BMW X3 cars for sale

Frequently asked questions about the BMW X3

• What is the BMW X3?
• Slotting into the middle of its SUV range is the BMW X3, competing directly with the Audi Q5, Mercedes-Benz GLC, Jaguar F-Pace and Land Rover Discovery Sport, among others. BMW was the first premium brand to launch an SUV in this sector; the original X3 was launched in 2003, several years ahead of the Q5 – and beating Mercedes by more than a decade (in the UK, at least).
  
  That first X3 was a stiff-riding sports car of an SUV, complete with throaty six-cylinder petrol engines. Since then, BMW has worked on improving comfort and real-world engine choices, to broaden its appeal. The latest car, sitting between the X1 and X5, is the most well-rounded yet.

• What versions of the BMW X3 are available?
• The BMW X3 SUV is offered in a single five-door bodystyle - if you want something swoopier the X4 takes an X3 and adds a more coupe-like rear end. Sales volumes suggest most people prefer the X3.
  
  Its engine line-up is straightforward: petrols, diesels, plug-in hybrids and high performance versions, too. BMW’s usual SE and M Sport trim lines are joined by an xLine variant, which sits between them, with more rugged styling cues. The most powerful six-cylinder engines are offered as M Performance variants: M40i and M40d.

• What is the BMW X3 M?
• Sitting above the X3 M40i and M40d is the punchier X3 M Competition. While the M40d musters 326hp and 354hp for the revvier M40i, the M Competition ups the ante to 510hp. It's quick, too, with a 0-62mph time of just 4.1 seconds.
  
  Special features include a purposeful bodykit, figure-hugging front sports seats and 21-inch alloy wheels. They're a rarefied choice, too, as few performance car fans seem unaware it exists.

• Is the BMW X3 good to drive?
• The latest BMW X3 is the Goldilocks of the three generations launched so far: not too sporty, not too sloppy, but just right. It’s surprisingly agile through corners, with clean and alert responses to the steering, and even the base 2.0-litre engines have a reasonable turn of speed.
  
  Ride quality is pliant, particularly on lower-grade models with smaller wheels, and the refinement of the X3 is also commendable. It inherits the ability of bigger BMWs to glide along roads without too much bump, thump and bustle. And the M Performance models offer enough driving verve to take on the entertaining Jaguar F-Pace.

• Should I buy a BMW X3?
• There's lots of appeal with the X3, and while prices are comparable with the Q5, they're dearer than alternatives from Jaguar and Mercedes, but the finance packages on the regular models are attractive.
  
  Performance versions are far from cheap so think carefully before you commit. Whichever version you choose it's vital to use restraint when poring over the optional extras list.