2022 BMW X3 First Look Review: Making A Best-Seller Better

An integral part of any facelift is adding modern tech. That's why the 2022 X3 gets a larger 10.25-inch infotainment display on the center stack supporting both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Over-the-air updates are also standard. Supplementing the main screen is an optional 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster as part of BMW's Live Cockpit Professional suite, which also increases the central screen's size to 12.3 inches. Beneath all this, BMW has reconfigured the controls in the X3, with a new design taking effect. Gloss black is the order of the day, while the new 4 Series-derived center console houses a newly-designed "control island" and gear selector.

Options include extended ambient lighting that has been tweaked to be more than just aesthetically pleasing. It now serves a functional purpose, illuminating a door in red if it has been left open, or flashing across all the doors when locking/unlocking the X3.

Standard seating in the X3 comprises strongly-bolstered sports seats upholstered in Sensatec synthetic leather. This is available in numerous shades including Black, Canberra Beige, Cognac, and Tacora Red. Vernasca leather is available - standard on the M40i - in shades such as Black, Oyster, and Mocha. The M40i gets Canberra Beige/black, Tacora Red, and Cognac as options.

While the sDrive30i and xDrive30i models remain largely unchanged under the hood, both boasting 2.0-liter turbo four-pots with 248 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, the X3 M40i receives a significant mechanical upgrade in the form of mild hybrid assistance. The 3.0-liter B58 six-cylinder is turbocharged and augmented by a 48-volt electrical system to improve efficiency upon startup and when cruising, or alternatively, support ancillary systems in the vehicle. The electric augmentation adds 11 hp of assistance low down in the rev range to the M40i's existing 382 hp and 369 lb-ft outputs.

All X3 models are paired exclusively with a ZF eight-speed automatic gearbox, which allows the M40i to sprint from 0-60 mph in 4.4 seconds, while the 30i derivatives - regardless of whether rear- or all-wheel drive - manage the same feat in 6 seconds flat.

Competing in the compact luxury crossover segment, the X3's rivals remain the same as they were before. That means chief competition will come from the Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class and Audi Q5, while the Alfa Romeo Stelvio also features as a challenger to the X3's dynamic abilities.

Pricing has already been confirmed, and when the 2022 X3 arrives later in the year, a base MSRP of $43,700 will apply to the X3 sDrive30i. The AWD-equipped xDrive30i bumps this up to $45,700, while the X3 M40i is priced at $57,800. This represents an increase of just $700 on 30i models and $1,200 on the M40i.