What Is the Best BMW SUV?
According to industry ratings, the X3 is BMW’s best SUV overall—but don’t dismiss the others! Learn more here.
Written by Tiffany Leung
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
The
X3
is an award-winning luxury compact SUV with generous cargo space, a comfortable cabin, and the highest safety ratings—not to mention insanely stylish. It’s no wonder it’s been crowned BMW’s best SUV.While the X3 is the crowd favorite, the rest of the automaker’s sport-utility lineup is just as competitive. You’re bound to find a BMW SUV that suits your needs—whether you're looking for a family car or better fuel savings.
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The best BMW SUV overall: X3
Starting price: $44,695
Number of seats: 5
J.D. Power rating: 80
The X3 lives up to its “best BMW SUV overall” title, being an Editors’ Choice winner for 2022 on Car and Driver and U.S. News’ #1 in Luxury Compact SUVs. This stylish award-winner is also the automaker’s best-selling SUV, with 75,858 units sold in the U.S. in 2021.
Rest assured, the X3’s popularity isn’t just hype. This
compact SUV from BMW
is built to impress with a host of standard features, large cargo capacity, and top-tier safety ratings—all in a stylish package.Before you pick any additional options, the X3 is already decked out with 10-way power-adjustable front seats, reclining rear seatbacks with plush cushioning, luxurious cabin finishes, up to 62.7 cubic feet of cargo space, and a 10.3-inch infotainment display.
If you’re concerned about safety, the X3 has topped the charts with a five-star overall
NHTSA safety rating
and top marks from the IIHS—aside from its child seat anchors. This isn’t surprising since the X3 is generously equipped with safety features like standard automatic emergency braking, cruise control that slows for curves, lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive LED headlights with automatic high beams.Our only gripe is that the X3 does come with a large ticket price, albeit modest for a luxury class SUV. The base model starts with an MSRP of $44,695 and the price shoots up to $58,795 for the highest M40i trim level.
Fortunately, if you are looking for an SUV with power, the base trim provides more than enough muscle for most drivers. With its standard 248-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine, the X3 has a quick throttle response, impressive low-end torque, and can go from zero to sixty in six seconds.
The best BMW SUV to buy used: 2017 X3
Price range: $28,521 to $32,948
Number of seats: 5
J.D. Power rating: 80
The current X3 model year is almost perfect in every way but the ticket price on a brand-new luxury SUV can be steep—and the depreciation rate even steeper. The good news is that getting a used X3 is a great way to get the best BMW SUV without breaking the bank.
Although the 2017 X3 is a few years older, it’s the same third generation as the current model year. In other words, you can still get a majority of the features—minus minor upgrades—and similar styling at a more budget-friendly price point.
Consumer Reports considers the 2017 model year one of the best for the X3 for its reliability, great fuel economy for its class, high safety ratings, and generous storage. All that said, it’s no wonder that the 2017 X3 is the best used BMW SUV!
The best BMW SUV for families: X7
Starting price: $78,845
Number of seats: 7
J.D. Power rating: 81
Although the X3 is BMW’s best, it won’t be much use if you regularly need to transport more than five people—but something bigger will fit the bill.
The best BMW SUV for your family might be the
X7
, the brand’s largest three-row SUV offered. This luxury SUV gives a superior driving experience, with the standard all-wheel-drive and adaptive air suspension making every bump pillowy-soft. Its impressive selection of engines ranges from a 375-hp turbo-six to a 523-hp twin-turbo V8, giving drivers endless options to suit their style.The X7 seats up to seven passengers, and the interior is laced with plenty of upscale features. This includes heated front seats, a panoramic sunroof, a power-adjustable steering wheel, and ambient interior lighting.
One prominent downside of the X7 is its small cargo area and cramped third-row seats compared to others in the same class. While small kids can fit comfortably in the third row, families with more adults and teens may want to consider other options.
MORE: BMW Highlander specs you should know
The best BMW SUV for off-roading: N/A
Unfortunately, BMW does not produce any vehicles that are suitable for off-roading. All SUVs from this luxury automobile giant are better off staying on-road.
MORE: The best old-school off-road vehicles
The best BMW SUV for fuel economy: X5 xDrive plug-in 45e hybrid
Starting price: $64,695
Number of seats: 5
J.D. Power rating: 78
While most BMW SUVs have a fuel-saving hybrid option, the X5 does its best with its xDrive plug-in 45e hybrid trim claiming the top for fuel economy.
When solely running on gasoline, the hybrid X5 gets 20 combined MPGe. With fuel and electric combined, it’s rated for 50 MPGe. This fuel economy is impressive, especially when compared to our other top BMW SUVs’ base engine configurations:
- 2022 BMW X3: 25 city/29 highway/27 combined mpg
- 2022 BMW X5: 21 city/26 highway/23 combined mpg
- 2021 BMW X7: 19 city/24 highway/21 combined mpg
For drivers who need to transport larger crews, the X7 is also offered with a mild-hybrid powertrain. However, the newest model year has received a price bump resulting in steeper upfront costs before seeing long-term savings.
The best way to shop for BMW insurance
With some of the best-in-class safety tech, exceptional crash test ratings, and unwavering reliability, BMW’s SUV lineup is set to fit your bill of preferences. Whichever BMW you decide on, don’t forget to shop for the best
car insurance
rates with the Jerry
app. As a licensed broker that partners with over 55 of the nation’s best insurance companies, Jerry can find customized quotes for you and your new BMW in under a minute—and you’ll get expert support from Jerry’s team of insurance geniuses when you switch.
Jerry will even continue monitoring for price drops so that you’ll continue to get the best deals before your policy expires.
“I thought my previous insurance rate was the best I could get since I have a luxury SUV. AfterJerryfound me quotes, I ended up paying only $80 a month for the same coverage. I’ll be shopping for auto insurance through Jerry from now on!” —Petra S.
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