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Overview

2026 BMW X3

Beverly Braga | 
3 min read

Front-quarter view of a 2026 BMW X3 M50 xDrive in Dune Grey driving on mountain roadBMW

What's New for the 2026 BMW X3

The BMW X3 was completely redesigned last year and receives only minimal changes for 2026. These include a newly available tire sealant and repair kit and a YouTube app for the infotainment system. This luxury compact crossover SUV was one of BMW's bestselling vehicles in 2025, and for good reason. With standard all-wheel drive (AWD), sporty handling, and numerous tech features, the 2026 X3 is worth serious consideration.

This isn't to say, however, that the X3 is perfect. Some may be put off by its interior ergonomics and question its heavy reliance on plastic trim, but this BMW is hard to beat in terms of advanced technology and driving manners.

Pros

  • Standard premium infotainment system
  • Standard all-wheel drive
  • Towing capacity of up to 4,850 pounds
  • Complimentary scheduled maintenance

Cons

  • Warranty coverage is just average
  • Adaptive cruise control is not standard equipment

2026 BMW X3 M50 xDrive interior in Espresso Brown showing the dashboard and front seatsBMW

2026 BMW X3 Trim Levels

Equipped with standard AWD, the BMW X3 is built for everyday practicality but can also offer a sport-tuned driving personality. It seats up to five occupants and is available as the 30 xDrive and M50 xDrive. Both models feature a mild-hybrid powertrain and an eight-speed automatic transmission.

BMW equips the X3 30 xDrive with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that produces 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. BMW lists the 30 xDrive's zero-to-60 mph time at 6 seconds flat. The available turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder, found in the X3 M50 xDrive, produces 393 horsepower and 428 pound-feet of torque. With this engine, the automaker says the X3 can reach 60 mph in 4.4 seconds.

  • 30 xDrive

The 30 xDrive offers 19-inch wheels, LED daytime running lights, and a rear spoiler with a center brake light. The interior is where the premium amenities surface, including heated and power-adjustable front sport seats, perforated Veganza vegan leather, and dual-zone automatic climate control. For tech, the 30 xDrive doesn't disappoint. Standard gadgets include a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 14.9-inch center touchscreen, BMW Operating System 9 infotainment with over-the-air updates, cloud-based navigation, and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity.

  • M50 xDrive

The sport-tuned M50 xDrive adds M Sport brakes with blue calipers, an adaptive M suspension, an M Sport differential, and variable sport steering. BMW outfits this model with 20-inch wheels, twin tailpipes, and upgraded exterior lighting. Interior features include a heated and leather-wrapped M Sport steering wheel, aluminium trim, and a panoramic sunroof.

2026 BMW X3 M50 xDrive interior showing the cargo space behind the back seatBMW

2026 BMW X3 Cargo Capacity and Towing

The BMW X3 offers 31.5 cubic-feet of cargo space behind its rear seats. If those seats are folded down, the capacity increases to 67.1 cu-ft. When equipped with the optional trailer hitch, the X3 can tow up to 4,001 pounds with the four-cylinder engine or up to 4,850 pounds with the six-cylinder engine.

2026 BMW X3 Fuel Economy

According to official EPA fuel-economy ratings, the standard 2026 X3 30 xDrive should return 29 mpg in combined city and highway driving. The X3 M50 xDrive, equipped with the turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine, gets up to 27 mpg combined.

Rear-quarter view of a 2026 BMW X3 M50 xDrive in Dune Grey driving on a mountain roadBMW

2026 BMW X3 Safety Ratings and Features

The 2026 BMW X3 earned a four-star overall safety rating out of five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the 2026 X3 its Top Safety Pick+ designation, and gave the SUV "Good" scores, the highest possible, for its performance in the small overlap front, updated moderate overlap front, and updated side-impact crash tests.

Standard safety features for every 2026 X3 include automatic high-beam headlights, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, parking sensors, and a traffic sign recognition system. Additional safety technology is available via a Premium package, which adds a surround-view camera, a head-up display, and an interior camera. A Driving Assistance Professional Package adds a semi-autonomous hands-off driver-assistance system that can make automatic lane changes.

This site is for educational purposes only. The third parties listed are not affiliated with Capital One and are solely responsible for their opinions, products and services. Capital One does not provide, endorse or guarantee any third-party product, service, information or recommendation listed above. The information presented in this article is believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but is subject to change. The images shown are for illustration purposes only and may not be an exact representation of the product. The material provided on this site is not intended to provide legal, investment, or financial advice or to indicate the availability or suitability of any Capital One product or service to your unique circumstances. For specific advice about your unique circumstances, you may wish to consult a qualified professional.

Beverly Braga
Beverly Braga is a freelance writer and consultant with nearly 20 years of experience as a storyteller and communications professional. Her work has appeared in numerous print and digital outlets covering the automotive, entertainment, lifestyle, as well as food and beverage industries.