BMW X3 (04 on) - Review

Review by David Ross on
Last Updated: 22 May 2009
Designing a compact 4x4 car that's good on the road, comfortable and yet also possesses some off road ability is no easy feat. But BMW has come close with the X3 - the smaller brother to the muscular X5. It uses BMWs xDrive four wheel drive system which ensures excellent traction both off-road and on it, while decent body control and good steering feel mean the X3 corners very well for an off roader. However the downside of the stiff suspension is that the BMW rides firmly and isn't particularly settled over rough roads. It carries a high list price too, especially when compared to equally capable off roaders. On the plus side it's very practical with a large boot and spacious cabin.
4 out of 5

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Company Car Costs

P11D Value

The price of the car excluding road tax and first registration fee. This is used to calculate company car tax.

CO2 g/km

The carbon dioxide emissions of the car, which decides the company car tax band into which the car falls.

BIK Band

The percentage band used to calculate company car tax, determined by CO2 emissions of the car.

20% Tax / 40% Tax

The annual amount of company car tax payable based on the drivers income tax level, either at the basic rate or the higher rate.

Standard Trim

2012 / 2013 2013 / 2014
Model P11D Value CO2 g/km BIK Band 20% Tax 40% Tax 20% Tax 40% Tax

2.0i 5d

£25,057

223

15%

£751

£1,503

£751

£1,503

2.0d 5d

£27,002

191

18%

£972

£1,944

£972

£1,944

M Sport

2012 / 2013 2013 / 2014
Model P11D Value CO2 g/km BIK Band 20% Tax 40% Tax 20% Tax 40% Tax

2.0i M Sport 5d

£28,497

223

15%

£855

£1,710

£855

£1,710

2.5i M Sport 5d

£31,767

272

15%

£953

£1,906

£953

£1,906

2.5i M Sport 5d Auto

£33,217

289

15%

£996

£1,993

£996

£1,993

2.5si M Sport 5d

£33,390

224

15%

£1,001

£2,003

£1,001

£2,003

2.5si M Sport 5d Step Auto

£34,860

228

15%

£1,045

£2,091

£1,045

£2,091

2.5i xDrive M Sport 5d

£34,135

224

15%

£1,024

£2,048

£1,024

£2,048

2.5i xDrive M Sport 5d Step Auto

£35,605

228

15%

£1,068

£2,136

£1,068

£2,136

3.0i M Sport 5d Auto

£35,197

293

15%

£1,056

£2,112

£1,056

£2,112

3.0si M Sport 5d Step Auto

£36,980

233

15%

£1,109

£2,218

£1,109

£2,218

3.0i xDrive M Sport 5d Step Auto

£36,855

233

15%

£1,105

£2,211

£1,105

£2,211

xDrive18d M Sport 5d

£30,690

165

18%

£1,104

£2,209

£1,104

£2,209

2.0d M Sport 5d

£30,442

191

18%

£1,096

£2,192

£1,096

£2,192

2.0d M Sport 5d (06)

£30,805

191

18%

£1,109

£2,218

£1,109

£2,218

2.0d M Sport (177bhp) 5d

£31,700

172

18%

£1,141

£2,282

£1,141

£2,282

2.0d M Sport 5d Step Auto

£33,170

178

18%

£1,194

£2,388

£1,194

£2,388

2.0d xDrive M Sport 5d

£32,510

172

18%

£1,170

£2,340

£1,170

£2,340

2.0d xDrive M Sport 5d Step Auto

£33,980

178

18%

£1,223

£2,446

£1,223

£2,446

3.0d M Sport 5d

£34,292

210

18%

£1,234

£2,469

£1,234

£2,469

3.0d M Sport 5d Auto

£35,742

229

18%

£1,286

£2,573

£1,286

£2,573

3.0d M Sport 5d (06)

£35,515

196

18%

£1,278

£2,557

£1,278

£2,557

3.0d M Sport 5d Step Auto (06)

£36,985

206

18%

£1,331

£2,662

£1,331

£2,662

3.0d xDrive M Sport 5d

£36,295

196

18%

£1,306

£2,613

£1,306

£2,613

3.0d xDrive M Sport 5d Step Auto

£37,765

206

18%

£1,359

£2,719

£1,359

£2,719

3.0sd M Sport 5d Step Auto

£39,180

208

18%

£1,410

£2,820

£1,410

£2,820

3.5d xDrive M Sport 5d Step Auto

£40,030

208

18%

£1,441

£2,882

£1,441

£2,882

Sport

2012 / 2013 2013 / 2014
Model P11D Value CO2 g/km BIK Band 20% Tax 40% Tax 20% Tax 40% Tax

2.0i Sport 5d

£27,257

223

15%

£817

£1,635

£817

£1,635

2.5i Sport 5d

£30,527

272

15%

£915

£1,831

£915

£1,831

2.5i Sport 5d Auto

£31,977

289

15%

£959

£1,918

£959

£1,918

3.0i Sport 5d Auto

£33,957

293

15%

£1,018

£2,037

£1,018

£2,037

2.0d Sport 5d

£29,202

191

18%

£1,051

£2,102

£1,051

£2,102

xDrive20d Limited Sport Edition 5d

£34,960

172

18%

£1,258

£2,517

£1,258

£2,517

xDrive20d Limited Sport Edition 5d Step Auto

£36,430

178

18%

£1,311

£2,622

£1,311

£2,622

3.0d Sport 5d

£33,052

210

18%

£1,189

£2,379

£1,189

£2,379

3.0d Sport 5d Auto

£34,502

229

18%

£1,242

£2,484

£1,242

£2,484

SE

2012 / 2013 2013 / 2014
Model P11D Value CO2 g/km BIK Band 20% Tax 40% Tax 20% Tax 40% Tax

2.0i SE 5d

£26,207

223

15%

£786

£1,572

£786

£1,572

2.5i SE 5d

£29,477

272

15%

£884

£1,768

£884

£1,768

2.5i SE 5d Auto

£30,927

289

15%

£927

£1,855

£927

£1,855

2.5si SE 5d

£31,255

224

15%

£937

£1,875

£937

£1,875

2.5si SE 5d Step Auto

£32,725

228

15%

£981

£1,963

£981

£1,963

2.5i xDrive SE 5d

£32,000

224

15%

£960

£1,920

£960

£1,920

2.5i xDrive SE 5d Step Auto

£33,470

228

15%

£1,004

£2,008

£1,004

£2,008

2.5 xDrive25i SE (Dynamic) 5d

£33,155

224

15%

£994

£1,989

£994

£1,989

2.5 xDrive25i SE (Dynamic) 5d Step Auto

£34,625

228

15%

£1,038

£2,077

£1,038

£2,077

3.0i SE 5d Auto

£32,957

293

15%

£988

£1,977

£988

£1,977

3.0si SE 5d Step Auto

£34,845

233

15%

£1,045

£2,090

£1,045

£2,090

3.0i xDrive SE 5d Step Auto

£34,765

233

15%

£1,043

£2,086

£1,043

£2,086

3.0i xDrive30i SE (Dynamic) 5d Step Auto

£35,895

233

15%

£1,076

£2,153

£1,076

£2,153

xDrive18d SE 5d

£28,480

165

18%

£1,025

£2,050

£1,025

£2,050

xDrive20d SE 5d

£31,295

149

18%

£1,126

£2,253

£1,126

£2,253

2.0d xDrive SE Edition Premium 5d

£30,930

172

18%

£1,113

£2,226

£1,113

£2,226

2.0d SE 5d

£28,152

191

18%

£1,013

£2,026

£1,013

£2,026

xDrive18d SE (Dynamic) 5d

£29,705

165

18%

£1,069

£2,138

£1,069

£2,138

xDrive20d SE 5d Step Auto

£32,820

147

18%

£1,181

£2,363

£1,181

£2,363

2.0D xDrive20d SE Edition Premium 5d Step Auto

£32,400

178

18%

£1,166

£2,332

£1,166

£2,332

xDrive20d SE (Business Media) 5d

£33,505

149

18%

£1,206

£2,412

£1,206

£2,412

2.0d xDrive SE Edition Exclusive 5d

£32,510

172

18%

£1,170

£2,340

£1,170

£2,340

2.0d SE 5d (06)

£28,645

191

18%

£1,031

£2,062

£1,031

£2,062

xDrive20d SE (Business Media) 5d Step Auto

£35,030

147

18%

£1,261

£2,522

£1,261

£2,522

2.0D xDrive20d SE Edition Exclusive 5d Step Auto

£33,980

178

18%

£1,223

£2,446

£1,223

£2,446

xDrive20d SE (Professional Media) 5d

£33,810

149

18%

£1,217

£2,434

£1,217

£2,434

2.0d SE (177bhp) 5d

£29,490

172

18%

£1,061

£2,123

£1,061

£2,123

xDrive20d SE (Professional Media) 5d Step Auto

£35,335

147

18%

£1,272

£2,544

£1,272

£2,544

2.0d SE 5d Step Auto

£30,960

178

18%

£1,114

£2,229

£1,114

£2,229

2.0d xDrive SE 5d

£30,300

172

18%

£1,090

£2,181

£1,090

£2,181

2.0d xDrive SE 5d Step Auto

£31,770

178

18%

£1,143

£2,287

£1,143

£2,287

2.0D xDrive20d SE (Dynamic) 5d

£31,525

172

18%

£1,135

£2,270

£1,135

£2,270

2.0D xDrive20d SE (Dynamic) 5d Step Auto

£32,995

178

18%

£1,187

£2,375

£1,187

£2,375

3.0d SE 5d

£32,052

210

18%

£1,153

£2,307

£1,153

£2,307

3.0d SE 5d Auto

£33,502

229

18%

£1,206

£2,412

£1,206

£2,412

3.0d SE 5d (06)

£33,380

196

18%

£1,201

£2,403

£1,201

£2,403

3.0d SE 5d Step Auto (06)

£34,850

206

18%

£1,254

£2,509

£1,254

£2,509

3.0d xDrive SE 5d

£34,160

196

18%

£1,229

£2,459

£1,229

£2,459

3.0d xDrive SE 5d Step Auto

£35,630

206

18%

£1,282

£2,565

£1,282

£2,565

3.0D xDrive30d SE (Dynamic) 5d

£35,315

196

18%

£1,271

£2,542

£1,271

£2,542

3.0D xDrive30d SE (Dynamic) 5d Step Auto

£36,785

206

18%

£1,324

£2,648

£1,324

£2,648

3.0sd SE 5d Step Auto

£37,370

208

18%

£1,345

£2,690

£1,345

£2,690

3.5d xDrive SE 5d Step Auto

£38,220

208

18%

£1,376

£2,752

£1,376

£2,752

3.0D xDrive35d SE (Dynamic) 5d Step Auto

£39,045

208

18%

£1,405

£2,811

£1,405

£2,811