• Interior quality has taken a dip
• Too much reliance on touch-sensitive controls
• Infotainment works well

How is the quality and layout?

The new X3’s interior is quite a significant change compared to the very conservative cabin of the previous car, with plenty of gimmicks and gadgets to play with. The fan speed of the side air vents, for example, is controlled by a small sliding bar on the door cards, while the glowing, configurable ‘interaction bar’ that stretches halfway across the dashboard and door cards looks great.

But while the X3’s interior might sound rather impressive, there’s one element that lets the side down – the quality. This is particularly surprising for a BMW, a brand that’s normally up there with Audi for plushness. The area around the electric window switches feels particularly cheap, and the strip below the touchscreen is low-rent, too. You can also choose a fabric ‘Luxury Instrument Panel’ for £450 that somehow feels cheaper than the standard leather-effect material but does look quite funky.

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We’d also like to see more physical buttons and switches for key functions. You’ll need to access the infotainment system or speak to your X3 to change temperature or make other climate control adjustments, and most of the steering wheel mounted controls are touch sensitive. It’s a far cry from the user-friendly and driver oriented cockpits BMW were once known for. A Mercedes GLC is even more frustrating, while a Lexus NX is much more user-friendly.

Infotainment and tech

The new X3 is one of the last BMWs to get its ‘Curved Display’ interior layout, first introduced in 2021, which includes a 14.9-inch infotainment touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, both running on its latest software. Unlike some of BMW’s other models, the new X3 retains the useful rotary iDrive controller too, meaning that – unlike many rivals – you aren’t purely reliant on touch to operate the main screen. With pin-sharp graphics and a particularly speedy responsive time, it’s one of the best touchscreens fitted to any car of this class. 

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However, it isn’t perfect. Menus frequently consist of a page of icons that’s hard to look through on the move, and the iDrive controller just doesn’t work very well with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto – both standard fitment.

Comfort

• Firm but supportive seats
• Keyless entry and start standard
• Options ramp up the luxury

Even a base xLine X3 gets heated front seats with electrical adjustment and memory – perfect if there’s a couple (or more) people that drive the car. It’s a bit stingy that a heated steering wheel and adjustable lumbar support is extra, but it’s fair enough that heated rear seats and front seat ventilation is on the options list.

The seats themselves are typically Germanic – firm, but supportive and comfortable for longer distances. Rear passengers will find the bench quite flat, but that is good for the centre occupant. The rear bench doesn’t slide or recline, but optional roller blinds (part of the Comfort Plus pack) for the rear windows are a nice touch. If you want proper leather seats instead of faux leather, you’ll pay around £3,000 for the privilege.