or signup to continue reading Entry-level luxury cars used to be stripped out, basic affairs designed to lure buyers into showrooms for an upsell. That's changing, though. The entry point to the range in 2023 features most of the equipment offered on more expensive models.
It doesn't have a list of options longer than and it doesn't feature a gutless engine incapable of hauling it around with people on board. So, what's the catch? Well, it's not what you'd call anymore. BMW has never been in the business of selling its cars cheap, but the new X3 range now starts well above $80,000 before on-road costs – and that's for the rear-wheel drive model on test here, not a more capable all-wheel drive setup.
No matter how alluring the BMW badge is, that's a lot of money for an entry level SUV. How does it stack up? This is the cheapest model in the BMW X3 range, with a starting price north of $80,000 before on-road costs. If you needed proof inflation is biting, there it is.
The current BMW X3 has one of the biggest, most practical cabins in the mid-sized SUV class. With big windows, a high roofline, and plenty of space between the front seats, it could be confused for a bigger car at first glance. That's no accident, given the X3 is dimensionally very similar to the first-generation .
The driving position offers a panoramic view of the road ahead, but the seats drop low enough and offer enough bolstering to still hold you in place. Tall or short drivers won't have any trouble getti.