What It’s Like to Drive and Live With a G01 BMW X3
It’s been over a month now since I’ve gotten my hands on a 2022 G01 BMW X3 after selling my decade-long dream car, the G82 M4 Competition.
Living with a G01 BMW X3 has really made me rethink what I believed I knew about BMW’s in general.
And I mean this in a shockingly great way.
My first-ever BMW was a 2011 335d. It had the M57 engine and produced a massive 425 lb-ft of torque. It was a compact rocketship!
We’ve also owned an F48 X1 (comparison between the X3 coming soon) for over 7 years now. I had my 2024 G82 M4 Competition with X-Drive for a little over two years.
The GO1 BMW X3 is my fourth BMW and I’m going to go over what it’s like to drive one and what it’s like living with it.
Let’s get started!
The Pros
Coming from a torquey 335d seven years ago but most recently an exotic BMW like the M4 Competition with jet-speed characteristics, you might think getting into a 2022 BMW X3 was quite a world change.
And in some ways, it was, but for great reasons.
One thing I love about the G01 X3 is how sophisticated it looks and drives.
You sit noticeably higher than in the F48 X1 and significantly higher than in my previous M4, which brings about a different level of comfort and safety.
I drive the sDrive, or rear-wheel-drive version of the X3, which means the vehicle is also lighter — and believe me you can tell on the road.
Driving the G01 BMW X3 feels light, athletic, extremely composed on the road, and comfortable enough to remind you you’re sitting in something a little more special than anything else in their lineup.
I’ve driven many BMWs over the years, sedans and coupes, but something about the X-Lineup really makes these cars feel special.
Handling
The BMW G01 X3 handles incredibly well. While it’s significantly bigger than the X1 and X2, it still has a narrow chassis which allows it to have a sporty driving experience.
Unlike the X5, which is much bigger, wider, and authoritative on the road, the X3 can still maneuver in ways that you would recognize as authentic BMW DNA.
The steering is light, but not so light that it feels dead. I actually prefer the steering feel of the X3 over my previous BMW G82 M4.
The G82’s steering felt too light in comfort mode and too synthetically heavy in sport. This is where some of that comfort and luxury elements come into play with the X3.
The X3’s steering feel has the perfect weight distribution whether you’re on comfort or on sport mode.
This model pushes 248 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque using the legendary B48 four-cylinder engine that has had the entire automotive industry buzzing for years.
It’s peppy off the line and so silky smooth that it never fails to remind you you’re driving one of the best engines in modern times.
Quality
What surprised me about the quality of the G01 BMW X3 is that it has quite a few higher quality features than the 2024 M4 I drove had.
Many are in the small details, but believe me, in cars like these, you notice and it counts.
For instance, the window power switches on the X3 are far higher-quality material, making the cabin experience feel much more luxurious.
The buttons on the steering wheel have that same aluminum high-quality brush that the M4 did not. The M4’s were just plastic.
I know not many of us use our blinkers when we drive our bimmers, but the X3 actually makes you want to use them.
They just feel so good you can’t help but use them. Something about the way they click is super satisfying. The worst ones I’ve experienced have been on the M4.
Every material inside the cabin feels premium and high quality to the touch.
I do prefer the gloss black center console on the M4 over the matte black in the X3. I also wish the steering wheel horn cover was in full leather with stitching like the M4’s and like the X5.
The seats, while being synthetic leather, are extremely comfortable and premium.
Everything inside the vehicle is sophisticated.
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Technology
My G01 BMW X3 has all the safety features that you can get on these vehicles. That includes:
- City collision mitigation
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Lane departure warning
- Adaptive LED headlights
- Park distance control
- Frontal collision warning
- + much more
The G01 BMW X3’s technology is by far my personal favorite. It includes BMW’s iDrive 7 system with a 10.3 to 12.3-inch touchscreen.
While I love the way my previous M4’s new long curved screen looked aesthetically (BMW iDrive 8); it’s modern, sleek, and a ‘wow’ factor, the X3’s just works better for userability.
BMW’s previous iDrive 7 system, the one in the G01 BMW X3 is a work of art. It’s faster, simpler and easier to use, and most importantly, not a distraction while driving.
BMW’s latest iDrive 8 and now 8.5 are a distraction from the driving experience — this is not good.
When you drive one of these things, you want to enjoy the road and comfort, not get distracted from those experiences.
Oh, and the ambient lighting in the X3 is really nice. They are much more prominent than they were in my M4, adding to the luxury of the vehicle’s interior design.
Comfort
The G01 BMW X3 is very comfortable to drive, making every commute an absolute pleasure to cruise in.
The M4 gave me adrenaline, the 335d gave me superior confidence, but the X3 gives me genuine relaxation.
Driving the xLine (non-M Sport) and sDrive version (RWD), means its lighter and at its most comfortable version available.
The 2022 BMW X3 xLine features a standard, comfort-focused suspension with fixed dampers.
The M Sport, however, is primarily an aesthetic package.
Its suspension remains mechanically identical to the xLine unless it is specifically equipped with the optional Adaptive M Suspension, which adds electronically controlled dampers.
The seats are high-quality, are elevated perfectly, and allow you to relax into them every commute.
The X3’s comfort is my favorite thing about this SAV. It has BMWs sporty DNA plus an elevated luxury you can only get in these X Series.
The Cons
There aren’t many cons to the G01 BMW X3.
It’s a great compact SUV that can do it all. However, there is only one thing that has annoyed me during my time with it.
The brake squeal.
And it’s a shame because the actual feel of the brakes is INCREDIBLE. They don’t squeal all the time, but when they do, gosh it’s awful.
A mechanic friend of mine says they likely have to be changed, so I’m definitely going to heed his advise.
However, I know that the G-generation M2/M3/M4 is notorious for this. The problem is they collect so much brake dust that it’s simply an inevitable part of the experience.
It doesn’t ruin the experience, but it does make you cringe from time to time.
If you’ve had this problem before too and eliminated it, please drop a comment below!
What else is there to nick-pick? The doors could feel higher quality? The X1 we have has the best sounding and feel doors, my previous 335d takes second place, the M4 third, and the X3 last.
I mean honestly, it’s a pretty great car.
It’s difficult to find anything else to consider as a ‘con’.
The G01 X3 is fast enough — and it doesn’t have to be a fast vehicle. It has plenty of interior room and cargo space.
It looks fantastic, especially with that LCI refresh.
It’s sophisticated, youthful, sporty yet luxurious.
Not to mention, that panoramic roof lets in so much outdoor light, making the vehicle feel that more roomy and special.
Also Read: 5 Luxuries to Cut When Money Gets Tight (Not Netflix)
Living with the G01 BMW X3
Living with the G01 BMW X3 has felt like a privilege if I’m being quite honest.
It’s my daily driver to the office and I look forward to commuting in its relaxing cabin every day.
When you run a business in a fast-paced work environment, in a deadline-driven industry, the last thing you want to do is get into a fast sports car after 12-15 hours of grind.
Having two kids, it’s the perfect entrepreneur and dad-mobile.
If we need to haul boxes around, the cargo space is more than enough.
Trips out of town? Oof, can’t wait.
But I’m curious to know how you feel about this generation BMW X3. Is it enough for you? Did you move up to an X5 or a different brand?
Leave your thoughts below.
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