2020 BMW X3 M SUV

Under the hood department has been taken very seriously by BMW while developing the X3 M. it is powered by a 3.0 Liter, Inline-6 engine tuned perfectly with twin power turbocharger setup. 

You might believe that there aren’t a lot of compact luxury SUVs pushing out more than 400 horses but there are! The X3 M is surrounded by other high-performance SUVs including the Mercedes AMG 63, the Porsche Macan Turbo and the Jaguar F-Pace SVR. All of these vehicles are very competent in their own, let’s stack them up against each other and see how they perform.

The X3 M is stuffed full of equipment. Even the standard variant gets a lot of features, obviously more than the average X3. Although the X3 M Competition gets a few extra features of styling and handling.

Which trim to go for?

We’d recommend the X3 M Competition because for a premium of an extra $6,000 you get a completely different level of performance. Along with increased power outputs, it also features a few tweaks in different parts to make the Competition trim a completely different animal to hoon.

Power duties on both the BMW X3 M and the X3 m Competition are handled by a 3 liter inline 6 engine boosted by a “TwinPower” turbo setup. It comes mated to an 8 speed “STEPTRONIC” automatic transmission for flashing shifts. The X3 M Competition is the most powerful version ever, wearing the X3 name. It pumps out a maximum of 503 horsepower at 5950 RPM and 442 lb-ft of torque which comes early at as low as 2600 RPM. The wide powerband makes sure that the X3 M Competition can tackle both highways and city roads with ease. 

Every manufacturer works on different formulas to produce performance vehicles. Competition is very tough as all of these vehicles are quite close in terms of direct numbers but each manufacturer has different engine setups. Jaguar leads ahead in power figures followed by BMW. Porsche Macan featuring the smallest engine loses on the power output front. 

Acceleration

Talking about acceleration numbers seems like a boring idea. Well, the moment you step on the gas pedal hard, you will be pushed back in your seat and you will thank the headrest a lot for holding your head upright. The powerful 3.0L engine is capable of pushing the X3 M to 60mph from a standstill in a mere 4 seconds and if you keep the pedal floored then the quarter-mile marker will get crossed in 11.6 seconds. And if that doesn’t sound too good to you, the Lexus LFA does the quarter-mile in 11.7 seconds. The all-wheel-drive drivetrain plays an important role in launching this heavy SUV.

An all-out supercar from five years ago is a tenth of a second slower than this luxury SUV! The all-wheel-drive drivetrain of the X3 definitely comes into play.

In comparison, the X3 M manages to put on the fastest time on the board for 0-60mph. Quartermile time for most cars is not available so no comparison possible. The X3 M will make you capable of pulling the supercar level off the red light along with passengers on the rear seats as well. 

Ride and Handling 

The X3 M was made with only one concern in mind, providing this SUV with the handling and power of a sports car. So, you will be feeling all undulations on the road due to the stiffened suspension setup. Even in the softest comfort mode, this is not a comfortable SUV. although this doesn’t mean you are going to experience a punishing stiff ride, it can still be used as a daily driven machine. Helping with harsh ride quality the exhaust note might help you forget about that.

Steering feedback is light and feels much direct in comparison to the standard X3. The M Performance definitely worked their magic in more than one place, perfecting the X3 M. the car feels more planted than ever before at high speeds. Stiffer suspension setup definitely helps a lot here. The body roll is also under control and the SUV can now handle curvy roads with ease. 

Braking

Bringing this heavy SUV to a standstill is a tough task. Especially if it is powered by an engine capable of doing 0-60 in 4 seconds. So, to complement the performance, The X3 M Competition comes equipped with 15.6-inch rotors in the front and 14.6-inch rotors in the rear. Along with bigger disc size, the front brakes are equipped with 4 piston calipers. To increasing braking performance, the rotors are also ventilated and drilled which helps in reducing the brake time effectively. 

All the competing cars have almost the same size brakes in but Jaguar offers the biggest brake discs out of them all. As no official timing of 60-0mph braking distance is available, so no head to head comparison is possible. But, they are expected to be pretty impressive. 

The X3 M Competition was never developed for putting out good numbers in fuel efficiency. It returns a fair mileage of 14 miles to the gallon in the city and 19 miles to the gallon on the highway. Combined fuel efficiency comes at 16MPG. These figures are still on the lower side, but considering the level of performance offered, they make sense. 

As all above SUVs are performance-based with no sense of providing great fuel efficiency. Still, Porsche Macan turbo puts out the best mpg figures due to its smaller size engine. The other three cars provide almost the same numbers in fuel efficiency. 

The 2020 BMW X3 M Competition offers the best performance SUV. but, things change when talked about seating and comfort. It is slightly on the rougher side in terms of ride quality. Although, it still can be used for long drives because the seats provide good overall support to the occupant. Features come handy and within reach of the driver. In terms of space, the interior never feels cramped or lacking space anywhere. 

All the competing vehicles offer a decent amount of interior space. BMW takes the lead with the maximum amount of interior space in both front and rear. No official dimensions of Macan keep it out of the comparison. 

In terms of interior space, all of these vehicles offer a decent amount but the most front and rear room is offered by the X3. Even though the exact interior dimensions of the Macan, it is supposed to be at par with the other vehicles in the segment.

Infotainment

The X3 M comes loaded with famous BMW’s iDrive interface which offers a buttery smooth touch and is quick to respond. Helping in the selection of the feeds is the rotary dial which makes it very easy and user-friendly to operate while driving. Some basic features still get missed out such as Android Auto, but you still get Apple car play. 

The front row offers a couple of USB ports and both the rows offer one 12-volt socket. 

Infotainment features 

• Apple CarPlay Compatibility with 1-year trial
• BMW TeleServices
• ConnectedDrive Services
• USB audio connection and hands-free Bluetooth including audio streaming
• BMW Concierge Services
• BMW Connected App
• Real-Time Traffic
• Stolen Vehicle Recovery
• Remote Door Unlock

Cargo Capacity 

The second thing which comes after buying a performance SUV is still cargo space because at the end of the day it is still an SUV and they are known for cargo space and hauling capability. The X3 M manages to offer a great amount of cargo space, 28.7 cu.ft to be precise and if you need more than the rear seats can be folded to offer a mammoth 62 cubic feet of space altogether. The low load height makes it easier to load heavy items into the cargo area. 

The jaguar F-Pace overtakes everyone in terms of cargo space with 33.5 cu.ft, followed by the X3 M which also offers an impressive amount of cargo volume and is still more than what is offered in the GLC and the Macan Turbo, both offer only 17.6 cubic feet of cargo space. 

In the front, you will find the X3 M boasts BMW’s signature “Kidney Grille” but, there is a new upgrade in the grill too. That is, the grille can open and close depending on the engine’s needs and requirements. This helps in better cooling when needed which also results in better efficiency. It might not feel like the best looking SUV out there, but it will blend in slowly. To improve both performance and aesthetics the M Competition body kit is added.

The X3 comes out to be the lightest of them all in competition. Although, none of these SUVs can be considered as big as they are similar in terms of measurement. With Merc sitting the lowest in terms of ground clearance followed by BMW with Jaguar leading the pack. 

Exterior Features 

• 21" V-Spoke light-alloy wheels
• Satin Aluminum roof rails
• Non-metallic paint
• Satin Aluminum exterior trim
• Power-folding, heated side mirrors
• Roof spoiler with center brake light
• M Sport rear spoiler

Germans take safety very seriously. Packed with a ton of safety features the X3 M outshines with other safe products offered by BMW. The 2020 BMW X3 has not been rated by the NHTSA or the IIHS yet. But based on previous years' data and the crash tests of other BMW vehicles, it can be expected to perform pretty well.

Safety Features

• Front and rear Head Protection System (HPS)
• Active Protection System
• Fatigue and Focus Alert feature
• Impact sensor
• Adaptive Brake lights
• Programmable LED Daytime Running Lights
• Anti-theft alarm system
• BMW Assist eCall includes Emergency Request (SOS button)
• Enhanced Automatic Collision Notification

BMW X3 M Competition vs Mercedes AMG GLC63

The Mercedes AMG GLC63 is one of the most dynamic and fun to drive SUVs on sale today fitted with the most amazing soundtrack from the exhaust. It does feel more lively than the BMW and offers more feel and feedback. Even the 0-60 times are not very far apart. The Merc does provide better comfort and luxury living up to its name. whereas the Bimmer is more of a better road performer.

BMW X3 M Competition vs Porsche Macan Turbo

Following the fact of Porsche making one of the sportiest vehicles, the MacanTurbo lives up to its expectations. It provides a better feeling around corners and feels fun to drive. It might not comes out to be the quickest but surely there is a heritage of Porsche present in the Macan. The main highlight is the 7-speed PDK gearbox which is considered to be one of the most advanced transmissions in the world. 

BMW X3 M Competition vs Jaguar F-Pace SVR

Jaguar is having the biggest engine out of the competitors. This 5-liter supercharged V8 motor has been around for some time now. It is also used in the F-Type SVR. but, it has been established as one of the most unreliable engines on the market. Yes, the F-Pace SVR is a fantastic car in a straight-line and offers amazing handling too. But, it also comes with a very high ownership cost. In terms of tech, offered features are quite basic and not up to the level of competition with lagging and connectivity issues. Overall, the Jaguar F-Pace SVR might prove to an expensive buy to some due to reliability issues.

The 2020 BMW X3 M Competition is a proper SUV with a sports car underneath its shell. With the power to pull great timings on the straight-line run along with the capability of handling curves with confidence. It has the capability to go head-on with cars over double its price range. Although, the AMG still has more road presence and sounds the best. But, if you have to choose one from this group, the Macan is the one with a perfect blend of everything.