BMW X3 review – Reliability & safety
Despite showing its age in places, the X3 has top-notch safety credentials, while BMW reliability impresses, too
BMW is among the frontrunners in the field of driver assistance systems, but a lot of the most advanced technology in the X3's arsenal is only available as an optional extra. It's a shame, given the considerable price of the car, but crash safety impresses thanks to the design and strength of the X3's BMW 5 Series-based structure.
BMW X3 reliability
The BMW X3 came in 36th place out of the top 50 cars in our 2024 Driver Power customer satisfaction survey. Buyers liked its engines and the practicality of its SUV body style the most, while they were less impressed with its fuel economy and running costs, ride and handling and overall value for money. Reliability wasn’t rated particularly highly either.
In the 2023 Driver Power survey regarding brands specifically, BMW came in 21st place out of 32 car manufacturers ahead of Audi in 30th place and Mercedes in 25th overall. A slightly better-than-average 22% of buyers reported having an issue with their BMW in the first year of ownership, which is less than Audi (23%) and Mercedes (28%).
Safety
The X3 achieved a full five-star rating when it was crash-tested by Euro NCAP in late 2017. The car scored well across the board, including a 93% score in the adult occupant category and 84% for child occupant protection.
Under the collective tag of 'BMW Personal CoPilot', semi-autonomous crash-avoidance and mitigation technology such as autonomous emergency braking is either standard or optional, but it's a little disappointing to find that lane-departure assistance and active cruise control are only available at extra cost. You can also add a wrong-way warning that recognises one-way streets and can warn the driver of traffic that's about to cross your path.
