2018 BMW X3

BMW headquarters may be in Munich, but the German company is eager to note its manufacturing success in the United States. For more than two decades the company’s Spartanburg, South Carolina plant has built BMW products, including the Z3, the first-generation Z4, and variants of the E36 3-series. Today, the 5-million-square-foot facility is tasked with assembling mid-size and compact crossover SUVs, including the all-new 2018 BMW X3.

Like its Spartanburg-built predecessor, the third-generation X3 will be available with either a four- or six-cylinder engine. All-wheel drive, or xDrive in BMW parlance, is now standard, while a diesel engine option is no longer on the table. Four-cylinder 2018 X3s christened xDrive30i come equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four, while six-cylinder models bear the M40i nomenclature and sport a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six.

Despite mirroring the displacement of the outgoing X3’s gas-sipping engines, the 2018 X3’s two engines are entirely new to this model line, though they are shared with other BMW products such as the BMW 3-series and the BMW 5-series. The engines are both more powerful and torquier than their predecessors, with xDrive30i models making 248 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque—a gain of eight horsepower over the old inline-four (but two less lb-ft). More impressive is the M40i’s output: 355 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque, increases of 55 ponies and 69 lb-ft. Both engines pair with an eight-speed automatic transmission with paddler shifters; the M40i adds a launch control function.

Complementing the new powertrains, fresh styling gives the compact crossover a more expressive look. Thanks to a wheelbase that stretches 2.2 inches longer than before, the new X3 features a more striking profile with a long hood, a tapering roof line, and a beltline that rises aft of the C-pillar, recalling that of the original 2004 X3. Overall length is up more than two inches, as well. Up front, the new crossover is marked by sizeable air intakes mounted low in the fascia, headlights pushed to the edges of the front fenders, and BMW’s trademark kidney grille, which now incorporates shutters that help reduce aerodynamic drag. Out back, big taillights hug the new X3’s shapelier fenders and emphasize the model’s width. Eight inches of ground clearance and an almost Jeep Grand Cherokee-matching fording depth of 19.6 inches mean BMW hasn’t completely abandoned the X3’s ability to perform off-road.

While the standard X3 xDrive30i wears 18-inch wheels and tires and features aluminum and silver exterior accents, an available Luxury package adds revised front and rear bumper covers with two-tone finishes and additional chrome trim. Opting for the M Sport package brings an aggressive-looking body kit similar to that on the M40i, as well as standard 19-inch wheels. The top-of-the-line M40i takes things one step with flared fenders.

Inside, the X3’s cabin features a center stack angled toward the driver and the brand’s now-ubiquitous electronic gear selector. Standard equipment on the 2018 X3 includes Sport seats with power-adjustable bolsters, three-zone automatic climate control, a 40/20/40-split-folding and reclining rear bench seat, and a forward collision warning system. Despite sitting on a longer wheelbase, passenger room is about the same as before, but cargo volume increases by one cubic foot with all seats in place.

The top-of-the-line X3 M40i lives up to its M Performance badging with an all-wheel-drive system that distributes a greater proportion of torque to the rear wheels than in lesser X3s, bigger brakes with four-piston front calipers, a dual-mode exhaust system, and a trim-specific suspension that includes revised springs, dampers, and anti-roll bars. Adaptive dampers are an available option on both models and offer Eco Pro, Comfort, Sport, and Adaptive driving modes. M40i models equipped with this feature also add a harder-edged Sport+ setting.

Other optional extras include a panoramic sunroof (standard on the M40i), a head-up display that’s 75-percent larger than in the old X3, and a 10.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation that runs BMW’s latest iDrive software and is Apple CarPlay compatible. Buyers also can add BMW Gesture Control, which allows users to interact with the infotainment system without having to touch the screen or iDrive controller. Additionally, the X3 can be equipped with active-safety features such as adaptive cruise control, a blind-spot monitor, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist as part of the optional Driving Assistance package.

The 2018 BMW X3 goes on sale in November. While pricing won’t be announced until closer to the on-sale date, we’d wager that the 2018 X3’s new engines, additional technology, and standard all-wheel-drive system will result in a compact BMW crossover SUV that wears a starting price that’s thousands more than the $41,045 fee asked for today’s least expensive rear-wheel-drive X3.