2022 BMW X3 Facelift Review

BMW India has kickstarted 2022 with the launch of an important product, and it has gone through a Life Cycle Impulse or LCI. What is that? Well, that is BMW terminology for a mid-cycle facelift, and the model we are talking about is the company's highly sought-after SUV - the BMW X3. The X3 is one of the more popular offerings from the Bavarian car brand in India, and with this 2022 facelift, the SUV now looks sportier, more premium, and aggressive compared to the pre-facelift model. In fact, in addition to its refreshed look, the 2022 X3 also gets several new and updated features and tech. We recently got a chance to spend a day with it, and here's what we think about the 2022 BMW X3.

Also Read: 2022 BMW X3 Facelift Launched In India; Prices Start At Rs. 59.90 Lakh

Design

The X3 petrol is offered in two variants - SportX Plus and M Sport, and it's the latter that we drove, in the exclusive M Brooklyn Grey Metallic colour. I mention this colour because, this flat cement grey shade has now become very popular among luxury car brands, and can be seen on several high-end cars globally, including the new M3. BMW recently also launched a diesel version of the SUV, but we'll share our views on that, some other day.

Also Read: 2022 BMW X3 Diesel Launched In India; Priced At Rs. 65.50 Lakh

Visually, the 2022 BMW X3 now features a larger grille, with sharper-looking full LED headlights and a sporty bumper with black inserts

So, coming back to the X3, visually, the car now comes with a larger chrome grille, which is in line with BMW's latest design language. The headlamps too have been redesigned and they now look sharper and come with new LED daytime running lamps signature in a hexagonal shape. In fact, BMW now offers adaptive full LED headlights as standard. The new bumper too adds to the X3's aggressive design with its bold sculpted lines and large intakes, which are accentuated by the glossy black inserts.

These new 20-inch M wheels are only offered the first 50 customers as an early bird offfer with the M Sport trim

Now, the BMW X3 we drove came with a set of 20-inch M wheels, however, these are for the first 50 customers only, as part of an early bird offer. So, if you are not among those early-bird customers, then 19-inch alloys are what you'll get as standard, of course, the wheel design will be different for the two variants.

The X3's new LED taillights are its biggest attraction and gives the SUV a distinctive look. The beefy bumpers with dual exhausts add to the sporty persona of the X3

The rear is where you'll see the biggest change, thanks to the new and bold LED taillights that instantly grab your attention. In fact, they look nice even in the daytime. You also get a revised bumper with a glossy black insert and dual chrome-tipped rectangular exhaust, which complete the new sporty persona of the SUV.

Interior and Tech

The BMW X3's cabin gets an refreshed look with new perforated Sensatec leather upholstery, leather dashtop and door panels

Step inside, and you'll see that the cabin too has received a good makeover. The overall layout has been updated to offer a more upmarket feel, be it the faux-leather panels on the dashtop and doors, or the new perforated Sensatec leather upholstery. Both front seats are electrically adjustable, and the driver's seat comes with a memory function as well. In addition to that, the SUV also gets three-zone climate control, a panoramic sunroof, spacious rear seats with individual headrests. The M Sport trim also gets brushed aluminium inserts on the dashboard, and a sporty M Leather multi-functional steering wheel.

The top-end M Sport trim of the X3 features 12.3-inch fully digital cluster and 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The SUV also gets a panoramic sunroof

In terms of tech, the top-end M Sport trim gets a 12.3-inch fully digital virtual display that offers a tonne of information and gets different theme options as well. At the centre, you have the new infotainment system, which is also a 12.3-inch unit and comes with touchscreen functionality, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, navigation, and BMW's gesture control, all part of the BMW Live Cockpit Professional suite. The lower SportX Plus trim gets an analogue instrument cluster with a 5.7-inch display and a smaller 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system.

The X3 continues to offer great space, with individual headrests for all passengers and separate temperature controls. The SUV also offers a 550-litre boot space

However, neither of them gets a wireless phone charger, and the USB ports are all Type-C units, so you will have to carry the proper charging cables. You also get BMW's virtual assistant with is voice-enabled. So, you can use voice commands to control cabin temperature or set a course on the navigation system. The X3 comes with a 550-litre boot capacity, which should be enough for those weekend family getaways, however, if you require more luggage space, then it can be expanded by up to 1600-litre, by folding the 40:20:40 split rear seats down.

Safety

The 2022 X3 long list of safety features include - 6 airbags, ABS with brake assist, electric parking brake with auto hold, cornering brake control (CBC), Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) and attentiveness assistant

On the safety front as well, the X3 facelift comes with a long list of features, including BMW's Parking Assistant Plus with a 360-degree view camera. Additionally, you get features like - 6 airbags, an anti-lock braking system (ABS) with brake assist, electric parking brake with auto hold, cornering brake control (CBC), Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) and attentiveness assistant. BMW X3 also features ISOFIX child seat mounts, tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS), run-flat tyres, and 3-point seatbelts for all 5 passengers. And all these features come as standard.

Performance

The X3 we drove was powered by a 2.0-litre Twin Turbocharged petrol engine belting out 248 bhp and 350 Nm of torque

As mentioned earlier, BMW offers the X3 in two powertrain options - 2.0-litre petrol, and a 2.0-litre diesel engine - and both are Twin Turbocharged 4-cylinder engines. The M Sport trim we drove came with the former. The engine is tuned to churn out a good 248 bhp, whereas the torque output stands at a meaty 350 Nm, which kicks in as early as 1,450 rpm. There is a bit of a turbo lag in the initial rpms, however, once you move up the rev band and cross the 2,500 rpm mark, the engine opens up nicely, propelling the SUV forward with great gusto. Peak power is achieved at 5,200 rpm.

The 8-Speed Automatic Steptronic Sport transmission of the X3 offers smooth and quick shifts and it comes as standard with both petrol and diesel trims

The motor comes mated to an 8-Speed Automatic Steptronic Sport transmission as standard, and it does its job well. The shifts are nice, smooth, and quick. However, if you want to do some more spirited driving, there is a manual mode as well, and you can use the paddle shifters to get the reigns in your hand. This makes the X3 a lot more engaging and fun to drive. You also get an automatic hold function.

The X3 offers great handling and comes with Adaptive Suspension with individual electronically controlled dampers that adapt to both road conditions and driving style

BMW's XDrive all-wheel drive system comes as standard with the car, and that adds to the overall dynamics. The X3 feels stable and planted even when you are taking a corner aggressively, but you do feel some body roll as well. The X3 also handles like a charm. Yes, the suspension does feel a bit stiff, but that only aids in better great handling. That said, BMW also offers Adaptive Suspension that comes with individual electronically controlled dampers which can adapt to both road conditions and driving style to offer a comfortable ride. Plus, you also get four driving modes - EcoPro, Comfort, Sport, and Sport+, so you can set the car's performance as per your driving style. Even the feedback from the steering is quite nice, you just have to point the car in the right direction, and it goes, plus, it has a nice heft to it that imparts more confidence.

Price and Verdict

The 2022 BMW X3 is at par with its rivals, both in terms of performance and price

The 2022 BMW X3 is priced in India from Rs. 59.90 lakh, going all the way up to Rs. 65.90 lakh (ex-showroom, India) for the top-end M Sport trim. In comparison, rival Mercedes-Benz GLC is just marginally more expensive at a starting price of Rs. 61 lakh and it tops out at Rs. 66.90 lakh. At the same time, the Audi Q5 marginally undercuts the X3, at a starting price of Rs. 59.22 lakh, while the top-end trim is Rs. 1.8 lakh cheaper than the M Sport trim at Rs. 64.09 lakh. The Volvo XC60, on the other hand, comes in only one variant is priced at Rs. 63.50 lakh. All the above prices are ex-showroom India.

So, in a nutshell, the BMW X3 is certainly at par with its rivals, both in terms of performance and price. In fact, in some cases, it's even better. And yes, the GLC and the X3 are the only models that offer a diesel version right now. However, if you are looking for a petrol SUV in the Rs. 60 lakh to Rs. 70 lakh price bracket, then the X3 is stylish, gets a good number of features and tech, and offers great performance and handling. And we think you should definitely consider it as an option.