BMW X3 - MPG, emissions & running costs

While the Mercedes GLC is priced from just over £50,000, the BMW X3 line-up starts from just under the same figure. The price difference between the two continues throughout the range with the cheapest petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid BMW undercutting the equivalent Mercedes. 

The BMW shouldn’t cost a fortune at the pumps, either, because it has relatively lightweight construction, a fairly low drag coefficient of 0.27 and a suite of efficient powertrains. The base xDrive20 can achieve 40.9mpg on a combined cycle – 3.7mpg better than the cheapest Mercedes GLC petrol offering. 

The diesel xDrive20d is unsurprisingly more frugal at 48.7mpg, and emits even less CO2 from its exhaust than the petrol model at 153g/km, compared to the xDrive20’s 156g/km. 

Being the most powerful model, the M50 is also the thirstiest at 36.7mpg. Despite having an extra two cylinders over the rest of the range, utilising mild-hybrid technology means it’s only slightly less environmentally friendly than the xDrive20, with emissions of 175g/km.

Plug-in hybrid power comes in the form of the xDrive30e which mates a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder to an electric motor, powered by a new 22.3kWh battery. The result of this is a claimed 313.9mpg average fuel consumption, although BMW says that with the battery completely depleted, the PHEV will still return 39.2mpg. The plug-in hybrid’s emissions stand at 21g/km. 

Electric range, battery life and charge time

Major revisions were undertaken to improve the latest BMW X3 plug-in hybrid over the old model. Badged xDrive30e, the PHEV version now features a 22.3kWh battery unit – 10kWh more than you got in the previous generation. The extra battery capacity means all-electric range sits at a maximum 56 miles (compared to 29 miles from before). That’s better than the outgoing Audi Q5 TFSI e’s 37 miles, but some way off the Mercedes GLC 300 e’s 80 miles. 

Charging times aren’t rapid, with a maximum recharge rate of 11kWh from the on-board cable. You can expect a 20 to 80 per cent top-up to take around 2 hours, 15 minutes. 

In addition to BMW’s three-year, unlimited mileage warranty, the PHEV’s battery is under warranty for up to six years or 60,000 miles. 

Tax

All versions of the BMW X3 sit over the £40,000 mark, resulting in an additional surcharge on annual Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) costs for private buyers, applied from the second time the car is taxed up until it reaches six years old. 

The plug-in hybrid xDrive30e emits just 21g/km and because of its 56-mile electric range it sits in the eight per cent BiK (Benefit-in-kind) tax band for company car users. With the highest emissions of all the X3s at 175g/km, the M50 xDrive sits in the highest company car tax bracket of 37 per cent. The diesel performs a little better with 153g/km, resulting in a 35 per cent tax rate, while the xDrive20 petrol with its 156g/km sits between the two at 36 per cent.  

Insurance groups

Insurance groups for the new BMW X3 have not been revealed yet. 

Depreciation

It’s too early to calculate depreciation figures on the current generation X3, but the figures for the previous model were pretty strong. On average, the old X3 managed to keep hold of 52.56 per cent of its value over three years and 60,000 miles. The old X3 M was the worst offender for losing value, with just 43.71 per cent retained. The plug-in hybrids fared better at 54.82 per cent. We expect the new car to offer similar values.