BMW X3M Competition (2020) Review: An X3 with some real M-agic

For some strange reason, the wizards at BMW M never paid much attention to their parent company’s mid-level SUV (Sports Activity Vehicle in BMW-speak) before. We’ve seen two generations of X5M and X6M models come and go (and currently await their third generations), but it’s only now that BMW M has laid their hands on the X3 as well. But, while the X3M was a long time coming, it was certainly worth the wait. It marks the début of the next-generation M3/M4’s oily bits, and presents all that mechanical goodness in a practical, classy-looking package that also happens to be a heap of fun to drive.

 

Styling

Thanks to BMW’s love of decorating many of the models in their range with M Sport styling packages, it takes a keen eye to notice that this one is actually the real deal, and not just a badge-and-bodykit job. All the obligatory modern BMW M design elements are present, right down to the gigantic wheels and a front end that consists mostly of air inlets. And, seeing as we’re only receiving the X3M in top-spec “Competition” trim in South Africa, the grille and detail pieces are all finished in gloss black, with subtle X3M badging sprinkled all over. 

The big difference is that most of those air vents are actually functional, with the exception of the honeycomb “diffuser” under the rear bumper and the stylised “outlets” behind the front wheels. Those quad exhaust tailpieces are functional as well, and provide a pretty rousing soundtrack to go with the buckets of power on offer. Oh, and the door mirrors are "proper" M items, complete with wing-like protrusions.

For the rest, it’s all surprisingly subtle, although our test car’s intriguing “Sunstone Metallic” paintwork complimented its machined-face 21-inch alloy wheels and black trimmings to perfection. This is definitely the combination to get if you prefer your M-car SUV to be discreet yet striking. 

 

Related: Is the BMW X3 good for families?

 

Performance

This is what the X3M is all about, and the numbers don’t disappoint at all. Behind those frowning adaptive LED headlights and big air inlets lurks a twin-turbo 3.0-litre inline-6 petrol engine. But, while the engine’s layout is the same as the one in the outgoing (F82) M4 and (now-discontinued) F80 M3, this is a completely new powerplant. 

Derived from the brand’s latest turbopetrol 6-cylinder (B58) engine, it’s christened the S58, and features uprated internal components, improved lubrication, and greater cooling capacity to support its increased outputs. The S58 will also find its way into the next-generation M3/M4, along with the 8-speed ZF automatic gearbox and M-optimised AWD system which graces this X3M (in some derivatives). In this application, it produces 375 kW and 600 Nm, the latter being available all the way from 2 600 to 5 950 r/min.

Claimed performance is accordingly rapid, with the 0 – 100 km/h dash dispatched in 4.1 seconds and a governed top speed of 285 km/h. On-road performance is a bit of a mixed bag, however: the initial take-off is quite gentlemanly, and only really comes alive when the rev counter passes the 3 000 r/min mark. This perceived turbo lag is emphasised by rather tall gearing in the lower ratios, but the upshot is a really strong top-end power delivery and an appetite for high revs.

Make no mistake, though: once the engine is on the boil, this is a very, very rapid car. That sustained wave of mid-range torque makes for effortless overtaking acceleration, and burying the noise pedal in the carpet unleashes a surge of power that doesn’t let up until the digital rev counter heads towards the 7 000 r/min mark. It makes a very nice noise when wrung out to the red line, too, accompanied by surprisingly muted burbles from the exhaust when the driver lifts off the throttle.

 

Related: Which BMW X3 engine is better – petrol or diesel?

 

The Drive

The fact that the dual-mode exhaust defaults to its louder setting upon start-up should tell you everything you need to know about the X3M: it’s energetic and playful, with a naughty streak that could land an unwary driver in deep trouble with the law due to "accidental speeding". It’s unlikely to land its driver in a ditch, though, because the AWD system and adaptive dampers do a brilliant job of keeping the X3M moving in the right direction.

This is the same “M xDrive” AWD system as you’d find in the latest M5, which means that it remains predominantly rear-drive-biased, and only sends power to the front when the rear tyres threaten to go up in smoke. In fact, if the engineers wanted to, they could have programmed-in a pure RWD setting (let’s call it drift mode) as they did with the M5, but they opted to give the X3M unbreakable traction instead. 

That doesn’t make it any less agile, though, because the X3M changes direction with an eagerness that belies its considerable (2 045 kg) kerb weight. Overall, the compromise makes sense, given this car’s relatively high centre of gravity and more family-focused usage pattern. As for most modern M-cars, there are various drive modes on call, with 3 settings each for the gearbox, throttle response, steering effort, and damper stiffness. And as a bonus, the driver can customise those two red buttons on the steering wheel ("M1" and "M2") to pre-set everything to suit different driving styles.

We’d advise against using the “Sport Plus” suspension setting on the road, however, as it leads to a pretty crashy ride quality without much tangible benefit to the handling in normal driving. Everything settles down nicely in the less-aggressive modes, though, where the X3M offers an agreeable compromise between responsive handling and a surprisingly smooth ride – especially given those low-profile tyres (255/40R21 in front, 265/40R21 in the rear).

 

Related: Nearer the entry level, the BMW X3 xDrive30i strikes a sweet spot between price and performance.

 

Space and Comfort

Seeing as the latest X3 is actually larger than the first-generation X5 was, it’s only reasonable to expect plenty of cabin- and boot space. Reality satisfies this expectation, with enough room for 5 average-sized adults and a 530-litre luggage compartment. And, thanks to its practical SUV shape, there’s a lot of headroom all round and a large glass area to keep the cabin from becoming claustrophobic – an area where the standard tilting and sliding panoramic roof is also a bonus.

Other standard equipment include electric adjustment for the heated front seats, parking sensors all round and a rear-view camera, lane departure warning, automated perpendicular parking, keyless entry with pushbutton start, 3-zone climate control, an electrically-operated tailgate, head-up display, rear side-window roller blinds, two-tone leather trim, BMW’s Professional Navigation system with a 10.25-inch colour touchscreen, a wireless charging tray in the centre console, and a 600-watt Harman Kardon audio system with 16 speakers. 

All in all, it's a pretty decent standard feature list, but there are still a bunch of options from which to choose as well. Our test car featured ventilated front seats, the Parking Assist Plus package, which adds surround-view cameras, automated parallel parking and Active PDC emergency braking; as well as the Driving Assist Plus package, which upgrades the cruise control to adaptive operation with traffic jam assistance, lane-keeping assistance, and blind-spot monitoring. These additions (and the special paintwork) took our test car’s price up by about R 70 000, which isn’t too bad a deal at all.

 

Related: Fancy a sleeker BMW X3? Well, the X4 has the same underpinnings, but loses the X3’s boxy rear end.

 

Safety

With great speed comes an even greater need for comprehensive safety equipment, and the X3M delivers on this front as well. Six airbags and a full complement of safety acronyms form a good starting point, while a 5-star Euro-NCAP crash safety rating points towards excellent occupant protection. Add to that automatic emergency braking and rear ISOFIX child seat anchors, and the X3M becomes a family hauler that’s as safe as it is rapid.

 

Related: Here are 10 BMW X3 accessories you didn’t know you needed.

 

Fuel Consumption

A multitude of horses under the bonnet means that the X3M drinks as enthusiastically as it hurtles down the road. BMW claims an average fuel consumption of 10.6 ℓ/100 km, but we registered a figure of 16.2 ℓ/100 km during our test period. That said, we didn’t really try to save fuel (the engine’s lovely noise and punchy performance obliterated all of our best intentions), and our test average was actually a fair bit lower than what we achieved with the similarly-potent Jaguar F-Pace SVR not too long ago. 

There’s little doubt that conservative drivers will achieve numbers closer to BMW’s claims, but those conservative buyers would more likely opt for one of the diesel X3s anyway. Besides, this car is a pricey extravagance, and it’s unlikely that those who can afford to buy or lease such a car will be overly concerned with fuel efficiency in any case.

 

Related: We reviewed the BMW X3 xDrive30d, and found it to tick every sensible box.

 

Price

Considering the level of performance and its relatively comprehensive standard specification, the X3M Competition’s list price of R 1 641 162 isn’t bad at all. Make no mistake, this is an expensive car with a potentially expensive option list, so getting to the R1.8-million mark wouldn’t be very difficult, but it is also one of the quickest SUVs you can find for the money. 

Think about it like this. An entry-level, 2.0-litre petrol, RWD X3 lists just to the north of R 750 000, and for that money, you only get 135 kW. The X3M Competition costs slightly more than double that much, but has almost three times the power, AWD, and a whole host of extras fitted as standard. So, for its market segment, the X3M is actually rather well-priced, albeit far out of reach of the average motorist’s budget.

 

Related: If your budget doesn’t stretch quite to the BMW X3M’s pricetag, the M40i derivative is almost as nice but a whole lot less expensive.

 

The Verdict

As far as mid-sized SUVs go, this is one of the most accomplished and characterful ones out there. Other, larger-engined competitors may have stronger low-rev acceleration (Mercedes-AMG GLC 63S and Jaguar F-Pace SVR), while others have greater athleticism through the corners (Alfa Stelvio Q and the Jaguar), but the X3M’s spread of abilities is sufficient to make it stand proud in a very appealing field. 

Considering the charisma of its straight-6 engine, sure-footed handling, and well-stocked standard spec, it appeals almost equally to the heart and the mind. And, as an indication of the performance awaiting future new M3/M4 buyers, it’s a tantalising taste of what’s to come for its smaller, lighter siblings. But, if you want to transport a family and their chattel at great speed and with lots of charm, this is just about as good as you’ll get at a BMW dealership. Until the next-generation X5M arrives, that is...

 

Pricing is accurate at the time of writing, but may change without prior notice. 

Included in the list price is a warranty for 2 years with no mileage limit, and a maintenance plan for 5 years or 100 000 km.

 

Expert rating:

4.5/5

 

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