2019 BMW X3 Review

What's New for the 2019 BMW X3?

The 2019 BMW X3 is part of the compact luxury crossover SUV’s third production cycle. For this year, BMW introduced a rear-wheel-drive version of the lower-tier 30i trim named sDrive30i. There are now three trims: the aforementioned sDrive30i, the all-wheel-drive version of the 30i (xDrive30i), and the high-performance all-wheel-drive M40i. On the 30i trims, BMW installs a 2.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline 4-cylinder (I4) engine with 248 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. The M40i gets a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline 6-cylinder engine with 355 horsepower and 365 lb-ft of torque. Although both engines have auto stop-start to eliminate idling and are hitched to an 8-speed automatic transmission, go with the M40i for peak acceleration; it provides a 0-60 mph time of 4.6 seconds, while the I4 has a 0-60 mph time of 6 seconds. Thanks to its rear-wheel drivetrain, which sends engine power to two wheels instead of all four, the sDrive provides the X3’s peak fuel economy: 23 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway.

As a five-seater, the 2019 BMW X3 provides a standard cargo space of 28.7 cubic feet, with the possibility of expanding it to 62.7 cubic feet by folding down the rear seats. Standard on the vehicle is SensaTec vinyl upholstery, Dark Oak wood trim, a three-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel, anthracite headliner, 10-way power front sports seats with 2-way power side bolsters, and a driver-side memory system. The M40i is upgraded with 14-way front-seat power adjustability and 4-way power lumbar support, as well as Aluminum Rhombicle interior trim instead of the wood trim. Standard comfort and convenience features on the BMW X3 include dynamic cruise control, tri-zone automatic climate control, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a garage-door opener, a vehicle monitor system, an electronic LCD instrument display, Bluetooth® wireless technology for hands-free phone operation and audio streaming, BMW TeleServices for vehicle maintenance assistance, a 12-speaker 205-watt audio system, AM/FM radio, HD Radio™ technology, a USB port for playing media from mobile devices, and iDrive 6.0 infotainment integration.

The M40i gets additional keyless entry and a one-year trial subscription to SiriusXM® Satellite Radio. For restraint and cushioning in the event of a crash, the 2019 X3 provides dual front impact airbags, a pair of front seat-mounted side impact airbags, and two roof-mounted side curtain airbags. Also standard on the crossover are dynamic vehicle stability control, dynamic traction control, LED daytime running lights, brake fade compensation and drying, dynamic and cornering brake control, an anti-lock braking system, a theft-deterrent system, BMW Assist eCall™ for emergency requests and automatic collision notification, a rearview camera with park distance control, frontal collision warning, automatic city collision mitigation and braking, daytime pedestrian detection, speed limit information, and an Active Protection System for automatically preparing the car to mitigate injury when it senses an impending crash. Hill descent control is added on the xDrive30i and M40i trims.