2020 BMW X3 xDrive30e Offers A Taste Of Electric Driving (Is It Enough?) 

You’re videos are the perfect length. I’m getting a little fatigued by car RU-vidrs making 25, 30, even 40 minute videos! Your videos are long enough to give us all the details, but also succinct and entertaining.

Your very professional, and you respect & love your work. What’s not love about your Chanel. Evil twin is even love-able. Thanks Tom for all you do for the Chanel

Great video as always very informative. Miss the TP cargo volume test. 3:10 love your cave/garage with the ELR.

Hi Tom! Brilliant work as always. BTW it wouldn’t hurt my feelings if you ditched the TP test.

Good video! I do like the Stop Light info nuggets. It's catchy and succinct! Thanks for the work!

Another knowledgeable, good-natured, practical review. In addition to the high quality content, I am invariably impressed by the excellent production values, particularly for a person working alone or nearly so. Thank you for a wonderful diversion from the septic tank of current events.

Nice video! I’ve had mine here in London for a couple of months, getting 25 miles on a charge. Great car

Well done, thank you! Reviewing electric/hybrid vehicles is very important as the auto industry need all the help get more folks to consider these vehicles.

Mr. Voelk, I'm always impressed a how well you complete your reviews in a timely manner. Even during the height of the COVID pandemic, you continued to provide wonderful concise reviews. Tell your wife Thank You also. Even though she is not into cars, her efforts to help you continue your work didn't go unnoticed. I like the green light, yellow light, red light segment at the end of this review. Keep this as a part of your standard review process. Thank you for what you do.

This is one of the best car reviews I've seen. Well done.

I just set notification. I’m all for anything that can help you out. Your videos are the perfect mix of just enough information for me to decide if I want to check a vehicle out. Hope you get a million subs.

Even though we disagree on the usefulness of Honda's LaneWatch camera, I like this dude's videos as soon as they start, because they're always so damn good and polished. Good work as usual.

Great review . Excellent presentation, clear, concise,, Just the facts !

Thank you Tom! Keep up the great work!

As usual, an excellent review, and I must say that IMO, you are easily the best driver in the entire state of New Jersey. :)

I was in the market for a 740, but dealer was looking to move the one 2020 hybrid 745 they had. Never thought I would buy a hybrid, but couldn’t pass up the discount. Today was day one of driving the car, but thus far love it! Mine supposedly gets 20 miles on electric mode, which for me is idea, considering I only drive about 25 miles per day these days.

Maybe just keep 12 packs of TP at home/in your garage?

You rock as well sir, great reviews. 🤘👌

Thanks for all the hard work. I do a lot of recreational video for hiking and most people don't realize how much time it takes to come up with 16 minutes of well produced product (i.e.2 hours of work for about 30 seconds of finished video for the t.p. test) Thanks again!

Tom, you're a treasure. Thanks for another great review!

Excellent Review keep it up 👍

A review that's comprehensive enough!. Please review the X5 xdrive45e. Want to see how it drives compared to its gas version.

My dream car is the x3m! I like this car too, nice review!

As I Have Said Before, Your Work Deserves More Praise Than your Getting AllThe Best To You And Your Evil Twin. From Rockland County,Ny.

His reviews are awesome Love from Saudi Arabia

great review!

‘Why subscribe to this channel?’ Because you do the best reviews on RU-vid! 😃

Tom, Your comment about comments really chaps my hide! I'll try harder to be more salty. Thanks for continuing to make great car review content. You're a reliable narrator!

Thanks for another great review, Tom. I took delivery of my X3 30e March 31. The pandemic has affected my driving, no doubt, and probably resulted in more short trips. I plug in every night (120 only) and a full charge takes more like 10-11 hours (not the 6 you reported). The computer display says that I've driven 821 miles, 459 of those on electric power. My overall fuel economy is 57.9mpg, and my average speed 27.5mph. I stay in Max eDRIVE and Eco Pro modes but don't otherwise try to maximize electric range or fuel economy. As you say, the transition between electric and ICE is very smooth, as is the engine start/stop. I'm loving this vehicle so far. Oh, another point: that $5,836 federal tax credit can only be used in the year of purchase (it doesn't carry over).

Great video as usual. I own a 2019 X3 M40i. I love the car. However, I want to comment on BMW's use of run flat tires. I owned two 3 series sedans prior to my X3 purchase last year. Both models had run flats. In early June of last year, about three weeks prior to traveling to Spartenburg to take delivery of my X3, I was in New York City to see a play with friends. we left New York City around 9:30 PM heading back to Philadelphia. We just came out of the Lincoln tunnel and were on I 495 heading toward the New Jersery Turnpike when I hit a rather large and deep pot hole. At first we all thought we hit an IAD. That's how jarring it felt. I was immediately warned by iDrive that the front right tire lost all of its tire pressure but said I could continue to drive 50 miles or until I could find a safe palce to safely get off the highway, whichever came first. I drove about 25 miles and took the first exit off the turnpike and called BMW Assist. They sent a flat bed truck and took my 3 series sedan to the nearest BMW dealer. We then called Lyft and the Lyft driver took us the rest of the way back to Philadelphia. That night I became a fan of run flat tires because when I hit the pot hole I was in the middle lane of I 495. There is no break down lane of that stretch of highway from the Lincoln Tunnel to the New Jersey Turnpike. I am positive if the car did not have run flat tires and I had to stop in the middle of the road or even try to pull over we would have been hit by other cars speeding around the bend just where I hit the pot hole. With the run flats I was able to continue driving at 45 MPH until I came to the first exit heading South. Yes I had to replace the tire which was partially seperated from the wheel. Other than a tire replacement, minor repair to the wheel and a front alignment there was no other damage. Yes the replacements are expensive, they enhance road noise and they ride harder. In this instance I believe the run flats saved me and my passengers lives. Thanks again for the X3 review. I value your reviews more than any other reviewer.

We love you Tom! 🤗 God Bless! 💛

Amazing review. Picking mine up tomorrow and really excited about it!

Oh Tom, you know we love you!!!

P.S. Thank you for mentioning the towing rating. This is the first video review that has mentioned that. As I want something that can tow 3,000 pounds, this 4,400-pound rating is more than suitable for my needs with plenty in reserve. I really don't want a huge SUV for those few occasions when I do need to tow a modest amount.

How much mpg did you get once the battery was depleted? Thank you! Love your videos been watching them since 2008!

I work 2.2 miles from home so that small electric range would be heavenly over my Mercedes

When you add options basic in most manufacturers, the price is ridiculous and it’s not all that upscale in my opinion. Only wish you’d added the pricing options. I’ve been a subscriber for years now.

I rented a mid-size sedan on a trip this summer. I was disappointed when they didn't have one available, but they gave me a sweet, free upgrade for the week: a BMW X7. As much as i ***ABSOLUTELY LOVED THAT CAR***, as a person who is usually the sole occupant 95% of the time, that car is a bit overkill for my needs. Even the X5 might be a bit big for me. The X3 is just right size-wise, and as the current owner of a Toyota Avalon Hybrid, I would really love to get a hybrid. I don't care for some of the things Lexus has done, so I'm really liking what BMW is offering. Pay a bit more, but get a better experience?

Hey Tom - just a thought. Why not invest in some Rubbermaid bins that are roughly the same size as TP packs? You can stack them inside each other when not in use. No more Costco runs or weird looks.

Great video as always! Am wondering: is automatic lane change available on the X3?

Fine review as always! I’m a current X3 owner and for me, mandatory run flats are a deal breaker. I’ll never, ever again buy a car with run flats. They are both unreliable and expensive - not fit for purpose! Newer X3s have a non-run-flat + spare tire option, so I may still buy another (non-hybrid) X3 when the time comes.

Great Car, Great Review !

Tom and his evil twin are very watchable. You guys should be on TV! Seriously though, I'm only here for the BMW X3 xDrive 30e. I've ordered this car! Happy to see that it ticks many boxes, although I think the European version has slightly more electric range (according to some reviews). I'm also happy that you report that it's sporty enough, but also smooth as a family car. "It's easy to like this vehicle" - music to my ears.

“Rinse, lather, repeat”? An odd sequence but is that your secret regimen for luxuriant locks? 7:21

I test drove this vehicle last month. I had no intention of getting it since I'm anti SAV/CUV/SUV but I almost did. It's a really good vehicle and drove better than an F30. I guess that's more an insult to the F30 than a compliment to the G01. Anyway, a little FYI on trunk space. If you get the spare tire option on a regular non-PHEV X3, it's the same loss of trunk space. Pretty sure it's the same cover. So if anyone is curious and dealer has no X3 30e, ask to see a regular X3 with spare tire option.

That neighborhood looks nice.

A video outaide of your neighborhood would be nice sometimes. Still hreat shots and great info.

18 miles of range? Battery is way too small. Should be big enough for at least 35 miles.

Great video! Could we get a review of the Audi A8?

Yeah Tom, you're known for your pristine videos and quality content, not the TP gag....just wish BMW would offer a better base warranty considering their suspect historical reliability issues and expensive parts, repairs and maintenance.

Besides the car itself, LOVE the neighbourhood!!!

Can we get a review on Bentley continental gt convertible and jaguar f type convertible ?

Great review Tom. That cargo space hump from the battery was pretty surprising. Not worth it IMO for such short all electric range.

What is the mpg once the battery has been depleted? Is it less than a normal X3 30i?

Okay, red light, green light has gotten better, but might I suggest that you get into the picture when you narrate? A lot of what I like about your reviews are your presentation and droll personality so having you on-screen would be a plus. Think Andy Rooney...

WLTP is optimistic but much closer to real life than NEDC. A recent summer test of 28 BEVs in Norway found they all exceeded WLTP range, and while I get BEVS getter better range in the summer, this result shows WLTP can be real in warm weather. I think on average WLTP is about 1.1x EPA range while NEDC was more like 1.5x EPA range.

“Evil twin” idea is unique - I’ve never seen anyone do that on the Internet. Love that touch!

Hi Tom, might fall into the category of nit-pik but I think I heard you mention "120 current" twice in your review. I believe it is 120 voltage...

13:57 is that Mrs.Voelk? Kudos

Seriously, say anything negative about the US, but being there several times, nobody in the world has more beautiful/ nicer neighborhoods than them.

first! Ok I'm back after watching the whole video. Do people actually buy a fully loaded X3, like the tester? No dealerships near me carry an X3 with the driving assist plus, let alone the dynamic driving package. Most of people seems to go for a lightly optioned X3 with appearance upgrades instead. At $60,000 +, might as well consider stretching the budget to an X5...? And last but not least, great video once again Tom. Thanks!

Even thought I loathe suvs now ( bought a 2020 Camry se hybrid ) Suv hybrids Just make sense in today’s market

Thats suburb look soooooo cute, coming from the uk

I would like to see a review of the competition. Audi Q5e. I don't think any major reviewer in the US has reviewed that SUV.

When the RAV4 Prime comes out, you should do a video on "budget performance hybrids." The newest generation of PHEVs are delivering serious performance for the buck. Pretty soon there won't be much point in spending more than $50K (status seekers excluded).

~1300 miles range and ~102 mpg should be achievable with one tank of gas in hybrid mode if you are hypermiling it.

Love it

Would you be able to do a review on 2021 BMW 330e?

Love The new lights segment. I had a very Bad experience with BMW si I don't love them. But great review

Here's a humble suggestion Tom. If the TP is important for your existence, just buy it and keep it at home. I think you must have the budget for that.

Anyone knows the color of the vehicle? Looks Sophisto Grey to me. Or is it Sapphire Black?

Tom is so nice, that I bet his evil twin is probably a nice guy too.

I'm an X3 owner and at some point, I'll be car shopping (it's getting long in the tooth). Can this or other X3's get a spare tire as an option? I had to white-knuckle it all over the place when I took an Asheville vacation -- petrified of getting a slashed sidewall or other puncture miles from nowhere on some nice but gravelly roads. I vowed to never again get an RFT car.

X3 2.0d will be fine for me.

FYI- Tom was never on Falcon Crest, that was another guy.

How long can I run the air conditioner while parked and waiting for my kids 1 hour ballet lesson to end?

Hi Tom. Do you have a link to the federal tax credit you mention? I thought that it expired and only state incentives were available.

12 kWh = 21 miles. I'm doing 47 miles easy (in summer) on 16 kWh with my Clarity. There is something not efficient here. A little bit more batteries would make it better. Agree with you on PHEV. they are great. I have not put any gaz in mine since January and use it everyday.

This is perfect car for small family

Tom, $64k for a front drive with a revolution 18 miles of electric range! Wow! I know, it’s nice, drive well and it’s quiet. I hope so for that price and BMW catalogue of options. I will leave it to peoples who like to show off in those. Can I suggest to rent it? How long? The length of the warranty!

RAV4 Prime is better than BMW? What the.

Review Tesla's also

Evil Tom ignores social distancing guidelines

A 3 wagon with less space inside and 50% extra weight. I don't get the BMW X fans.

Tom, I enjoy your channel and I think your reviews are very well done. My "civil" comment is that I wish you would stop begging for subs. I subscribe to numerous channels on different topics, and you are the only one who asks for subs on every video. You even explain why people should sub because of how hard you work and how good the content is. To quote Benjamin Disraeli, "Never complain, never explain." If viewers are impressed, they will subscribe. Let it go--please.

lol 18 miles of range? The rav4 prime says 42. People who want a plugin wont get this. If they want luxury they just get the non plugin or regular. oof.

NSX

6 hours for 18 miles of range!!! Yikes😬

The ix3 weighs 2200KG, it's a fucking lead balloon. What is it with modern hybrids, .....

It is a bad time to be loading your car with TP. I would be ok if you stopped that.

The RAV4 Prime gives you 42 miles on a charge. Why would you buy this vehicle for more money and less range? For the name plate? Hard pass for me.

Sorry but tax credits for this? Let’s give them to all electric vehicles

Oh no Tom did you buy an ELR? Sorry for your (depreciation) loss

I think I'd lease this and then get the Tesla in 2 years when they will hopefully have figured out how to put it together properly. I think the Tesla is a better overall car, but every test I've seen of it had horrid build quality.

Was that Madame driving? hmmm...

Why reviews of vehicles 95% people can't afford

Boo....

BMW is meh 😑 Genesis is the way to go

Let’s see it doesn’t have a BMW in-line six cylinder. It doesn’t have a Tesla killler electric motor. It doesn’t have any good range, 18 miles, are you joking? It doesn’t have a shape that separates it from the herd. Why exactly would I buy this over complex BMW that will have service issues soon after purchase? But a Tesla model Y. You are welcome.

16min video is kind of long, specially for a clunky vehicles, SUV’s!. Old style editing works best.