We’ve already sampled the new BMW X3 and come away with mixed views on the medium-sized SUV. While the chassis and engine range have impressed, some cheap-feeling interior touches let the side down. So, can this range-topping (for now) M50 xDrive variant prove more appealing?

Designed to slot into the range between the common-or-garden xLine and M Sport models, and the full-blown M model, it’s up against some incredible high-performance SUVs, but it doesn’t quite face the same pressure of the expected X3 M version. So, will it be the sweet spot in the new X3 range, or will it feel like an outlier?

What does the new BMW X3 M50 xDrive look like?

The new X3 looks a little different from its predecessor, with a new silhouette that’s supposedly a bit sportier, and a fresh look inspired by the latest BMW 5 Series. That means the grille is big, but not as big as some might have feared, and it’s offered with BMW’s strange ‘Iconic Glow’ illumination option, while there are new lights at the front and rear. The whole thing is designed to look as though it’s shaped from a single lump of metal, and though the look won’t be to everyone’s taste, it’s unquestionably more modern than before. And because this is the M50 version, it gets some even more sporty additions, including more aggressive bumpers and a black panel on the nose, along with black exterior trim, quad exhaust pipes and 20-inch alloy wheels, and M Sport brakes with red callipers.

A look inside the BMW X3 M50 xDrive

The standard X3 xLine failed to impress with its new interior, which is cleaner and more minimalist than before, but is adorned with some pretty cheap cabin plastics that spoil the upmarket ambitions. And the M50 xDrive’s cabin is pretty much exactly the same.

In fairness, the more powerful X3 does have fractionally better door panels than the standard X3, and that was one of our chief gripes about the base model, but everything is relative and the addition of some glossier plastic in places hardly constitutes a wholesale uplift in perceived quality. The door handles are still cheap feeling, the air vents are still fiddly and the lack of buttons for basic functions is still quite irritating.

But BMW has jazzed the M50 xDrive up a bit with some motorsport-inspired tweaks. There’s a red dead-ahead marker on the steering wheel rim, for example, and you get lightweight but nicely textured gear shift paddles behind that wheel. Again, that’s an improvement on the cheap plastic ones in the base models, but it still isn’t the major revamp required.

Fortunately, though, BMW has made no change to the space available in the new X3, so there’s bags of room for adults in the back seats, and there’s space for their luggage in the boot. The 570-litre cargo compartment isn’t quite class leading, but it’s wholly competitive and it’ll provide plenty of space for most owners.

The BMW X3 M50 xDrive’s on-board technology

Technologically speaking, the M50 xDrive is exactly the same as any other X3, with the digital instrument display and the central touchscreen combined in one wide, curved housing across the minimalist, almost button-free dashboard.

The system uses BMW’s ‘Operating System 9’ technology, which means it has crisp displays and a rapid processor, which it needs to deal with the sheer amount of work it has to do. Not only must it deal with the normal navigation and media displays, but it must also control the heating and ventilation technology, the safety systems and the driving modes. It’s a lot, and while consolidating all those functions into one screen makes sense from a design standpoint, it doesn’t do much for the ergonomics.

Fortunately, BMW has retained the iDrive rotary controller on the centre console, which makes it easier to navigate the screens without having to look at them, as you would with an ordinary touchscreen, and there’s a great head-up display for the driver. However, the central screen is still quite distracting, and you have to use it far more than you had to in the old X3.

Better, though, is the digital instrument display, which has lots of configuration options so you can set it up just how you want it, and the sharp display makes it easy to read even in the sunshine. It’s one of BMW’s better developments.

How powerful is the BMW X3 M50 xDrive?

Under the bonnet is a turbocharged 3.0-litre straight-six petrol engine with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, which sounds eco-friendly, but is little more than a glorified stop-start system to help the engine out. Anyway, thanks to those additions, the X3 M50 xDrive offers the driver 398hp and 580Nm of torque to play with.

That all heads to the four wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox, and it’s managed by BMW’s xDrive technology, allowing the car to work out exactly how much power should go to each axle. The combination means the big SUV gets from 0-100km/h in just over four-and-a-half seconds, and if you keep your foot hard down, it’ll hit the usual electronically limited top speed of 250km/h (if you happen to be on a derestricted German autobahn).

While that performance is undoubtedly impressive for something with a kerb weight of around two tonnes, it’s thought to slot somewhere in between the 3.0-litre diesel X3 and the forthcoming M version in terms of power and pace.

But it will likely trump both in terms of refinement and smoothness, because that straight-six engine is sublime. It’s quiet and silky when you want it to be, and it produces a little snarl when you push it. Even though noise regulations have taken away some of its character and BMW has tried to replicate that through the sound system, it’s still a great piece of engineering.

It won’t be anything like as economical as the diesel, though, because supplying that much power to a car that big and heavy takes quite a lot of petrol. About eight litres to cover 100km, in fact.

Driving the BMW X3 M50 xDrive

The standard BMW X3 was already a great car to drive, but the M50 version aims to increase the dynamic capability noticeably. And to an extent, it does exactly that. It has better body control than the standard X3 and slightly sharper steering, as well as more positive brakes and greater definition between the driving modes. But these differences are fairly minor alongside a 2.0-litre X3, and they struggle to justify the extra outlay.

And that’s just the beginning of the M50 xDrive’s troubles, because while it is very poised when you’re driving quickly, it’s also quite uncomfortable when you’re driving normally. Big wheels and stiffer suspension combine to make sharp imperfections such as potholes seem quite pronounced, and though the car feels controlled over longer bumps, it struggles around town. And even on more open, smoother roads, there’s still a sense that it can never quite settle down properly, particularly at the rear.

So, while the M50 xDrive is marginally more capable than the xLine when you’re driving quickly, it’s less capable around town. And when you head off-road - not that many owners will - the xLine’s skid plates and off-road attitude provide more reassurance than the M50 xDrive’s sharp, sporty bumpers. Both should cope relatively well, though, and the M50’s big engine makes it a more capable tow car than the 2.0-litre petrol X3.

How safe is the BMW X3?

The M50 xDrive will inherit the same safety rating as the standard X3 models - the body structures, the safety equipment and the interior layouts are identical under the skin - but it will do so only when they have been assessed. So far, Euro NCAP, the European independent safety organisation, has not put the X3 through its paces, although we expect it to fare pretty well. After all, its predecessor cruised to a maximum five-star rating.

How many child seats can you fit in a BMW X3?

Just like the standard X3, the new M50 xDrive gets two ISOFIX child seat mounting points on the outermost rear seats, and you can even fit a pair of bulky seats side-by-side thanks to the ample shoulder room back there. While it may not be a primary consideration for those who choose a performance SUV, it does give the car extra flexibility and allows it to be used as a family vehicle despite its power.

How much does the BMW X3 cost in Ireland?

The new X3 range starts at €70,405, which is already a fair amount of money, but the M50 xDrive commands a significant premium over the cheapest plug-in hybrid X3 30e xDrive xLine. The M50 xDrive starts at €111,415, which is a huge amount of money to spend on something that isn’t quite as comfortable as the standard car.

However, as well as getting a more powerful engine and suspension tweaks, the M50 version of the X3 gets some extra equipment, including sporty styling with four exhaust tailpipes, and the expected sports seats, sports steering wheel and interior design upgrades. And you get all the usual X3 stuff, including the Curved Display, climate control and automatic tailgate, plus wireless phone charging, a reversing camera and loads of driver assistance tech.

The reasons you’d buy a BMW X3 M50 xDrive

If you want a performance-orientated X3 and can’t wait for the M version, the M50 is the car for you, but otherwise it’s the sole dud in an otherwise solid range. Yes, it’s better to drive than the standard car, but only fractionally, and your back pocket will feel it in more ways than one. Though the standard X3 has its quality issues, it’s still a good car, and those who desperately want a 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine will probably prefer the forthcoming 30d xDrive.

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