Comfy, Fast, and Completely Mainstream

About 15 years in the past, BMW began catching flak from loyal fanatics concerning the model slapping its “M” badges on automobiles that weren’t correct M automobiles. “‘M’ stands for ‘advertising’ now, not motorsport,” they’d cry. Whereas that all the time appeared whiny, I really feel prefer it’s my flip to whine. However after testing the brand new 2025 BMW X3 M50, I don’t suppose M is for advertising; I feel it stands for mainstream.

Every thing concerning the X3 M50 appears sanitized, stripped of character and attraction, all in an effort to draw as many patrons as completely potential. Its generic SUV seems, an inside that appears prefer it got here from a young person’s temper board, and probably the most uninteresting driving expertise from something carrying a Roundel all mix to make the X3 M50 probably the most vanilla BMW I’ve ever skilled. BMW even dropped the “i” on the finish of M50. I do know that isn’t information for BMW followers, however this was the primary such Bimmer I’ve examined, and it appears like shedding a cool little element that harkened again to BMW’s historical past. I do know why BMW dropped it, because it’s principally meaningless now and clients are getting it confused with electrical “i” fashions, but it surely appears like shedding a bit of BMW’s soul. Becoming for this automotive, then.

An Inoffensive however In the end Boring Design

I admittedly hated the brand new X3 when BMW first unveiled it. However after spending every week with it, it grew on me. I nonetheless don’t like it; it’s painfully boring, has far too many slab-like panels, its headlights appear like they had been designed on a serviette at lunch, and it’s utterly devoid of character. Nonetheless, a minimum of in M50 guise and carrying Vegas Purple Metallic paint, it started to look identical to a generic fast SUV to me, slightly than one thing offensive. That mentioned, my neighbor has a 2024 BMW X3 M40i and it proves how far this new X3 has fallen.

Usually, after I check a mid-fast premium crossover, I hear cynical criticism from fanatic mates however reward from everybody else. Individuals love their go-kinda-fast SUVs. However few folks even cared about this new X3. I heard a couple of unfavorable feedback, however in any other case the silence was deafening.

That’s to not say there aren’t some redeeming qualities. For instance, the kidney grilles are a minimum of type of regular (a triumph for any trendy BMW), I just like the iX-inspired hood design, and its general profile is good-looking sufficient, even when its entrance finish is just too tall. I simply really feel prefer it’s going to be misplaced within the sea of different premium crossovers and flat-out get left behind by nice trying ones from, Acura, Volvo, and even upcoming newbies just like the Rivian R2. I additionally had an opportunity to check a few of them not too long ago and it exhibits how far this section has grown in high quality.

Who Is This Inside For?

I’ve owned and pushed BMWs from a number of totally different many years. All of them have had one factor in frequent, in terms of their interiors: maturity. BMW’s have all the time had severe interiors, maybe overly so generally, designed with properly thought out ergonomics, principally good construct high quality (my E36 was made out of tissue paper), and emphasis on visibility and value. This new X3, although, seems prefer it was designed for youngsters, by youngsters. The huge heart console V-shaped gentle bar seems foolish and simply takes up house, the A-pillars are thick and in the way in which, and BMW’s incessant use of hidden air vents with annoying little directional management toggles is irritating.

Nonetheless, probably the most egregious inside error is the whole door pull space. The X3’s inside door pulls are little triangular jobs which are constructed right into a console that additionally homes the reminiscence seat buttons, a touch-based air vent slider, an uncovered air vent (why are these uncovered however the sprint vents aren’t?), and one other cumbersome V-shaped gentle bar that takes up an excessive amount of house. It’s simply far too cluttered, cumbersome, unpleasant, and annoying to make use of.

I’ll say I just like the cubby simply forward of the middle console, although. It has a vertical wi-fi telephone charger—which costs shockingly shortly—and a giant cubby for stuff like my pockets, keys, and earbuds. And the rubberized, ribbed nature of the panel stored my telephone from getting too scorching whereas charging, which is all the time an issue, whereas additionally holding my issues in place. It seems cool and it really works properly.

By way of construct high quality, BMW continues to make top-notch interiors, because it felt solidly constructed. Every thing feels sturdy contained in the X3, prefer it’ll final a few years with out nary a squeak or rattle. Shut the doorways and the shut with a high-quality whoomph. And I actually like how simply the rear cargo cowl snaps in and misplaced. It’s as well-made as you’d anticipate from a BMW cabin but it surely seems prefer it was designed by a 16-year-old, each it phrases of pointless flashiness and wonky ergonomics. I’m unsure if BMW’s goal demographic has modified however I’m unsure who it expects to purchase this automotive.

Greater Exterior however Greater Inside?

While you see the brand new BMW X3 M50 from the surface, you anticipate a ton of elevated inside house, versus its predecessor. Nonetheless, that’s solely true within the trunk, the place its 31.5 cubic-feet of cargo house bests the previous X3’s 28.7 cubic-feet. The previous-gen X3 truly has nearly an inch of additional entrance headroom, whereas entrance leg and shoulder room are about the identical. The previous automotive’s practically inch of additional headroom extends to rear passengers, too. Whereas rear leg room is about the identical on each automobiles, the brand new one does have about an inch of elevated rear shoulder room.

To treatment the discount of headspace, BMW gave the brand new X3 an optionally available full glass roof. That brings a great deal of gentle into the cabin, making it really feel airier, but it surely doesn’t transfer so you’ll be able to’t open the sunroof.

Whereas the brand new inside isn’t worse than the previous one, it actually isn’t the massive improve that its exterior mass appears to counsel.

Drives for Mass-Market Attraction

I couldn’t assist however suppose, after every week of driving the BMW X3 M50 in each form of sensible state of affairs, that it will make a fantastic Mercedes. The steering is gentle and principally imprecise however has first rate on-center really feel, the trip is gorgeous, and it’s rock-solid steady at excessive velocity. However flip the wheel with any form of enthusiasm and it fails to reward. I distinctly bear in mind testing the previous-generation X3 M40i for the primary time and I knew it was a fantastic automotive inside 30 toes. I may simply inform that its steering and trip had been tuned by individuals who care about driving. However this one? It feels prefer it was designed for mass-market attraction.

Don’t suppose which means it’s sloppy. It isn’t. It’s fairly a succesful machine, even by a few of southern New Jersey’s twistier bits of street. As soon as its weight subtly transfers, it grips and goes. Nevertheless it simply by no means provides you the sense that it’s notably considering doing so. Few trendy BMWs discuss to you thru the steering anymore, that principally died after the E90. However most trendy Bimmers nonetheless discuss to you thru the chassis; you’ll be able to really feel what they’re doing by your ass within the seat. Not this one, although. You may inform it’s succesful and that it’s doing its job, however solely by the outcomes. It tells you nothing by any of the controls.

I additionally disliked the brake pedal. Not the brakes themselves. They work superbly, truly, with close to excellent pedal really feel and tuning. Nonetheless, the brake pedal itself is positioned solution to excessive, so I needed to flex my proper foot upward to achieve it and it was simply uncomfortable and annoying.

The trip is fantastic, although. It’s supple and rounds out bumps superbly, whereas all the time sustaining its composure. Even in its sport mode, its trip by no means will get much less comfortable. It’s one of the buttoned down, stable feeling crossovers of its measurement that I’ve ever pushed.

What Did They Do to My Boy?

BMW’s B58 engine is one among my favourite engines of all time. My effusive reward for the three.0-liter turbocharged straight-six over time has doubtless been nauseating for anybody studying my phrases. I’ve beloved it in each single software, BMW or in any other case. And, as an engine, it really works brilliantly within the X3 M50. It’s as easy as ever and supplies loads of efficiency. I used to be admittedly a contact upset on the lack of punch it appeared to have, however that’s doubtless because of the SUV’s 4,535-pound curb weight and BMW’s resolution to isolate occupants from as a lot feeling as potential.

Nonetheless, BMW completely neutered the B58’s noise. I’m unsure whether or not there’s some emissions cause, or if BMW simply forgot to tune the exhaust, however the X3 M50’s exhaust word is fairly unhealthy. It’s tinny and coarse on startup and simply sounds… generic when revving from the surface. On the within, the cabin is so quiet you barely hear the I6’s actual voice. As a substitute, you hear the artificial soundtrack pumped in by BMW’s sound engineers and it sounds lower than stellar, to be form.

In each different software, the B58 sounds superb. The Toyota Supra and BMW Z4 M40i are its finest examples, the place it feels like an unique automotive engine. However within the X3 M50, it’s robbed of its character, which is wildly disappointing.

With 393 horsepower and 428 lb-ft of torque, the X3 M50 is without doubt one of the strongest B58-powered automobiles ever, so it’s no shock BMW claims it may hit 60 mph in 4.4 seconds. That’s fast for a household SUV but it surely by no means actually feels it from behind the wheel. It does have loads of passing energy when you’re at freeway speeds, although, it simply appears to wrestle with getting off the road with gusto. Or maybe simply the shortage of sensation, audible or in any other case.

Most Prospects Will Love It, Lovers Gained’t

Every thing concerning the new 2025 BMW X3 M50 feels prefer it was designed for mass market attraction. That shouldn’t come as an excessive amount of of a shock, given BMW’s fairly regular motion in that path for years. Nonetheless, this new X3 appears like the head of BMW’s transition.

This new X3 is an effective automotive; it’s snug, quiet, spacious sufficient, and filled with nice tech. Positive, it may not be very fascinating to take a look at, and its inside is a bit infantile, but it surely makes for a wonderful on a regular basis automotive. Nonetheless, I additionally really feel prefer it’s the least BMW-like Bimmer I’ve ever examined. It strays furthest from the “Final Driving Machine” ethos than anything with a Roundel that I’ve ever been behind the wheel of. If this had a Mercedes emblem on it as an alternative, I wouldn’t bat a watch.

Does that imply it isn’t value shopping for, particularly with an MSRP of $65,900? No, and I feel it’s going to promote very properly over its lifecycle. I feel it’s a great automotive, simply not a great BMW.