MotorWeek drives the redesigned and more powerful third-generation BMW X3 to find out.
“With great power comes great responsibility.” If a sign with those words on it isn’t in every automaker’s meeting rooms, it should be. The people tasked with developing the next generation of any vehicle, such as the 2018 BMW X3, can shape the future of that model and possibly the company itself, but they can’t be too cavalier about it. It’s never a guarantee that the new version is going to be a hit. Consumer tastes could change, the economy could tank, fuel prices could shoot up and doom it before it hits dealership floors.
According to the above MotorWeek video, it seems as if the people responsible for developing the all-new, third-generation 2018 BMW X3 didn’t drop the ball. It’s larger than its predecessor. Presenter John Davis said, “Now in its third generation, the wheelbase grows 2.2 inches, but most exterior dimensions only see minor changes.”
The X3 is also more powerful. The new 30i model’s turbocharged 2.0-liter I4 cranks out 248 horsepower while the 35i is now known as the M40i and uses a turbocharged 355-horsepower 3.0-liter I6. Both engines send their power through an eight-speed automatic. The available xDrive all-wheel drive seems more rear-biased than before – a great thing for wringing the “activity” out of the Sports Activity Vehicle.
Dynamic damping is available on both versions of the X3. MotorWeek‘s M40i tester had the available adaptive M suspension. Contributor Greg Carloss remarked that the X3 comes across as car-like, but also offers the solidity of an SUV. He said, “The thing I really like about the new X3 is that it has this lightweight and nimble feel that I don’t quite remember getting in the previous X3. It’s actually a lot closer to the X1.”
Just like the wheelbase, certain interior hardware has grown in size. The head-up display is 75 percent larger and the center touchscreen is 10.25 inches. That’s good news for BMW. If you’re interested in the 2018 BMW X3, here’s some for you: You can get one today. According to Davis, “At dealers now, pricing for the 2018 BMW X3 starts under $43,000; the M40i for about $55,000.
Looking for a good deal on a new BMW? Get insider information here.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
