2021 BMW X3 Hybrid

Here is a great medium SUV that bridges the gap between fully petrol and fully EV.  The 2021 BMW X3 Hybrid SUV is the perfect introduction into owning a luxury part time EV that can run on petrol as well.  The balance of electric power to petrol power in a hybrid system is quietly changing to lessen our dependency on fossil fuels.  The gradual process of change is important so that we’re not all flung into the deep end of having to go EV overnight.  For one thing, blackouts are a very real thing when you ask too much of the power grid!  Cars like the new BMW Hybrids are a way which can lessen a new car buyer’s need for petrol or diesel.  BMW hybrid vehicles still deliver the performance that BMW fans are after, and they definitely help lower CO₂ emissions.

Powering your car through electron displacement is clever, yet very simple.  The more electric a car becomes, the less often your car must depend on moving mechanical parts to get the work done to power your wheels.  Hybrid technology has been around a wee while now, and BMW has been a leader in hybrid technology, along with Toyota and Honda – two of the other longstanding big players in the game.  So, what can you expect in a 2021 BMW X3 Hybrid?  Let’s take a closer look.

It’s an SUV for starters!  Everyone likes these, right?  The mid-size X3 delivers excellent practicality and comfort for its class.  Hybrid tech, at this stage, has the batteries using a bit of the interior space that designers might otherwise provide for luggage or occupant space in an internal combustion engine (ICE) equivalent model.  Hybrids need to be able to store their battery pack under the floor towards the back of the vehicle, and this means that the X3 Hybrid version is down on boot space by 100 litres compared with its ICE X3 sibling.  That may have dented your enthusiasm slightly, but when you consider that you still have 450 litres of boot space available with the rear seats in place or 1500 litres with the rear seats down, then that’s still a whole lot more than most hatchbacks will offer you.  The other bit of good new is that the battery pack only takes up the X3’s luggage space, so the occupants sitting in the back seats of a new BMW X3 Hybrid have the same space as their ICE equivalents.

BMW X3 Hybrid Boot Space

Seat comfort is nice.  Space isn’t in short supply, whether you’re in the front or back seats, and extra storage can be added into the cabin with the Extended Storage Package in conjunction with the Comfort Package.  Ticking these two boxes adds a sunglasses pocket, a lockable glovebox and lashing rails in the boot, among other practical features.  The interior is as impressive as in any other new X3, so you’ll enjoy a smart BMW layout for the instrumentation, dials, and switchgear.  Of course, with BMW cars comes pretty-near faultless build quality and class-leading infotainment technology.

Slip inside the seductive BMW mid-SUV’s interior, and the X3’s dashboard is centred around a large touchscreen infotainment system in centre-dash.  The touchscreen works well ergonomically thanks to a rotary dial placed within easy reach of your left hand and on the centre console.  Controls for the climate control, radio and other similar features are mounted on the dashboard itself, rather than being hidden in a submenu somewhere inside the touchscreen’s functions, and I like it that way – it’s a whole lot easier this, especially when on the move.

2021 BMW X3 Hybrid

Standard equipment is good, with adaptive LED headlights, a powered tailgate and power-folding mirrors all part of the suave exterior.  Inside the new BMW X3 Hybrid M Sport there’s heated front seats, three-zone climate control and a 12.3-inch infotainment system.  BMW’s iDrive 6 infotainment system is sweet and uses Bluetooth, DAB and wireless Apple CarPlay functions, along with satellite navigation and online services.  M Sport cars, which the X3 Hybrid is, gets the uprated centre dash touchscreen as well as a 10.25-inch digital driver’s display behind the steering wheel with the BMW Operating System 7.0.  Phone-like widgets are present for the display of information, and this system supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.  You can Spotify stream, as well as searching for close EV charging-points, should you require them if and when you don’t want to top up with ULP.

As with most things boasting the latest “new” technology, it never comes cheap.  Think the latest iPhone, which will set you back well over a grand for the iPhone 12 and even more for the iPhone 13.  Currently, driving a 100% luxury EV SUV will set you back lots of dosh, and driving a luxury hybrid will cost you less than an EV but more than a luxury ICE – you get the picture.  An EV Jaguar I-PACE, which is similar in size to a BMW X3, costs between $150 and $165k new; an Audi e-Tron or Mercedes Benz EQC (2 other sorts of EV SUV) between $130 and $170k.  BMW’s latest iX SUV is an EV, as well, and it has a price tag between $147k and $183k.

Ok, what about the new BMW X3 Hybrid, then?  The BMW X3 xDrive 30e M Sport is the hybrid version of the latest X3 and will cost you around $113k.  That is a considerable savings over the EV alternatives but quite a margin more than the ULP ICE BMW X3 xDrive 30i M Sport, which values at around $97k new.  If you want to get into electric only and drive an EV SUV instead of a BMW Hybrid SUV, then you can eat some humble pie and opt for a Kia Niro ($68–$71k) or an MG ZS EV ($45k).

However, there is one other EV SUV that I think matches the BMW X3 hybrid for luxury, style and comfort, and that is the Volvo XC40 Recharge Electric.  You can purchase one of these for a bit over $82k, and it impresses on all accounts.

Heart set on an X3 Hybrid SUV?  The new BMW X3 Hybrid has no shortage of power, having a rated peak output of 215 kW combined.  You will be able to tow up to 2 tonnes and enjoy a fuel consumption of 2.6 litres/100 km and a CO₂ emission output of 59 g/km (BMW’s claimed figures).  BMW’s hybrid X3 SUV has the ability to sprint from 0-100 km/h in around 6 seconds and has a top speed of 210 km/h.  Like all of the other BMW hybrid models, the X3 xDrive30e defaults to electric power on start-up.  Left to its own system’s functions, it’ll run in ‘Auto eDrive’ mode, with the car deciding on the best combination of electric and petrol power to use in order to deliver the most efficient progress.  You can’t fault the system and it makes sense to leave it in this mode and enjoy it.

Hybrid models deliver a quick drive and great road holding, and the suspension is extremely good at ironing out harsh bumps, too.  The X3 Hybrid is also AWD and runs through an 8-speed sports automatic for quite the leisurely tourer when the mood takes you there.

Safety has the 2021 BMW X3 Hybrid stacked with features.  6 airbags, ABS (Antilock Brakes), Electronic Stability Control, Traction Control, Alert/Warning – Collision Forward, Blind Spot Sensors, Blind Spot with Active Assist, Brake Emergency Display – Hazard/Stoplights, Cameras – front, rear and side, Collision Mitigation, Crash Avoidance with Braking, Pedestrian Avoidance with Braking, Cross Traffic Alert front and rear, a First Aid Kit, Lane Departure – with Passive Steer Assist, Lane Departure Warning and Hill Descent all come as standard, and are only just a few of the long list of items.

Updated with a new front end and having a revised set of engines in mid-2021, the latest X3 SUV is the strongest selling single model in the hard-fought mid-size SUV segment.  Available in either FWD or AWD xDrive form, the X3 is plenty big enough inside, with a three-way rear backrest split enabling a bit of extra load-carrying versatility.

The new X3 lives up to BMW’s reputation for building great-to-drive cars.  The hybrid is a little heavier, but performance is strong and there’s plenty of grip to keep you well planted and safe on the road.  A 3-year unlimited km warranty and 3 years roadside assist comes as standard on a new BMW X3.

2021 BMW X3 Hybrid

The 2021 BMW X3 models include the:

• X3 sDrive20i
• X3 xDrive20d
• X3 xDrive30i M Sport
• X3 xDrive30d M Sport
• X3 xDrive30e M Sport Hybrid
• X3 M40i

For any more information on the new BMW X3 Hybrid models or, for that matter, any other new car, contact one of our friendly consultants on 1300 303 181.  If you’d like some fleet discount pricing (yes even for private buyers!), we can submit vehicle quote requests out to our national network of BMW dealers and come back with pricing within 24 hours.  Private Fleet – car buying made easy!