Consumers love compact premium SUVs. And with its just-right dimensions, comfortable interior, and engaging driving demeanor, the BMW X3 is an all-time favorite. This compact crossover outsells all other models in the BMW lineup.
However, if you're looking for cutting-edge style in a compact BMW crossover, the BMW X4 might be more your speed. The X4 is the sportback version of the X3. It ranks highest among Compact Premium SUVs in the JD Power 2021 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study, which measures owners' emotional attachment and level of excitement with their new vehicle based on 37 attributes. The BMW X3, with its traditional SUV roofline, ranks third in the segment.
Like most sportback SUVs, the 2023 BMW X4 drives like its more conventional sibling but costs more and sacrifices interior space in favor of enhanced curb appeal. This 2023 BMW X3 vs. 2023 BMW X4 comparison will help you understand the key differences between these BMW crossovers.
2023 BMW X3 xDrive30e
Now in its 20th year, the BMW X3 remains a compact, 4-door sport utility vehicle with five seats. You will find that 2023 BMW X3 pricing starts at $45,400 and tops out at $72,900, not including the $995 destination charge.
BMW offers three versions of the 2023 X3; the main difference is what's under the hood. Most 2023 BMW X3 buyers will select the base 4-cylinder model. You can have it as the rear-wheel-drive (RWD) X3 sDrive30i or the X3 xDrive30i, which uses BMW's xDrive all-wheel-drive (AWD) system. The X3 xDrive30i costs $2,000 more than the base rear-drive X3.
Next is the mid-range 2023 BMW X3 M40i, which offers vibrant performance courtesy of a turbocharged 6-cylinder engine. All-wheel drive is standard on the X3 M40i. If you're looking to embarrass the occasional sport sedan driver, the X3 M is up to the task. It's the heaviest member of the 2023 BMW X3 family, but it's by far the quickest, thanks to a higher-performance 6-cylinder engine developed by BMW's M GmbH division. The 2023 BMW X3 M has upgraded brakes and suspension to manage all that speed. BMW's M xDrive AWD system is standard; it routes more engine torque to the rear wheels than regular xDrive. The optional Competition package ($7,000) unlocks even more power.
Consumers researching 2023 BMW X4 pricing will find that it ranges from $53,400 to $76,400, not including the $995 destination charge. Like its X3 sibling, the BMW X4 has seat belts for five. But BMW's sportback SUV has significantly less rear headroom and a bit less legroom. If you need to accommodate tall adults or rear-facing car seats, you'll do better with the BMW X3.
All-wheel drive is standard on the X4, so the least expensive version is the 2023 BMW X4 xDrive30i with a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. Your other choices are the 2023 BMW X4 M40i, the base X4 M, and the X4 M Competition. They use the same 6-cylinder engines as their X3 counterparts and have the same equipment and options.
Owners can access the same connected services on the 2023 BMW X3 and 2023 BMW X4. BMW crossovers with the BMW Live Cockpit Professional digital instrument panel offer automatic collision notification, live emergency assistance, and rapid access to roadside services. Remote engine start with climate control activation is optional, as is a drive recorder. You can also get concierge services and digital key access. The available Wi-Fi hotspot includes a 3-month introductory trial (3-gigabyte limit), but subscription terms for other services vary. You'll manage everything through the My BMW app.
BMW provides complimentary scheduled maintenance for the first three years or 36,000 miles that you own a 2023 X3 or 2023 X4.
Advantage: BMW X3
2023 BMW X4
The BMW X3 does not rank among the top three Compact Premium SUVs in either the JD Power 2022 Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) or the JD Power 2021 Initial Quality Study (IQS). The 2023 BMW X3 comes with the following warranty and roadside assistance coverage:
Although the BMW X4 does not rank among the leading Compact Premium SUVs in the 2022 VDS, it ranks highest in the Compact Premium SUV category of the 2021 IQS. The 2023 BMW X4 comes with the following warranty and roadside assistance coverage:
Advantage: BMW X4
2023 BMW X3 xDrive30e
Entry-level versions of the 2023 BMW X3 and 2023 BMW X4 come with a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine rated at 248 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. This includes the RWD X3 sDrive30i and the AWD X3 xDrive30i and X4 xDrive30i. All use an 8-speed automatic transmission and have standard hill-descent control.
Most people will find the 4-cylinder BMW X3 and X4 agreeable to drive. Nevertheless, if your budget is flexible, the M40i models give you access to the classic BMW driving experience. The heart of every 2023 BMW X4 M40i and X3 M40i is a smooth, vigorous, turbocharged 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder engine. It makes 382 hp and 369 pound-feet of torque.
BMW fits the M40i's inline-6 engine with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. It doesn't detract from the driving experience. Instead, the mild-hybrid system works in the background: It powers the electrical system, smooths out the automatic engine stop/start system, and provides a modest power boost in certain situations. All X3 and X4 M40i models use an 8-speed automatic transmission.
The 2023 BMW X3 M and 2023 BMW X4 M also have a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6 engine, but it's a different beast from the M40i models. In its base state of tune, the "M" engine makes 473 hp and 457 pound-feet of torque. If you go for the 2023 X3 M Competition or X4 M Competition, those ratings swell to 503 hp and 479 pound-feet.
A performance-tuned 8-speed automatic transmission drives all four wheels through the M xDrive AWD system. The BMW X4 M and X3 M also have a standard limited-slip rear differential known as the M Active Differential. BMW electronically limits top speed to 155 mph, but if you select the optional M Driver's package ($2,500), the limiter won't kick in until 177 mph, and you'll get one day of driving school at a BMW performance center.
All versions of the BMW X4 and BMW X3 have 8 inches of ground clearance. That's enough to get you down a well-maintained dirt trail but not enough for serious off-roading. If you want to tow, the X3 is the better bet, as BMW offers an optional factory tow hitch that enables the SUV's 4,400-pound tow rating.
Although Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) fuel-economy ratings are not yet available for the 2023 BMW X3 and 2023 BMW X4, they're unlikely to change from the 2022 ratings. The RWD 2022 BMW X3 sDrive30i rates 25 mpg in combined city and highway driving. The AWD X3 xDrive30i and X4 xDrive30i rate 24 mpg combined. The 6-cylinder X4 M40i and X3 M40i rate 23 mpg in combined driving. Finally, all the M models, including the BMW X3 M Competition and BMW X4 M Competition, rate 17 mpg combined.
Advantage: BMW X3
2023 BMW X4
The 2023 BMW X3 and 2023 BMW X4 have the same advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). Active Driving Assistant is standard, and this package includes a forward-collision warning (FCW) system with pedestrian detection and automatic emergency braking (AEB), lane-departure warning (LDW), and blind-spot warning (BSW) with rear cross-traffic warning.
For 2023, you will likely find that the Driving Assistance Professional option package is unavailable on certain trim levels (it's a good idea to check with local dealerships). When available, this package provides lane-keeping assistance (LKA), upgraded BSW with side-collision avoidance assistance, front cross-traffic warning, and Level 2 semi-autonomous traffic jam assistance (TJA) via adaptive cruise control (ACC) with stop-and-go capability, lane-centering assistance, and evasive steering assistance (ESA).
Although the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) have not yet published safety ratings for the 2023 BMW X3, the ratings from the structurally similar 2022 X3 should apply. The 2022 X3 rates 5 (out of 5) stars for overall safety in NHTSA crash tests. The 2022 X3 earned Good ratings in all IIHS crash tests but wasn't a Top Safety Pick, apparently due to a Marginal rating for LATCH ease of use (due to deeply recessed lower anchors for child car seats).
Neither the NHTSA nor the IIHS has published crash-test ratings for the BMW X4 since the current generation's debut for the 2019 model year.
Advantage: Neither
These BMW compact crossovers offer comparable safety, and crash protection is likely similar.
2023 BMW X3 xDrive30e
Both the 2023 BMW X3 and 2023 BMW X4 use the iDrive 7 infotainment platform. A 10.5-inch touchscreen display is standard, and crossovers with BMW Live Cockpit Professional have a 12.3-inch touchscreen interface. You can look forward to wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration in all BMW X4s and BMW X3s, as well as over-the-air (OTA) updates.
Availability may vary for options like the wireless charging pad (packaged with the Wi-Fi hotspot) and Harman Kardon surround-sound audio system. Checking with local dealers is advisable.
Notably, the BMW X4 ranks second among Small/Compact Premium models in the JD Power 2021 U.S. Multimedia Quality and Satisfaction Study, which surveyed owners and lessees of 2021-model-year vehicles 90 days after their purchase. According to the study, owners give the X4 high marks for its touchscreen interface and audio-system speakers.
Advantage: BMW X4
2023 BMW X4
The interiors of the 2023 BMW X3 and 2023 BMW X4 use the same electronics and the same high-quality furnishings. Still, the X4's cockpit feels a bit more special as its sloped roofline lends a sport sedan ambiance. The X3's cabin, meanwhile, has a more upright dash characteristic of utility vehicles.
The X3 is also a taller vehicle overall, and if you skip the sunroof, it gives you two more inches of front headroom than the X4. Nevertheless, BMW X4 owners highly rate BMW's sportback SUV for seat comfort. The X4 ranks third among Premium SUVs in the JD Power 2021 U.S. Seat Quality and Satisfaction Study, which tracks problems experienced by owners during the first 90 days.
If cargo capacity is a priority, you will prefer the 2023 BMW X3. The X3 provides 28.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind its rear seats. Folding the rear seats creates a maximum of 62.7 cubic feet of cargo area. With its fastback-type roofline, the 2023 BMW X4 has just 18.5 cubic feet of space behind its rear seats. Folding the seats provides 50.5 cubic feet.
Advantage: Neither
The X3 offers more utility for families, but singles and couples might prefer the X4's combination of style and comfort.
If you'd like to learn more about these compact premium SUVs, be sure to read our expert reviews of the 2023 BMW X3 and the 2023 BMW X4. To find out how people like you rate models in this segment, check out our ratings from verified vehicle owners.
Also, please keep in mind that while the information in this article was accurate and valid on June 17, 2022, it may have changed since that date. Always confirm product details and availability with the automaker's website or your local dealership.
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