BMW is one of the top car brands and has a great product portfolio. They offer a variety of cars to cater to the diverse needs of their customers. This strategy enables them to retain their customers and maintain a leading position in the luxury car market.
BMWs regularly earn CR’s recommendations for packing industry-leading comfort and technology into vehicles that are agile, quick, and fuel-efficient. Their current lineup includes a diverse range of powertrain options, including full-electric and plug-in hybrid models.
X3
With a sporty drivetrain and a sleek aesthetic, the BMW X3 is the SUV that effortlessly marries luxury and performance. Thrilling acceleration and ample power reserves make it an ideal companion for any adventure, while a refined interior and advanced features ensure a comfortable ride for passengers.
The 2025 X3 is bigger and more sophisticated than its predecessor, but still manages to maintain the sporty driving experience that many buyers crave. It also boasts a fresh exterior design and a range of new driver-assistance technologies, including automated lane change assist and parking assistant with traffic light recognition.
For drivers, the X3 feels very agile and precise, with tight body control and accurate steering that inspires confidence behind the wheel. It’s far more fun to drive than a rival like the Mercedes GLC, and miles ahead of the more roly-poly Lexus NX, Audi Q5, and Volvo XC60.
The X3’s infotainment system is easy to use, with a 10.25-inch touchscreen and an intuitive iDrive rotary controller. It can also be controlled via voice commands or a head-up display, and it supports the latest streaming services, such as Spotify and Amazon Music. It also offers an innovative dual-player mode, which allows two passengers to enjoy the same media simultaneously – perfect for road trips!
330i
The 330i is the base configuration for BMW’s popular three-door sports sedan. It combines comfortable seating, premium touches, and excellent fuel economy to form the perfect entry-level luxury sports sedan. It competes with the Mercedes C-Class and Audi A4. The 330i’s turbocharged four-cylinder engine is smooth, quiet, and powerful when needed. It can go from zero to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds and has enough power to make driving this sedan a pleasure.
In addition to its standard front sport seats with thigh support extenders, the 330i offers a 16-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system and a power sunroof. BMW also includes a rearview camera, an auto-dimming interior mirror, and a remote start feature. In our test car, we also upgraded to a $1,500 leather package that added black-and-blue stitching and heated front seats.
The 330i is part of BMW’s seventh-generation 3 Series (E90-generation) lineup. It is available in sedan, wagon (marketed as a Touring), and coupe body styles. It uses a new platform and engines, and the numbers in its model name now correspond to horsepower rather than engine displacement. The “i” indicates a gas-powered, rear-wheel-drive model, while those with an xDrive suffix have all-wheel drive. A M-badged variant, called the 340i, swaps the four-cylinder engine for a more potent six-cylinder and adds performance features such as adaptive suspension and a 48-volt hybrid system.
X5
The X5 is BMW’s popular mid-sized luxury SUV, offering drivers the best of both worlds. The SUV combines impressive off-road capabilities with an innovative cabin and sophisticated technology, making it one of the most popular SUVS in the country. It is available with a turbocharged inline-six, V-8, or plug-in hybrid powertrain, offering a sporty driving experience. The X5 also features advanced safety technologies to protect passengers and enhance your commute.
The latest X5 delivers on all fronts with class-leading interior design, comfort, and performance. It features a spacious cabin and a stowable third row for added passenger room. Its exterior is built using premium materials and reflects the brand’s signature design language. It has a sleek silhouette and a muscular appearance that exudes confidence on the road. Its xDrive system ensures optimal handling in any condition. It uses intelligent all-wheel drive and a central control unit to redistribute power when it detects wheel slippage.
The X5’s cabin features a curved display screen that spans two-thirds of the dashboard, allowing you to control it with the iDrive infotainment system. Its standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support make it easy to use your favourite apps on the go, while wireless charging and a 5G hotspot add convenience. Its ergonomically designed steering wheel puts all the controls you need at your fingertips, while a panoramic moonroof floods the cabin with natural light.
X6
The X6 is among the original luxury SUV coupes and continues to set the bar for this niche segment. The sloping roofline gives the SUV its distinctive look, though it does limit rear headroom and cargo capacity compared to the X5. It is built in BMW’s North American plant in Greer, South Carolina.
Regardless of the trim you choose, you’ll find the X6 drives well and feels luxurious inside. A suite of driver assistance features enhances your safety, while a premium audio system and modern technology features make for an engaging ride. We recommend sticking with the xDrive40i model, which offers the best balance of performance and practicality. It comes with a turbocharged six-cylinder engine that hustles the X6 to 60 mph in about 5.2 seconds. You can also upgrade to the X6 M60i xDrive, which offers 523 horsepower for a ferocious driving experience.
Despite its size, the X6 handles crisply and feels agile through corners. Its xDrive all-wheel drive system distributes torque across the axle to prevent under- and oversteer. You can also opt for the M Performance Differential, which adds lateral distribution of drive forces to improve agility and stability. If that’s not enough, you can always check out the performance-focused X6 M, which we review separately. The X6 offers good fuel economy for a luxury midsize SUV, with 23 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway in the XDrive40i model.
