Want to carry four people and their things in a hurry?
You can spend around $175,000 on a top version of BMW X3 USA or Mercedes-AMG GLC63 WILLcomplete with a flamethrower engine and suspension designed to deliver the kind of handling you’d expect from an M4 Competition or C63 S.
The point is, they’re a bit serious. That kind of focus is being loved in a two-door toy, but it can make a family SUV a bit tiresome.
That’s where 2022 BMW X3 M40i go with. With a practical mid-size SUV body, it will carry four people and their things. And with the turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, it does it quickly without trying too hard or shouting about it.
Does it offer the right combination of day-to-day usability and performance?
How much is the BMW X3 M40i?
The BMW X3 range starts at $74,900 before on-road costs for the sDrive20i, and extends to $118,900 before hitting the road for the M40i being tested here.
Along with the new look and updated interior, the M40i has been bumped up by $3000 in 2022.
It is more expensive than its closest rival from Audi, SQ5 TDI, starting at $110,400 before hitting the road. It’s powered by a V6 diesel engine and delivers a slightly different take on the mid-size performance SUV formula. At Mercedes-AMG, GLC43 priced at $130,724 before the road and the V6 petrol engine pack.
Final Porsche Macan the range is on either side of the BMW. The Macan S is $105,800 before touring, while the GTS is $129,800 before touring. Since you usually need to tick a few option boxes for the Macan to hit the spec, it’s the S that’s the M40i’s closest rival.
Price of BMW X3 2022:
- BMW X3 sDrive20i: $74,900
- BMW X3 xDrive20d: $77,900
- BMW X3 xDrive30i: $89,900
- BMW X3 xDrive30d: $95,900
- BMW X3 xDrive30e: $104,900
- BMW X3 M40i: $118,900
All prices do not include road charges.
What’s inside the BMW X3 M40i?
The current BMW X3 has one of the largest, most practical cabins in the mid-size SUV segment.
With its large windows, high roofline and plenty of space between the front seats, it can be mistaken for a larger vehicle at first glance. That’s no coincidence, because the X3 is very similar in size to the first generation X5.
The driving position offers a panoramic view of the road ahead, but the sport seats drop low enough and provide enough firmness to still keep you in position when the inline six is singing. Tall or short riders will have no trouble getting comfortable, and the stout M Sport steering wheel is a quality buy.
However, it may be a bit too greasy for people with small hands. BMW loves a chubby steering wheel, and the X3 is no exception.
All-round visibility is superb thanks to those oversized windows, and the cameras, sensors, and 3D surround view built into the latest iDrive system make the X3 easy to place in garages or narrow parking spot. Sure, a raised beltline and coupe hood contour look sharp, but the more conventional wagon body on this SUV is much more realistic.
The technology in the updated X3 is amazing. iDrive 7.0 has been dethroned in BMW’s latest electric models, but the system is still there with the best in the business.
Not only has the central screen clear, the iPad feels fast. It responds to touch, voice and input from the classic BMW controls on the transmission, and the large on-screen tiles are easy to spot on the go.
BMW was the first to offer wireless Apple CarPlay, and its system remains one of the most reliable.
However, BMW has some work to do on its digital dashboard, which can’t match the latest Audi Virtual Cockpit in terms of customizability or clarity.
There’s plenty of storage at the front, from the space below the dashboard (where the wireless charger is usually located) to the deep space below the center armrest.
The rear seats in the X3 are excellent. Headroom is outstanding, even with a panoramic sunroof fitted to our testers and enough leg room for tall teenagers to feel comfortable. You’ll comfortably seat three people across from you thanks to the wide bench and the door opening wide enough to easily load a child seat.
There are rear vents, independent climate control, dual USB-C ports and a fold-down center armrest with cup holders.
You get ISOFIX points on the outboard rear seats, along with three top tether points. The rear bench folds 40/20/40 and is pretty much completely flat.
The opening of the boot itself is wide and has mesh pockets tucked into the sides. Confirmed space is 550 liters with the rear seats in place, which expands into 1600 liters with them folded.
What’s under the bonnet?
The power of the X3 M40i comes from the classic BMW engine – smooth Turbocharged petrol 3.0 liter inline-six.
It pumped out very healthy 285kW power and 500Nm torque, sent to all four wheels through an eight-speed variable-torque automatic transmission.
Engine features are the same in everything from 2 Series Coupe arrive Toyota Supra.
In the X3, it’s good for a claimed 100km/h sprint of 4.8 secondsand claimed fuel economy of 8.7 liters per 100km on the mixed cycle.
How does the BMW X3 M40i drive?
The engine in the M40i dominates the experience. It’s a smooth, signature engine that makes the car feel special, though without quite the same performance as the sportier motor-inspired engine in the X3 M Competition.
It shoots out with a slight flare of rev, and even in Comfort Mode packs an exhaust that makes you smile every time you accelerate.
It’s easy at one stroke, gliding through the lower gears without going above 2000 rpm thanks to the huge wave of torque delivered. There is an impressive duality to it; The engine can slide into the background when you’re not in a hurry, instead of constantly straining.
Bury the accelerator and it’s completely ripped apart. Low peak torque facilitates an impressive start to finish, and the transmission engages confidently through the gears.
Even in Comfort, it continues; put on the Sport Plus, it gets sharper and keeps a lower gear to keep the engine right in its torque range.
It offers all the performance you could need from a mid-size SUV.
To fit its bill as an M Performance car rather than a full-fledged sports car, the M40i feels more purposeful than its less powerful brethren, but doesn’t scream too loudly about it. its login information.
Riding on 21-inch wheels and slim orange tires is firmer than on lower variants and can feel a bit rough on uncomfortable inner city roads, but that’s not too uncomfortable.
The BMW has struck a good balance between sporty and everyday driving, certainly aided by the adaptive damping system. There is a noticeable difference between Comfort and Sport modes, which are too busy for commuting on average Australian roads.
At highway speeds, it’s steady and quiet, with the kind of inexplicable stability you’d expect in a stormy SUV. A full suite of driver assistance systems is still standard on the M40i, although a chip failure forced BMW to remove them from lower models.
Its adaptive cruise control is among the smoothest and smartest in the business, and lane-keeping assist strikes the right balance between engaging as you drift and letting go. you manage your own devices when they are not there.
The lane-centering system can be activated independently of the cruise control and lane-keeping systems, and takes a more practical approach to keeping the vehicle centered in its lane. It’s great for highway driving, though it’s not something we leave for everyday driving.
With its high window diameters, high driving position and reasonably comfortable ride, the M40i is neither as agile as a Porsche Macan, nor is it the laser focus of its X3 M Competition sibling.
It’s good enough to handle the power on offer, and the steering wheel has enough weight to inspire reasonable confidence in the bends.
Traction from the xDrive all-wheel drive system is great in wet conditions, allowing you to get the most out of the engine’s output, but it’s more focused on point-by-point speed than engagement. driver’s family.
You get what?
Highlights of X3 sDrive20i and xDrive20d:
- 19-inch alloy wheels
- Three-zone climate control
- Automatic rear door
- BMW Live Cockpit Professional
- 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
- 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Professional Connection Pack
- Wireless Apple CarPlay / Android Auto
- DAB . Digital Radio
- Driver’s Assistant
- Electrically adjustable front seats
- Head-up display
- Mirror pack
- Navigation pack
- Parking assistance
- Reverse camera
- Sports leather steering wheel
- Wireless phone charger
X3 xDrive30i and xDrive30d add:
- USA Sports Package
- Title anthracite
- Adaptive suspension
- 20 inch alloy wheels
- Brakes M Sport
- M aluminum interior decoration
- US leather steering wheel
- High Gloss Shadow Series USA
- M high-gloss roof rail
- Parking Assistant Plus
- Backrest width adjustment, driver
- Vernasca leather upholstery
X3 M40i benefits:
- 21-inch M Sport alloy wheels
- M Sport differential
- Adaptive M suspension
- Instrument panel in Sensatec
- Panoramic glass sunroof
- Seat heating system for front seats
- Lumbar support for the driver
- surround sound system harman / kardon
Is the BMW X3 M40i safe?
BMW X3 earns one Five-star ANCAP safety rating based on tests conducted by Euro NCAP in 2017. This review Applies to xDrive20d and xDrive30i variants only in the line before the update, however.
In terms of category scores, the X3 scored 93% in adult protection, 84% in child protection, 70% in pedestrian detection and 58% in safety assistance.
Standard equipment for the system is dual front, side chest, side curtain and driver’s knee airbag.
The standard driver assistance package (sDrive20i, xDrive20d) includes:
- AEB with pedestrian detection
- Forward collision warning
- Cruise control with downhill braking
- Lane departure warning
- Blind spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Speed sign recognition
- Active rear collision protection
Advanced Professional Driving Assistant (xDrive30i, xDrive30d, xDrive30e, M40i) additional:
- Adaptive cruise control with stop/go
- Assistant steering and lane control (semi-automatic mode)
- Lane keeping assist
- Blind spot support
- Traffic warning ahead
- Aid evading
How much does the BMW X3 M40i cost to test drive?
BMW Australia covers its product line with a three-year, unlimited km . warranty.
Services may be available as you go, or through the Service Included plan. The X3 requires servicing every 12 months or 12,000km.
5 years or 80,000 km prepaid service plan will set you back $ 2010.
CarExpert’s Takes On BMW X3 M40i
The X3 M40i enters a great niche in the crowded mid-size SUV world.
The engine is a classic BMW inline-six with more than enough performance to put a smile on your face, but that extra performance doesn’t come at the cost of everyday usability or comfort.
Even though it doesn’t have the latest, flashiest interior tech from electric iX SUV, the cabin is one of the most practical in the mid-size SUV segment, with the kind of space X5 owners expect.
There are a few better ways to get your family in a rush for money.
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THAN: Everything BMW X3
