The Latest Chapter of Legend
Story by Dwain Hebda // Images Provided
Ever since it was originally released in 2003, BMW’s acclaimed X3 has been a critical and customer favorite, selling more than 3.5 million units. Despite this success, company engineers have proven time and again that they are not shy about improving upon a winning formula, as decades of innovation and improvement to the popular model attest.
Such is the mindset for the latest iteration of the X3, which has had the auto press and driving enthusiasts salivating well ahead of its expected arrival this fall. In an era when many automakers are standing pat or playing it safe, BMW characteristically continues to push the boundaries of performance and luxury in one of its signature models, thus giving the consumer the widest possible range of options to craft their dream vehicle.
“What we’re seeing a lot of right now is BMW engineering vehicles that appeal to everyone,” said Dillon Johnson, sales manager for ONYX. “The X3 is a really good example of that, which is why there are so many trim options and engine options. It gives the customer plenty of à la carte options, which is why it’s very common for us to do custom orders on the X3s.”
The auto environment into which the new X3 will debut is a far cry from any in recent memory, as consumer demand for electronics, performance for the dollar, and alternative power plants continue to push auto engineering. That, plus the fact that the model has big shoes to fill; its predecessor was not only the most successful X3 ever sold, per BMW Blog, but also challenged for the brand’s best-selling product in 2023. These elements have combined to create expectations for the 2025 model that have only escalated with each passing month.
Never one to shirk a challenge, the legendary German automaker is promising the 2025 X3 will more than satisfy the hype, as well as fit snugly into the new driving environment in ways BMW long-timers have come to expect and newcomers are eager to experience.
While extensive details are slim pre-release, even to dealers, BMW has provided tantalizing samples of what’s to come to members of the auto press and, by extension, the public at large. In April, Car and Driver got a sneak peek at a test model and came away summarily impressed, even if the heavily camouflaged vehicle gave few hints as to body style or external appearance.
“We understand that the first versions to go on sale in the U.S. are the four-cylinder X3 xDrive30 rated at around 280 horsepower and the six-cylinder M50 good for approximately 390 horsepower,” wrote George Kacher. “In addition to the hybrid-assisted gasoline engines, BMW will offer the upgraded xDrive30e plug-in hybrid believed to peak at a combined 300 horsepower.
“Although some sources claim that the new X3 M50 will get a last-minute power boost to 421 horsepower, other channels suggest that the output will be kept below 400 horses because there is an unconfirmed X3 M Competition—codenamed G97—looming in the background.”
Other tidbits shared by the auto press rave about improvements to steering and suspension, which make the auto responsive and nimble even while BMW made it bigger and roomier. As for the technical guts of the new X3, these too have been attended to with BMW’s customary eye for detail. The car deploys a bevy of cameras and a mix of short-range and long-range radar to great effect, scanning cross traffic, cycle lanes, oncoming vehicles, and objects approaching from behind on the highway, as well as allowing for parking in tight spaces at the touch of a button.
Johnson said one of the most appealing features of the onboard technology is its user-friendliness, delivering the functionality that drivers want without any of the complications or intrusiveness that they don’t.
“The new updated technology that we have seen in recent years is all very seamless; we’re seeing more and more functions activated by voice, which helps the driver keep [their] eyes on the road and still use all the features. That’s just how everything is progressing.”
— DILLON JOHNSON
Elements outside of design, performance, and technology that have made the X3 one of BMW’s most popular models are price and availability. The 2024 models’ starting MSRP lists from the mid-$40,000s for the core sDrive30i/xDrive30i to $75,500 for the X3 M, per BMW.com, while not chump change, represent surprisingly accessible entry price points.
That, and what appears to be a lack of inventory and supply issues that have dogged other car makers in recent years, has Johnson expecting big things once the X3 starts rolling into the showroom.
“Overall, we’ve had the most inventory we’ve had, probably since pre-COVID, so we’re expecting to have good availability here at the dealership,” he said. “[T]urnaround times for customer orders are only about one to two months from the time we put an order in. The fact that they’re assembled in Spartanburg, South Carolina, plays a big part in that, and with the base price being what it is, it gives the consumer a lot of room to add the options they want most and still get it delivered in a reasonable amount of time.
“We’re looking forward to sitting down with our clients and really walking them through all the options open to them on the X3. Many clients are going to discover they can design a vehicle that’s exactly the way they want it while staying within their price range. We’re very excited for what’s coming this fall.”
For more information, visit onyxautomotive.com.
