — possibly due to the amplified exhaust note played through the speakers. We also recorded a pleasantly surprising fuel economy of 9.9l/100km, with an indicated range of 785km. FEATURES & FUNCTIONALITY The X3 is an ideal urban SUV. Storage includes a small cubby, modest glovebox, and a 570-litre boot — expandable to 1,700 litres with the rear seats folded, enough for airport luggage. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, with personalisation via BMW ID. BMW Digital Key Plus can also be set up through the My BMW app. The M50 variant adds a clear-sounding Harman Kardon audio system and two front USB-C ports for connectivity or charging. Safety is well-covered with a full suite of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) features, including a tyre pressure monitor. A thoughtful touch: ambient lighting pulses with the hazard lights. That said, the 360° camera view would benefit from a portrait-style display. The air conditioner offers good cooling, but the tiny, non-ergonomic vent controls — borrowed from the 7 Series — aren't ideal. VERDICT The all-new 2025 BMW X3 is a refreshing shift from recent BMW designs, featuring monolithic surfaces and a sci-fi-inspired cabin that blends form with function. Well-built and practical, it caters to both urban individuals and modern families. However, for its price, the extensive use of cabin plastics feels out of place, and there are a few ergonomic quirks. While the M50 xDrive variant delivers quick, precise, and confidence-inspiring performance, the overall experience feels slightly synthesised. Still, a very desirable sporty, urbane SUV.
Motor Trend
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Motor Trend
2025 BMW X3 M50 First Test: A Real M Car?
Pros Real performance credentials Stellar-looking interior Comfortable and quiet Cons Fussy HVAC controls Infotainment suite a bit obtuse Not enough hard buttons Question for the enthusiasts in the crowd: How many times have you dismissed a new performance vehicle because it isn't a 'real' AMG, M, or RS? We've been guilty of it ourselves. It's easy to look at the refreshed-for-2025 BMW X3 M50 and think the same. Turns out, however, that this M-lite model backs up its show with some serious go while still retaining the day-to-day comfort that most non-enthusiast drivers expect. The 2025 BMW X3 M50 impresses with a 393 hp hybrid enhanced engine, sleek new design, and advanced tech. It balances luxury and sport, achieving 0-60 mph in 4.0 secs. Priced at $65,875, it offers strong performance and comfort, challenging perceptions of "real" M cars. This summary was generated by AI using content from this MotorTrend article Read Next What's New There's a lot that's new for the 2025 X3 lineup. Its updated exterior is slightly longer and lower than before, creating more space for people and their things in the cabin. Speaking of the cabin, it's been completely reworked, with new dual-screen infotainment displays featuring BMW's latest iDrive 9 operating system and new geometric patterns and LEDs making the dash and doors both look and feel like a single uniform piece. Indeed, the nearly identical interiors the 30 and M50 share represent a significant departure from the previous-generation X3. It's highlighted by its sleek, unified display that merges a central touchscreen with a digital driver's display under a single pane of glass, giving the interior a modern and streamlined appearance. Its standout feature, however, is the striking, boomerang-shaped ambient lighting adorning the door panels that elegantly encircles the door handles and seat controls. The elements extend across the dash, as well, accentuating the area beneath the central screen and along the center console. Under the hood of the X3 M50 is a newly revised version of BMW's trusty 3.0-liter turbocharged I-6. Now paired with a permanent-magnet motor mounted in the bellhousing of its transmission, this 48-volt mild hybrid system promises quicker response, power delivery, and efficiency versus the non-hybrid version of this engine in the outgoing X3 M40i. Total output is up from 382 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque to 393 hp and 428 lb-ft, which continues to be routed through an eight-speed automatic and standard all-wheel drive. The EPA reckons this new X3 will net 25/30/27 mpg city/highway/combined, a 4-mpg improvement across the board over the old X3. Other upgrades, such as an adaptive electronic suspension, a variable steering ratio, electronic rear limited-slip differential, and upgraded brakes versus the standard X3 30 xDrive, should also signal to enthusiasts that BMW is taking its 'fake' M cars seriously. Big M Energy Still don't believe us? Let's see what the numbers say. The 2025 X3 M50 rips off an impressive 4.0-second 0–60-mph time and quarter-mile run of 12.6 seconds at 109.7 mph, donkey kicking aggressively on upshifts as the cabin fills with piped-in engine noises from the stereo. The X3 M50 also manages a respectable 60–0-mph stop of 111 feet and laps our figure eight in 25.3 seconds at 0.76 g average. Numbers in a vacuum are meaningless, so it's helpful to look back at the vehicle this X3 replaces, the X3 M40i, as well as the last X3 M Competition for some context. The former needed 4.2 seconds to hit 60 mph and ran the quarter mile in 12.8 seconds at 107.2 mph, while the latter, which had 503 hp and 442 lb-ft from its twin-turbo I-6, ties the X3 M50 to 60 mph and just edges it out in the quarter mile, running 12.3 seconds at 117.3 mph. That story plays out when we look at 60–0 and figure-eight results, too; the new X3 M50 bests its direct predecessor while hanging within a good driver's distance of the X3 M. The X3 M40i needed 112 feet to stop from 60 mph and 25.5 seconds at 0.73 g to lap the figure eight, while the X3M needed 104 feet and 24.2 seconds at 0.86 g to complete the same tests. And lastly, if you're looking over at the Audi or Mercedes-Benz dealer across the street and wondering how the X3 M50's competition stacks up, we haven't tested the new 2025 Audi SQ5 yet. However, the BMW handily beats the Mercedes-AMG GLC43 in our straight-line testing but falls a few tenths and g's behind the AMG in the figure eight. Duality on the Road It's immediately clear from startup that there's a duality to the 2025 X3 M50. This BMW's default drive mode is soft, plush, even somewhat sleepy in a way. Thanks to its hybrid assist, the engine fires up and delivers its power smoothly in long, effortless waves of torque as the eight-speed shifts seamlessly in the background. If it weren't for the stereo-augmented engine soundtrack or the sweep of the tach's digital needle, we might not even know if the engine was running. The ride and handling balance in its default setting is similarly cushy. There's a clear delay in both steering inputs and suspension reactions, making it easy to keep the X3 M50 pointed in a straight line on long highway trips. At the same time, it also dispatches bumps without upsetting occupants in the cabin, even if it comes at the expense of exaggerated body roll. It's exactly the type of coddling luxury many buyers expect from a vehicle in this class. Hunt and peck for the touch-sensitive M Mode button on the center console and then tap through a few menu options on the infotainment display ( yes, BMW, we really are sure we want Sport mode ), and the duality of the X3 M50 reveals itself as the SUV's character changes. Sport mode quickens and firms up the steering rack, stiffens the suspension, improves throttle response, and makes shifts much more aggressive. The experience is very much in line with what drivers expect from a traditional M car; the X3 rips off the line, bangs off shifts with comical violence, and is rewarding to drive quickly on twisty back roads. It's the type of performance that'll have some M50 owners opting for the back roads after college drop-offs or on weekend road trips. The only thing missing is the customizability of BMW's true M products; we quickly grew tired of the overly aggressive upshifts in Sport and would've loved to create an individual drive mode that incorporated the sportier suspension tunes with softer throttle mapping. Regardless, the X3 M50 is sporty and not just doing an impression of a sporty SUV. The rest of the 2025 X3 package effectively meets the 21st century luxury SUV brief, even if some of its new tech and design flourishes come at the expense of ease of use. First the good: The new cabin is undeniably stylish. The polygonal dashboard shapes coupled with LED lights that span the front of the cabin and the large infotainment displays look decidedly futuristic. It contrasts well with this particular model's baseball-glove-tan leather seats, cloth piping, and stitched black leather on the dash that visually and texturally hold down a classic, old-school luxury aesthetic. The seats themselves are supremely comfortable, the trunk large and deep, and the back seat friendly to all but the largest adults. We're also quite fond of the large center console, its wireless phone charging slots, and ample cupholders—a refreshing surprise in a German-designed car. But some of that stylish form clearly comes at the expense of the X3's function. Up front, the two most outboard HVAC vents are controlled by a touch slider on the door and directed by a tiny rocker located by the driver's left knee or passenger's right. The center controls have a similar setup that makes it hard to properly direct air where you want it and requires too much time with eyes off the road to adjust. And although it largely operates the same as previous versions, BMW's infotainment suite is bordering on bloated considering how many hard buttons have been replaced with software functions. Changing audio sources, for instance, can require multiple taps and swipes to get to where you want to go. Similarly, BMW's new driver assist system, dubbed Active Driving Assistant Pro, has each individual parameter—follow distance, automatic lane changes, acceleration aggressiveness, for example—buried within its own submenu. Considering BMW's embrace of over-the-air software updates, it's a solvable problem if the company deems it something worth tackling. Should I Wait for the X3 M, or is the X3 M50 Worth It? Given the X3 M50's performance credentials and the fact that the next-generation X3 M is expected to start at around $80,000 before options, to us the M50 is a solid deal at its $65,875 starting price. Our test car stickered for $77,275, with the primary options being its $3,600 optional paint color and the $4,600 package bundle required for Active Driving Assistant Pro. We suspect the next X3 M will claw back its performance advantage from the X3 M50, but there should be no doubt about the X3 M50's capabilities in the minds of driving enthusiasts. Call it a 'real' M car or not, this new X3 manages to walk a fine line between the competing goals of luxury and sport with aplomb—all while catering well to those who expect both.
The Citizen
15-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Frugal and fast BMW X3 20d proves that diesel is not dead yet
SUV well-priced offering in the premium segment inhabited by Audi and Mercedes-Benz. Because I have been around a while and by that I mean like forever, I was there when all everybody could talk about was diesel. If you didn't have diesel vehicles in your portfolio, you were struggling as a motor manufacturer. This was a time when diesel was the clever option. You didn't buy an oil-burner to show off. You bought it because you were the guy who could drive from Joburg to Cape Town on one tank. BMW keeps the faith Diesel was efficient, torquey and sensible. And then people decided that battery electric vehicles is the thing that was going to save the world. Conveniently ignoring how the batteries are made and that we burn coal to produce electricity to charge these batteries. And that's how diesel ended up in the naughty corner. But thankfully BMW didn't get the memo. Because here we are in 2025 and The Citizen Motoring has just spent a week driving the new G45 X3 20d xDrive M Sport. The idea being to figure out if diesel still has a place in a world that wants everything to plug in, light up, and talk back. And I can say without a doubt it absolutely does. The oil-burner offers the best of both worlds. Picture: Supplied Most of this sentiment is because under the bonnet is BMW's long serving, much-loved, tried-and-tested 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel. It is now paired with a 48V mild-hybrid system to help it not only meet emissions regulations, but to also provide a little extra urge when wanted. Talking of which, you have 145kW of power and 400Nm of torque on tap that runs through an eight-speed auto box to the xDrive all-wheel drive set-up. ALSO READ: PODCAST: Why all-new BMW X3 is just what the doctor ordered BMW X3 20d easy on the juice The BMW X3 20d's forte is gobbling up open road kilometres with absolute ease and returning real world fuel consumption figures that easily live around the mid 6-litres per 100 kilometres and offer close on 1 000 kilometres per tank. But it is also rather brisk for what is seen as the baby of the new BMW X3 range. Not that I think this aspect of my review will interest you too much if you are an out and petrolhead as this is more what the X3 M50 is about. But we had this BMW X3 20d at Gerotek and it hit 100km/h in 7.9 seconds, only just off BMW's claim of 7.7-seconds. Top speed is said to be 215km/h and that is more than enough for those long straight roads in the Karoo. If your conscience and wallet will allow you to treat the N1 as the Autobahn that is. ALSO READ: New BMW X3 ticks all the boxes with versatile powertrain line-up Practicality hasn't been forgotten either as you would expect from a mid-size family orientated SUV. There is a decent amount of space for the rear seat passengers, with 570 litres of boot space. This is expandable to 1 700 if you fold the rear seats down. The new BMW X3 20d is a solid choice. Picture: Supplied Making a lot of sense The latest in digital screens and infotainment systems are in use. And the cabin looks and feels as modern as ever without being too complicated or gimmicky. The BMW X3 20d xDrive is probably as flashy in M Sport trim, as it is well-made. Retailing for around R1 175 000, it is not here to compete with the high-end of the Chinese market. But rather be an exceptionally well-priced offering in the premium segment inhabited by Audi and Mercedes-Benz. ALSO READ: Finally priced: BMW puts stickers on all-new generation X3 You won't win any influencer points driving a diesel in 2025. But if you care about range, torque, comfort, and the ability to drive across provinces without needing to charge anything but your smartphone, this BMW X3 still makes a whole lot of sense. BMW X3 20d test results
