Is the BMW X3 being phased out? A: BMW has not stated that it intends to stop selling the X3 as of December 2021. BMW has announced that a mild hybrid version of the X3 will take the place of the plug-in hybrid model (the xDrive30e) for the 2022 model year.
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BMW’s X3 plug-in hybrid was discontinued, giving the company no presence in the rapidly expanding EV SUV market.
In a press statement announcing its revisions for the next model year, the company revealed that the plug-in hybrid BMW X3 xDrive30e has been discontinued for 2022.
The absence of the all-electric iX3 from the American market leaves BMW without a plug-in option in the rapidly growing market for entry-level luxury SUVs.
For the 2020 model year, BMW had just added the updated X3 plug-in hybrid to its range. The 2.0-liter turbo-4 engine and 8-speed automatic transmission of the X3 xDrive30e were combined with an electric motor that was jammed into the transmission housing. 288 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque were produced by the entire system.
The electric range of the all-wheel drive X3 xDrive30e was rated at 18 miles, with a combined efficiency rating of 60 MPGe. It achieved EPA-rated fuel economy of 24 mpg combined while operating in hybrid mode. BMW also stated a 0-60 mph time of 5.9 seconds.
The all-electric BMW iX3 was scheduled to arrive in the United States about the time the updated X3 plug-in hybrid went on sale. We’ve contacted BMW to ask if the withdrawal of the X3 plug-in hybrid is connected to the automaker’s decision to abandon plans to import the iX3 here.
The popular X3 SUV has two variants: the X3 xDrive30e and the iX3. According to BMW, the 6-cylinder X3 models will gain a 48-volt mild-hybrid system in 2022, featuring regenerative braking adapted from plug-in hybrids. However, the larger iX SUV and the i4 will soon be available at American dealerships.
In contrast, we’ve noticed that the newest plug-in hybrid models from BMW feel divided in their priorities during recent drives, neither promoting the electric side as much as they could nor persuading the driver of the benefits of performance or efficiency. So perhaps there won’t be much that we miss after all.
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The BMW X3 has long been a favorite in the premium compact crossover segment. The plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) version of the X3 that the German manufacturer released for the 2020 model year made a lot of sense, especially for customers in the sector searching for fuel savings and a stepping stone to all-electric mobility.
However, BMW has made the unjustified decision to stop selling the X3 xDrive30e in the United States after the 2021 model year.
There are two possibilities after the X3 xDrive30e is removed from the U.S. model lineup. BMW is either making room in its electrified lineup for the all-electric iX3 crossover as part of the brand’s overall plan to offer 25 new electric and hybrid vehicles by 2023, or there may be an upcoming improvement to the model. However, the iX3, which is now available in other countries, has not yet been formally introduced for the American market.
The X3 xDrive30e will still be offered in all of BMW’s international markets. The car is a fantastic fit for areas with laws like Europe’s EV-only driving zones that will entice drivers who require an electrified powertrain. The 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine and 80-kilowatt electric motor in the X3 xDrive30e work together to provide 288 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. A 12 kWh battery pack under the back seat is used as energy storage.
Nevertheless, it is puzzling that BMW decided to discontinue the X3 xDrive30e for 2022 while rival manufacturers keep expanding their model lineups with hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and all-electric cars. For instance, Volvo recently revealed that its electrified Recharge lineup of vehicles accounts for 20% of its current U.S. sales. The now-discontinued BMW X3 xDrive30e had a direct competition in the Volvo XC60 Recharge PHEV.
A 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine that is turbocharged and supercharged, along with an 87-horsepower electric motor, give the Volvo XC60 Recharge a total output of 400 horsepower. In addition to having considerably more power and performance, the XC60 Recharge has a 19-mile longer all-electric range than the X3 xDrive30e.
BMW’s high-performance X3 M40i returns for 2022 and now features mild-hybrid powertrain technology, making up for the X3 PHEV’s discontinuation. This system has a 48-volt starter/generator and a 48-volt battery that can be recharged using energy recovery techniques like regenerative braking. By enabling the engine to shut down more frequently as the X3 M40i coasts to a stop or “glides,” the technology also increases fuel efficiency. However, this system is in no way comparable to the X3 xDrive30e’s complete hybrid technology.
At its plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina, BMW will continue to produce the X3 xDrive30e, but solely for export to other countries.
Despite the inference that its cancellation was caused by the US government’s cap on the PHEV subsidy, it also seems that ordering one is not an option in the UK. I find it hard to believe that all came down to the LCI update.
Despite the suggestion that its demise was caused by the US government’s cap on the PHEV subsidy, it also appears that ordering one is not an option in the UK. I can’t believe the LCI upgrade is all that’s left.
Yes, it was regrettably discontinued in the USA, while it is still offered in other regions. We intended to get a new vehicle in October, but fortunately, there are other excellent plug-in hybrids available. Very depressing considering they are constructed an hour from where I work and a train carrying new Xs passes by my office every day as it travels to the Port of Charleston.
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The X3 is BMW’s top-selling vehicle both domestically and internationally. In 2010, BMW Spartanburg, the company’s first assembly factory outside of Germany and currently its largest production unit internationally, began producing the luxury small crossover SUV.
The BMW X3 and its coupe-like brother, the X4, will receive a mid-cycle facelift for 2022 after being last redesigned for the 2018 model year. The improvements are necessary, especially in the design area, to better visually match the X3 with other recently upgraded BMW vehicles.
The xDrive30e plug-in hybrid model will no longer be available in the 2022 X3 portfolio, which is another significant change (PHEV). The X3 sDrive30i, xDrive30i, M40i, and the incredibly fast X3 M, which is in a completely other class, are the remaining trims.
A 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder powers the sDrive30i and xDrive30i, while the M40i gets a new mild-hybrid powerplant. The base sDrive30i variant is the only one with rear-wheel drive. The rest of the X3 lineup for 2022 exclusively comes with all-wheel drive (AWD).
2021 BMW iX3 Gallery: First Drive
Why does this matter? BMW is likely to review the wide range of drivetrain choices it now offers. Four drivetrain options are available for the popular BMW X3, including the all-electric iX3 made in China. With the recently reaffirmed promise, we can anticipate that the manufacturer will assess the demand for each of these drivetrain options and only choose those for which there is a genuine need.
In other words, it’s okay if people choose all-electric BMWs than traditional ones. The decision will, of course, be made based on sales, but we may anticipate further modifications to the BMW portfolio in the coming years.
It goes without saying that this action is consistent with BMW’s commitment to increasing the electrification of its lineup. According to the German manufacturer, electric vehicle sales really took off in 2020. Sales of plug-in hybrids increased by 40% while those of purely electric vehicles increased by 13%, representing a combined gain of 33% over 2019.
BMW, however, hasn’t forgotten about its high-performance vehicles, and it claims that the BMW M division had its best year yet in 2020. A BMW M plug-in hybrid has also been confirmed for 2019, and an all-electric M vehicle will follow in the following years.
Is a new BMW X3 on the way?
The next fourth-generation BMW X3 is being tested on the road for the first time, and it appears that the mid-size SUV will have a completely new look. Along with all-electric versions, we anticipate it to be the last X3 to include an internal combustion engine.
Compared to the existing X3, this test vehicle has a wider kidney grille and slimmer headlights up front. The new BMW 7 Series and X7’s split headlamp styling appears to be abandoned in the headlight design. The BMW badge, which is ridged in the bonnet and shared by the M3, i4, and XM, was also visible.
The wheel arch contour and upswept window line to the rear pillar, which creates the company’s renowned “Hofmeister kink,” are comparable to those of the present model. We anticipate that the rear lights, which are heavily camouflaged in our spy photos, will be two independent pieces rather than a single light bar. There are currently no distinguishing elements on the lower bumper, but the roof spoiler at the back appears to have gotten bigger.
The next-generation X3 received a redesign in June 2021, thus it’s unlikely that it will be unveiled until the end of 2023, with a 2024 release date. The timing of this arrival is tricky for BMW because the X3 would barely miss the introduction of the “Neue Klasse” platform, which is slated to debut in 2025.
It implies that the entirely electric iX3 (based on the current X3) will continue to be produced well into the life of the future X3. The redesigned CLAR platform from BMW, which is compatible with mild-hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and pure-EV powertrains, will likely serve as the foundation for the next X3.
The majority of the range is anticipated to be made up of a combination of four-cylinder gasoline engines and six-cylinder gasoline engines with electric assistance. The current BMW X3 M employs the same 3.0-liter turbocharged straight-six engine as the M3, so don’t be surprised if the X3 M does too. We’ll see the introduction of hybrid technology in a M automobile with the next BMW XM.
Although we haven’t yet seen inside the new X3, the infotainment system will undoubtedly be based on the company’s OS 8 operating system. It should appear on a curved display that combines a 12.3-inch infotainment screen from the iX with a 14.9-inch digital instrument cluster.
When the new BMW X3 goes on sale in the UK in 2024, it’s anticipated to inch closer to a PS50k entry price tag, once again competing against premium rivals like the Audi Q5 and Mercedes GLC, with the present BMW X3 starting at PS45,585.
In 2022, will the BMW X3 be updated?
The turbocharged four-cylinder and turbocharged six-cylinder models of the 2022 BMW X3 are also available, with the latter receiving a 48-volt mild hybrid system to increase fuel efficiency. For versions with front-wheel drive, the four-cylinder model is referred to as the sDrive30i, and for cars with all-wheel drive, the xDrive30i.
The BMW X3 last underwent a redesign when?
The X3 had its most recent facelift in 2018 and will mostly remain unchanged in 2020. It is currently available as a plug-in hybrid, which combines the two liter four cylinder engine with an electric motor, and is available in rear wheel drive, all wheel drive, all wheel drive four cylinder, and all wheel drive six cylinder configurations.
BMW X3 dependability
With a reliability rating of 2.5 out of 5, the BMW X3 is ranked 10th among luxury small SUVs. Poor ownership expenses are indicated by the $1,034 average yearly repair cost. You might make a few more trips to your BMW shop than usual because X3 repairs are more common.
How durable is the BMW X3?
The BMW X3 can travel between 150,000 and 200,000 miles on average with routine maintenance, good care, and cautious driving techniques. With an annual mileage of 15,000 miles, it will last for 10 to 14 years before needing significant repairs or breaking down.