The 2021 BMW X3 xDrive30e is a Compromised PHEV in Need of More Power & Range 

I got this car about 3 weeks ago. I regularly get about 21 all-electric miles on it. That might seem like a little, but it's more than enough for my usual daily driving. Done one long drive and averaged about 45 mpg with the hybrid cycling with the ICE. So far, I like this car, but I'm not looking for super duper performance driving. It's reliable, comfortable, quiet, intuitive tech-wise, and I'm not buying any gas. Further, I have solar panels so even my electricity is free.

I dont think your review is objective to the purpose of the car if you like. Why would you be comparing plug in hybrid to a Tesla or claim its electric power is too weak? This vehicle has a completely different purpose. Firstly, the electric motor is there primarily to work in hybrid mode, which you confirmed yourself is nice. Then, the max eDrive is there only as an option so the car can drive on electricity if you do short distances, and this is where usually cars use most of the gasoline. Also, if you do an extensive test of the car in auto eDrive, you will be surprised how good the economy of you i.e. 100km journey could be. Remember this is a plug-in HYBRID when you do your next reviews and not an electric vehicle, so comparing electric power between the two is not correct. And also, tell me at least one car that is "tesla" fast and is a plug in hybrid?

Great review, i loved that you covered literally everything. Thank you

Owner here. For me the reason to go for phev version instead of gas version is because it's cheaper considering the federal tax credit. There is additional state reward as well. I have got charging at work and 18 miles are enough for my two way commute. It also enables me to go carpool line and park in certain spots. So overall it's a better option for me.

18 miles.. really when it’s that small you have to at least try to lower that 4600lb curb weight or do something for the aerodynamics or the tires or it just doesn’t make sense. And 24 mpg is pretty mediocre even for non hybrids

As a leader of its class. it's totally unacceptable to offer a PHEV with Only 18miles on electric power. Especially in 2021...

I have a BMW 530e. About 20 miles of electric range. I am retired and most of my driving is local. I am averaging 90 mpg (that is as high as it registers so probably averaging more) on the 1,000 miles I have driven since I bought it in mid December. So even though the range is limited, it more than meets my needs. I bought gas back in December because I made a 200 mile trip and I wanted to top off the tank.

This is just such a half assed attempt. It feels like BMW doesn’t really care.

I’m very surprised you mentioned on multiple occasions that the Mercedes GLE350e is a direct rival to this. It’s not. It’s in a class above. The Mercedes GLC300e is the direct rival to this.

Who else is excited to see the bloopers of this video?

Just 18 miles?

As you can see, no ding for not having a flat-bottom steering wheel. I agree with your liking of the two-tone interior. Very upscale. Was it you or Alex on Autos who commented that the current X3 is nearly as big or the same size now as the original X5? I found that interesting. Would be neat to see them side by side as a comparison over time on how the market has continued to grow and expand

This is why I love always your real review on cars because you dare to say straight without hiding or say 50/50 like others, I don't like to watch any channel that at first " I would like to thank.....to..their borrow vehicles to review " those review are fake. 😮thank you Redline. May I ask you this? Can I use gasoline only like forever? Because buying phev is just for California coming law

The mpg depends on how you drive it. My friend gets 38.7 mpg with the 2020 version of the car.

I’m confused. It gets worse fuel economy than the regular base engine🤔

I think this is called a "compliance car".

BMW should definitely consider adding more power to this when the RAV4 Prime gets to 60 half a second faster with an eCVT and NA engine.

@DJAZTHETAFREQ I thought you said BMW didn’t offer leather stitching on the door panels in the X3.

Hey I could help you out with the video recording and editing ! I have a 4k camera and a DJI gimbal

It actually does shift. The electric motor is in place of the torque converter.

Please test drive the bmw x5 hybrid 45e. With the 3.0L, I'm assuming this would be the recommended model if considering a BMW hybrid?

This is clearly a compliance/"shut those green yuppies" car. $65k? What a joke

At 45k it’s perfectly acceptable. At 65k? Absolutely horrendous.

I used to own a 530e which uses the same drivetrain and electric motor as this vehicle with the same specs, good luck getting 18 miles electric, I never saw more than 16, and normally got between 12-14 miles.

Hey what town in Jersey is this? Or name of the park?

The bump in the cargo area is for the pressurized fuel tank. The high voltage battery sits under the rear seat.

Man, you have to do your homework. Put the car in any mode and kick the accelerator down hard, the car thinks you need all power, like yesterday already, and spins up all the horses available, e-mode and combustion engine mode.

Good review.

It depends what you are looking more, is it mpg+(e) or just mpg with power .. then compare, considering current gas price situation if you are getting above 34 mpge within city and highway. I would say this is best luxury SUV, no doubt BMW handling is best in class + its all depends on who is driving not what you are driving, try to feel connected with car. And last , You are not driving it on race track every day to compare so must not concern why it doesn’t meet 4.8 per second criteria.

BMW was the best selling luxury car brand in the US in 2020 for the second year in a row

Fantastic and love the honest review! Own the 2019 - X3 Gas and you confirmed my suspicion hybrids are still years away. Will keep with gas until our model is replaced in 4-5 years.

It's handsome and the battery only allowing 18 miles is somewhat disappointing. But at least you can commute to work and back.

Needs a cvt, more plastic cladding, some hidden exhaust, a smaller engine, and smaller tires

You are always complaining that the Volvo screen is too small even to it is bigger than this one and the Volvo screen is being used since 2016. The Volvo screen is even a infra red screen so that it can be used with gloves. It literally can be used with anything. I even tried it with a drink can. It works perfectly.

I bought one I love it It’s a badass machine And I can teleport and time travel with it… I No longer know what competitors are.

I don't think the short range is as much of an issue as people think it is. If you live in suburbia going to run errands on the weekend everything is with 5 miles of home. Same for Soccer Parents shuttling kids around. You shift all you around town trips to electricity. Then you have the hybrid system for everything else.

are you sure the dash isn't faux leather?

17 miles during summer, 5 miles during winter, no thanks

Did you get your jacket in Canada?

Watched this review since I've never really considered the xDrive 30e. I bought the '21 X3 xDrive30i 6 months ago and absolutely love it! Looks like I made the better choice.

13:36 I make that noise when someone lets out a nasty fart in my car

The next gen lexus nx phev will be be the proper competitor to this x3

At that price, it seems like one of the most obvious competitors is the X5 45e

Looks just like the 2013 x3

M-B GLC 350e has been cancelled in the United States.

Your reviews are a regurgitation of what others have said. Its like you watched their videos and performed a "copy and paste" function. Awful reviews!

Nice car but 18 miles of range?

Seems to me that BMW misjudged the electric performance of this product. It doesn’t offer enough power or range to really use as an EV and is hampered by a heavy battery. I would rather have a regular hybrid with just enough battery to capture regen energy without adding too much weight.

Adaptive led's not standard. my sis just picked up the 2021 with standard led

but I don't want a pure EV and deal with range anxiety or have to EVER think about range. I want the convenience of an ICE car in which there's a gas station at every corner.

Can you remote start this car with key fob?

confused. Is the MB GLE 350 hybrid available in the US

Nice car.

They have vineyards in Pennsylvania?!

BMW needs to go to Toyota for their phev tech. Think of it as payback for letting Toyota using their turbo 6 in the Supra.

Thanks for washing it

Cmon BMW 18 mile range ? Its year 2021 not 2015

great!

18 miles electric only sounds really weak. Though, no plug in hybrids have very long range, but most are 22 to 28 miles (some even more). So, this is on the very low end. You'd be better off getting an XC60 T8 Inscription.

The maintenance will be a pain.

Holy crap - even my Prius Prime could beat that thing to 60 on battery alone.

18 miles electric range what a joke, why even bother?

Well, Toyota, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz will make more sales this year than BMW X3 xDrive30e. have an 18miles e-range? and lost rear 5 cubic feet cargo space? No electric-powered rear seat fold? No CVT transmission? Humm.. for this price? No Thanks, I will be shopping for other companies.

Obviously you are buying this for the name because 300hp 18 miles of range??? 350 miles total ?? Rav4 prime is a much more appealing for the efficiency Also what’s the point of this thing being a plug in hybrid if it can be easily taken out of ev mode like a normal hybrid?

For sure knows his shit. Love this sub.

Only BMW can make a hybrid have worse mpg than the base vehicle

Is it just me who thinks that BMW's cars are starting to look a little bit boring compared to Mercedes and Audi these days? :/ Disappointing.

Thumbs down for the car not the reviewer.

I dont understand why BMW builds these when you get only 24mpg. My Mdx Hybrid gets better mpg

Yet another boring SUV. They all look the same.

They should have went full electric.

$54K car with No driver assistant in 2021? 🙃

The regular 2.0T is very good on gas, add more weight ,,pay 10k more , complicated long term mechanic repairs , and you might save 500$ a year on gas

Rather get a rav4 prime or Venza.

Sorry BMW. I am a big BMW fan and have owned several as well as current. We recently purchased a 2020 Audi Q5 plugin and my wife absolutely loves the drive dynamics and acceleration. I appreciate the interior and electronics. Very quick SUV btw.

5:35 BMW dong? 🤔😁

Lol. 17 mile e drive, just the bare minimum just to be named e-drive. Sell it for more expensive than other vehicles that has a longer e-drive range. Sad, they can do better.

Pass.

Ha Ha ... the look on your face trying all electric XL

This car seems like such a missed opportunity for BMW. It’s beyond me why BMW and Mercedes are choosing not to bring their all electric ⚡️ vehicles stateside. I think they’d be competitive in our market, despite their as advertised range

Hold my wallet🤨

I don't get it. All that extra weight to get 18 miles of electric driving. Come on. Let's open up the pipeline and burn some fuel... Jesus

give me a x430e also a 430e might as well

Yeah... no

That interior looks like it was designed by a blind person just random wood and aluminum trim and black plastic everywhere, like ig wasn't designed at all, and the outside is just boring, Oh and that fuel economy sucks 😄

Finally the Germans are starting to run into problems with their names thanks to an even greater need for differentiation between models. BMW X3 xDrive30e. Now you're stretching it. Time to start giving your car's an actual fuckin name and ditch letters and numbers? 🤣

A great video - I have owned this X3 Hybrid for 1 year and BMW has finally discontinued the model in the US for good reason. This X3 drives great in 100% elec sport mode, and it is very powerful in combined Hyb mode (actually fun to drive). BUT because the battery drains so fast, the fun ends quickly. Once the EV battery dies, the small 2.0L engine is slow on its own. But the real problems with the vehicle have been the endless software/tech problems (reboots of the screens and iDrive 7). The X3 Hyb is so unpredictable sometimes the drive modes work, sometimes they don't. Sometimes the lights turn off, sometimes they won't etc etc. Since it is discontinued, BMW will never fix any of the problems unfortunately. I shed I had leased it!

Im sorry for those that like present BMW interiors, but the fact is that they are a mismatch of fugliness.

This thing is due for a refresh. Bigly.

18 miles only on electric?! C’mon man!! Why are we calling this an “electric car”? What are we paying for?! 🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️ -The Ultimate Failing Machine

Another money pit by fourth riech motor works...

There’s NO OPTION for FAST CHARGE DEAL KILLER!!!

First

5th

I hate panoramic moonroofs!

IF YOU WANT THE CAR TO STAY IN EV MODE BY A EV NOT A PLUG IN 😠😠

Interior looks cheap compared to Genesis, Lincoln, Audi, Acura, Infiniti

The dumbest decision EVER. Too many X vehicles to start with then they get rid of the i3 and i8 instead if refining them in favor of yet another generic-looking SUV

Yea, BMW sucks.

its incredible how BMW is still pushing this outdated interior design. It looks like the layout from a early 2000s Honda Civic. Just awful.