BMW’s two compact SUVs will get refreshed looks for the 2022 model year, with some interior tweaks and a new mild hybrid system on 6-cylinder models. They’ll also get a modest price bump to reflect the changes.
Both models will be available for order in August. The 2022 X3 starts at $43,700 (a $700 jump over last year’s model). The sleeker, coupe-inspired X4 starts at $51,800 (an increase of just $200). Both also require a $995 destination fee.
Two Models, Two Personalities
BMW offers two compact SUVs that ride on the same platform. Mechanically, they are largely similar. Yet each has its own style.
The X3 is the more practical sibling. It comes in a traditional SUV profile with plenty of headroom at all five seating positions. It stands out in the luxury compact SUV class with its fantastic handling. But, with its conventional looks, it has conventional rivals. The 2022 updates keep the X3 competitive.
The 5-passenger X4 puts style over practicality. Its aggressively-sloped fastback roofline means limited headroom for rear-seat passengers and a liftgate more like what you’d find in a sporty sedan. It’s pricier, comes only in all-wheel-drive, and counts the Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class Coupe as its closest rival in its niche segment.
4-Cylinder, 6-Cylinder Mild Hybrid Options
The X3, the more conventional of the two, will come in three variants. Both the rear-wheel-drive sDrive30i and the all-wheel-drive xDrive30i are powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine putting out 248 horsepower.
An all-wheel-drive xDrive M40i version uses a turbocharged inline 6-cylinder making 382 horsepower. This engine now uses BMW’s mild hybrid system, which doesn’t power the wheels but saves fuel by cutting the engine off below 9 mph and restarting it when the driver hits the accelerator.
The sleeker X4, with its rakish, sloping roofline, is available only in all-wheel drive.
Otherwise, mechanical details are the same as the X3. The xDrive30i uses the 248-horsepower turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. The xDrive M40i carries the mild hybrid, 382-horsepower inline 6-cylinder model.
All variants use an 8-speed automatic transmission.
A More Angular Visual Theme
The X3’s front face has been reworked, and the look is angular and sharp. The twin-kidney grille has new angular sides, while the LED headlights are about half an inch narrower than before. A black vertical sensor bar fills the space between the two grille elements. Larger, more aggressively shaped air vents to the sides of the bumper complete the sharper look.
The X4’s front fascia redesign also follows an angular theme. A black frame surrounds the grille, flanked by narrower LED headlights. Enlarged triangular air intakes surround the bumper.
3D Graphics Inside
Inside both vehicles, a larger, 10.25-inch screen now dominates the center console. The driver’s instrument screen shows a 3D visualization of the car and its environment, including neighboring vehicles in traffic. “Graphic symbols indicate driving maneuvers that can be initiated in the given situation using the assistance systems available,” BMW says.
Those assistance systems include front collision warning with automatic braking, lane-departure warning, active blind-spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear collision preparation.
