Compared: 2023 BMW X1 vs. 2023 BMW X3
These two-row SUVs differ in size and performance with only one offering standard all-wheel drive.
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QuickTakes:
The 2023 BMW X1 and 2023 BMW X3 are both luxury SUVs with seating for five. The X1 is smaller and comes in only one trim — xDrive28i — for 2023 with standard all-wheel drive (AWD). The X3 has more room for occupants and cargo with the option for rear-wheel drive (RWD). The X3 also has a wider range of trims that include more powerful engines, but fuel economy drops as performance increases. The X3 also has a starting price about $7,000 higher than the X1.
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2023 BMW X1 Slots Below X3 in Price and Power
The BMW X3 has multiple trims starting with the sDrive30i at more than $47,000. It includes standard RWD and a turbocharged four-cylinder engine making 248 horsepower with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Optional AWD adds $2,000 to the base price.
The rest of the lineup has standard AWD. The M40i is priced below $62,000 with a 382-hp turbocharged six-cylinder engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission. At the top of the lineup is the X3 M priced above $75,000 with a 473-hp twin-turbocharged six-cylinder engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission.
The BMW X1 starts above $40,000. The sole powertrain for this subcompact luxury crossover SUV is a 241-hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
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X3 Offers More Inside Than X1
Both SUVs seat five, but the larger X3 boasts more room for passengers. It has a wheelbase of 112.8 inches. The X1 grew larger after a redesign for 2023 but is smaller than the X3, with a wheelbase of only 106 inches. Cargo room is also greater in the X3; it offers up to 28.7 and 62.7 cubic-feet for cargo behind the rear seats and front seats, respectively. The X1 comes in with 25.7 cu-ft with the rear seats upright, and 46.9 cu-ft with the second row folded.
Standard equipment in the X1 includes dual-zone automatic climate control and synthetic leather seating surfaces. There's also a curved display screen with a 10.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.7-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto connectivity plus navigation.
The X3 features standard tri-zone automatic climate control, dark oak wood trim, a 10.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and a 10.3-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
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X1 Is More Fuel-Efficient Than X3
The best fuel economy figures for the X3 come from the base sDrive30i. It gets an EPA-estimated 23/29/25 mpg city/highway/combined. AWD drops those numbers to 21/28/24 mpg.
The available six-cylinder engine with 382 horsepower delivers 21/26/23 mpg — a minor efficiency price to pay for a sizable 134-hp leap in grunt. At the top of the range, but the bottom for fuel economy is the X3 M which gets just 15/20/17 mpg.
The single-powertrain X1's fuel economy is a much simpler explanation. According to the EPA, BMW's entry-level SUV can return 25/34/28 mpg.
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All vehicle pricing includes MSRP plus destination charges (set at the time of publication), and will be rounded to the nearest thousand.
