• Plenty of engine options, including electric!
• Performance enthusiasts can have the X3 M
• Every model comes with all-wheel drive

Petrol engines

We’re yet to sample the entry-level xDrive20i version of the X3. However, we’ve driven the same 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine in the BMW 3 Series saloon and we were impressed by how well it balanced performance and efficiency. The unit produces 184hp and gives the X3 a 0–62mph time of 8.4 seconds.

Above that, there’s the X3 M40i. It’s a more sensible, less powerful version of the barnstorming X3 M Competition – but it still offers plenty of performance. Its 3.0-litre straight-six engine churns out a healthy 360hp and 500Nm of torque, which gives this family SUV a 0–62mph time of 4.9 seconds and ample mid-range grunt for overtaking.

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If your inner speed demon still isn’t satisfied, the X3 M Competition might serve you better. It features a more powerful 3.0-litre straight-six petrol engine with 510hp and 650Nm of torque, which slashes the SUV’s 0–62mph time down to 3.8 seconds. That’s just 0.6 seconds slower than BMW’s flagship sportscar, the M8 Competition.

Diesel engines

Diesel engines aren’t as popular as they once were but, despite industry trends, BMW still gives you a choice of three diesels with the X3. The cheapest xDrive20d has a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with 190hp and 400Nm of torque, which we think is more than enough for most drivers.

It’s a well-rounded engine offering punchy in-gear acceleration, a brisk 0–62mph time of 8.0 seconds and good fuel economy. BMW’s eight-speed automatic gearbox is also a great match for the engine. Its ratios are quite close and its ECU is always happy to swap between cogs to keep the unit in its power band, which makes it feel faster than its performance figures suggest.

Stepping up a rung, there’s the xDrive30d. It’s powered by a 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine with 286hp and 620Nm of torque, which cuts the X3’s 0–62mph time down to 5.8 seconds. Like the cheaper xDrive20d, the 30d serves up most of its performance from low engine speeds but, because it has two extra cylinders, it’s far smoother.

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Considered in isolation, it’s a great engine. But it makes less sense when you compare it to BMW’s brilliant xDrive20d powertrain. Why should you pay more for the xDrive30d when the cheaper engine is almost as good in every way?

At the top of the diesel range, there’s the M40d. It’s another 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine – but it produces 340hp and a thumping 700Nm of torque. That means it can sprint from 0–62mph in 4.9 seconds, making it just one tenth of a second slower than the M40i. We reckon this is a proper cake-and-eat-it car, with loads of performance and lower running costs than the equivalent petrol.

Electric and hybrid engines

The BMW X3 xDrive30e features the same plug-in hybrid powertrain as the 330e saloon. The system has a combined output of 252hp and 420Nm of torque under normal running conditions, but you can use the car’s ‘XtraBoost’ function to unlock some more performance.

With XtraBoost engaged, maximum output rises to 292hp – and that allows the X3 to dash from 0–62mph in 6.1 seconds. The instant assistance from the electric motor makes the X3 feel muscular at low speeds (you’ll be the king of the traffic light grand prix), but you’ll notice performance tailing off when accelerating hard to join a motorway.

If you’re ready to step away from combustion power entirely, BMW also sells a pure-electric version of the SUV called the iX3. It has a 286hp electric motor and an 80kWh battery pack that offers a maximum official range of 285 miles. Read our dedicated BMW iX3 review to learn more.

What’s it like to drive?

• Huge grip from xDrive all-wheel drive
• Fast and responsive steering
• Admirable resistance to body roll

The BMW X3 is among the best in its class to drive. Premium SUVs like this aren’t known for their cornering ability, but the X3 can carve up B-roads with aplomb. You can thank BMW’s xDrive all-wheel drive system (which comes as standard on every UK version of the car) for most of the X3’s cornering competence. It gives you titanic amounts of traction when you’re hammering around a hairpin or accelerating from a standstill.

That’s not to say the suspension isn’t well-sorted, though. So far, we’ve only tried cars fitted with BMW’s optional adaptive dampers, but our drives suggest they’re an option worth having. They have two levels of stiffness which match the X3’s Comfort and Sport drive modes – and we found the contrast to be very impressive.

There’s also an automatic function that allows the car to decide for itself how harsh to make the damping, based on your driving style and information from the sat-nav. Again, this has been incredibly well-engineered.

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Comfort mode is great for everyday use. Like all BMWs, there’s an supple firmness to the X3’s ride, but it’s never uncomfortable. The suspension is noticeably stiffer in Sport mode, but you can forgive that for how well it controls the X3’s body. The lack of body roll gives you greater confidence to push the car quickly into corners – and you can put your trust in the four-wheel drive system to keep the chassis pinned into the tarmac.

We like the X3’s steering, too. It’s heavy, precise and it provides greater feedback than almost any other car in its class. If steering feel is important to you, though, bear in mind that there are some subtle differences to how the X3 behaves in the corners according to how you specify it.

The four-cylinder xDrive20d is well-balanced and quick to turn-in, but cars with more powerful engines are less nimble. Six-cylinder cars are less settled in bumpy corners because of the extra weight they carry over the front end. The plug-in hybrid version is also less responsive to rapid changes of direction because, thanks to the heavy battery pack and electric motor, it’s hauling around an extra 190kg – most of which is concentrated over the rear axle. Just to be clear, though, even the worst version of the BMW X3 handles better than the best Mercedes GLC.