[avi66]

Another review for the list - https://www.forbes.com/sites/michael...25-bmw-x3-suv/

[EWL5]

Originally Posted by avi66

Another review for the list - https://www.forbes.com/sites/michael...25-bmw-x3-suv/

We know we're in for a rough review when the title has "Problem" in it!

This might be the hottest take of all the reviews I've read:

"The bulk of sales will obviously come from the 30 xDrive, mainly because its $49,500 price tag is $14,600 cheaper, but it’s also the better vehicle of the two."

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by EWL5

"The bulk of sales will obviously come from the 30 xDrive, mainly because its $49,500 price tag is $14,600 cheaper, but it’s also the better vehicle of the two."

It is interesting historically that this type of recommendation recurs. Jalopnik preferred the 228i over the 235i when it launched. I recall reading Car and Driver recommending the G01 30i as the preferred model. Does BMW do such a good job on the basic vehicle and 4 cylinder engine that the overall product gap to the larger engine model is narrow and not justified by the cost or do the trade-offs in weight distribution, ride, etc. of higher performance models actually make their entry models more pleasing to more people?

[EWL5]

Originally Posted by Sportstick

It is interesting historically that this type of recommendation recurs. Jalopnik preferred the 228i over the 235i when it launched. I recall reading Car and Driver recommending the G01 30i as the preferred model. Does BMW do such a good job on the basic vehicle and 4 cylinder engine that the overall product gap to the larger engine model is narrow and not justified by the cost or do the trade-offs in weight distribution, ride, etc. of higher performance models actually make their entry models more pleasing to more people?

As a proud G01 xDrive30i owner, can't say I'm upset about the recommendation! It's still the best 4 cylinder I've ever owned!

[hb]

Originally Posted by EWL5

We know we're in for a rough review when the title has "Problem" in it!

This might be the hottest take of all the reviews I've read:

"The bulk of sales will obviously come from the 30 xDrive, mainly because its $49,500 price tag is $14,600 cheaper, but it’s also the better vehicle of the two."

Other than the price, there is no way the 30 is the better car. That 4 cylinder engine pushes its limits in larger cars.

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by hb

Other than the price, there is no way the 30 is the better car. That 4 cylinder engine pushes its limits in larger cars.

There is no such objective entity as “better”. There is only different. Each person subjectively decides what is better only for themselves. It is interesting that some journalistic sources repeatedly share their own preference for BMW base models.

[EWL5]

Originally Posted by Sportstick

There is no such objective entity as “better”. There is only different. Each person subjectively decides what is better only for themselves. It is interesting that some journalistic sources repeatedly share their own preference for BMW base models.

Reading the Forbes review, the author was primarily concerned about "value". The M50 brings far less value to the picture compared to the 4-cylinder. You can almost feel the disappointment from the reviewer because the M50 doesn't improve the interior in any way over the base car!

[Mavus]

30i is also 300lbs+ lighter and with 295 tq it is good enough for most buyers and better value. However, we all know I6 is the better drivetrain but in this gen you are not getting nice interior at a much higher cost.

[ModernAngel]

Indeed. That reviewer is definitely defining "better" as a better value, and most buyers won't want to spend more to get a much faster (4.4 compared to 6 second 0-60) and better handling vehicle. But from a pure performance perspective, yeah, obviously the M50 is "better".

Buried in there they do call out the driving dynamics:

"That’s all backed up by the most agile chassis in the class, capable of whisking the X3 through escape routes the others would flail to reach."

"All of the negatives jar so badly because the 2025 BMW X3 is simply the best driving experience you can get in the category. And it’s not even close."

"So, it’s a shame, really, that the X3’s interior is such a disappointment, because the rest of the car is incredibly well sorted. It drives nicely, it’s roomy enough and the engines are brilliant. There’s a lot to like. It’s just that all that was true of the old X3, and the new one, which was supposed to up the big SUV’s game, feels like a backwards step. It isn’t a bad car by any stretch of the imagination; it’s just not as good as it used to be."

I would agree here. The interior is more plasticky than I would care for. The side/door air vents look chintzy and the big plastic area under the touchscreen seems like they totally could've/had planned to put wood/aluminum/carbon fiber there as an accent but then just... didn't. Things like that and others folks have mentioned ad nauseam.

At the end of the day, tho, I personally just don't care about those items and care most about the performance and driving dynamics. And it wins there for me. Can totally see how many folks would be disappointed in the level of material quality, etc. in previous gens to this one, however.

[JoeyO]

What’s funny is the Forbes reviewer admits he only test drove the 4 cyl variants of the G45. He didn’t test drive the M50 version. Yet, he has no problem trashing the M50 and criticizing its suspension. He was biased to the 4 cyl from the very start.

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by JoeyO

What’s funny is the Forbes reviewer admits he only test drove the 4 cyl variants of the G45. He didn’t test drive the M50 version. Yet, he has no problem trashing the M50 and criticizing its suspension. He was biased to the 4 cyl from the very start.

Having read the article, I cannot find where he was “trashing” the M50. The comparisons of difference are not unreasonably presented and part of the reason the two models exist. It seems clear he drove the M50 at another time/event as he even reports on transmission shift feel. Some will want the performance he said they will “earn”. Others won’t. Why make two models if they don’t have different appeals?

[hb]

Originally Posted by Sportstick

There is no such objective entity as “better”. There is only different. Each person subjectively decides what is better only for themselves. It is interesting that some journalistic sources repeatedly share their own preference for BMW base models.

I think we all have a small bias, mine is the B48 sometimes feeling underpowered in certain models. BUT...the way we test these cars at events is different than what customers do. We push the cars, we wanna corner hard with these cars even though that's such an extreme case with this X3.

I think instead we should probably just focus more on the daily driving experience, comfort, tech features etc...it's just the way these routes are setup, it forces you in a way to have fun with the car.

[EWL5]

Originally Posted by hb

I think we all have a small bias, mine is the B48 sometimes feeling underpowered in certain models. BUT...the way we test these cars at events is different than what customers do. We push the cars, we wanna corner hard with these cars even though that's such an extreme case with this X3.

I think instead we should probably just focus more on the daily driving experience, comfort, tech features etc...it's just the way these routes are setup, it forces you in a way to have fun with the car.

Speaking of the B48, anyone else surprised the G45 4-cylinder is still plodding along at 6 sec (0-60), even w/the new mild hybrid? The older Audi Q5 45 TFSI can do it in 5.5 sec!

[Mavus]

Originally Posted by EWL5

Speaking of the B48, anyone else surprised the G45 4-cylinder is still plodding along at 6 sec (0-60), even w/the new mild hybrid? The older Audi Q5 45 TFSI can do it in 5.5 sec!

not surprising at all at least to me considering weight and efficiency target

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by EWL5

Speaking of the B48, anyone else surprised the G45 4-cylinder is still plodding along at 6 sec (0-60), even w/the new mild hybrid? The older Audi Q5 45 TFSI can do it in 5.5 sec!

Must admit, no, because going back and forth to a dinner out, to Costco/grocery store, etc., I'd never think about getting my utility vehicle to the next red light a half-second quicker with a WOT!

I actually had to configure SPORT INDIVIDUAL with a COMFORT setting for the transmission because my beloved found the sudden lurch forward on acceleration from a stop too aggressive.

[JoeyO]

Originally Posted by Sportstick

Having read the article, I cannot find where he was “trashing” the M50. The comparisons of difference are not unreasonably presented and part of the reason the two models exist. It seems clear he drove the M50 at another time/event as he even reports on transmission shift feel. Some will want the performance he said they will “earn”. Others won’t. Why make two models if they don’t have different appeals?

IMO, he trashed it towards the end of the article.

“seems clear”? I disagree. There is absolutely zero indication he drove the M50. He states….

”While our test cars were limited to the lower-powered version of the 30 xDrive (I had the 20 xDrive), it was enough to know that the four-cylinder X3 is the pick of the two offered in the U.S.”

His words, “it was enough”. So apparently he made up his mind without ever testing anything other than the european 20 xdrive. Because that was “enough”. Apparently he was satisfied with his sampling. Sure, he says the M50 is faster and has a firmer suspension, but that’s common knowledge to anybody who has read BMW’s press release. One doesn’t need to test drive the M50 to know that’s true.

[blackpear]

Originally Posted by EWL5

Speaking of the B48, anyone else surprised the G45 4-cylinder is still plodding along at 6 sec (0-60), even w/the new mild hybrid? The older Audi Q5 45 TFSI can do it in 5.5 sec!

The UK version is downtuned further and plods along at 7.6 secs

[EWL5]

Originally Posted by blackpear

The UK version is downtuned further and plods along at 7.6 secs

If that's the 20xDrive, then it makes sense!

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by JoeyO

IMO, he trashed it towards the end of the article.

“seems clear”? I disagree. There is absolutely zero indication he drove the M50. He states….

”While our test cars were limited to the lower-powered version of the 30 xDrive (I had the 20 xDrive), it was enough to know that the four-cylinder X3 is the pick of the two offered in the U.S.”

His words, “it was enough”. So apparently he made up his mind without ever testing anything other than the european 20 xdrive. Because that was “enough”. Apparently he was satisfied with his sampling. Sure, he says the M50 is faster and has a firmer suspension, but that’s common knowledge to anybody who has read BMW’s press release. One doesn’t need to test drive the M50 to know that’s true.

Given the ambiguity, I think you and I can agree that Michael Taylor should have done a better job writing the article. Whether he did or did not drive all the models he references should be completely clear. I can see that it is not clear if he drove the M50 at a prior event or if the current test drive event was all he experienced and is reporting on. I think we also agree that to make such comments and comparisons, he needed to personally experience all vehicles upon which he comments.

These two statements in the same review do give rise to more than one interpretation as I concluded he would not have intuited the transmission performance from others without experiencing it first-hand.

"While our test cars were limited to the lower-powered version of the 30 xDrive (I had the 20 xDrive), it was enough to know that the four-cylinder X3 is the pick of the two offered in the U.S."

"From the harder-edged gearshifts to the unforgiving ride from the low-profile tires to the stiffer suspensions, you’ll be faster in the M50, but you’ll earn it."

[JoeyO]

Sportstick, I guess you and I will have to agree to disagree. In his statement about the shifting/suspension, he never truly starts it with, “I felt….” or “I experienced….” It’s easily a statement you or I could have written without ever driving the M50. Or maybe that was his friends opinion. Of course he will never fess up to not driving the M50, because he knows that would look silly. But in reading in between the lines, and never explicitly saying he drove the M50 (although he states he drove the 20 x drive), I believe there’s a much higher probability he didn’t drive it, rather than the opposite.

The fact that he drove the european-version 20 x drive, and that model isn’t even being sold in the USA, yet he’s writing an article for a USA audience, is a whole other issue and in bad judgement, in my opinion. But we’ll save that discussion for another time. ;-)

[EWL5]

Originally Posted by JoeyO

Sportstick, I guess you and I will have to agree to disagree. In his statement about the shifting/suspension, he never truly starts it with, “I felt….” or “I experienced….” It’s easily a statement you or I could have written without ever driving the M50. Or maybe that was his friends opinion. Of course he will never fess up to not driving the M50, because he knows that would look silly. But in reading in between the lines, and never explicitly saying he drove the M50 (although he states he drove the 20 x drive), I believe there’s a much higher probability he didn’t drive it, rather than the opposite.

The fact that he drove the european-version 20 x drive, and that model isn’t even being sold in the USA, yet he’s writing an article for a USA audience, is a whole other issue and in bad judgement, in my opinion. But we’ll save that discussion for another time. ;-)

I agree the article is heavily biased and doesn't have a ton of factual basis! I'm not a fan of the G45 direction but at least I have a working brain to know the article doesn't add a whole lot to the G45 review pool. If I didn't know better, I would say the article was written by AI as informed by current criticism and past tropes (saying the M50 has an "unforgiving ride" may have been true for G01 but anecdotal evidence points to improvement for the M50 these days)!

[ModernAngel]

Another new review:

https://machineswithsouls.com/bmw-x3-m50-review/