Updates for the 2022 BMW X3 and X4

July 16th, 2021 by

It’s not just appearance upgrades and bigger grilles; BMW keeps the X3 and x4 fresh with upgraded headlights and 48-volt hybridization.

What’s New for the 2022 BMW X3?

The X3 receives a refresh to its styling for 2022, which includes a revised grille, new headlamps and taillamps, updated front and rear bumpers, new wheel designs, and tweaked exhaust tips. The base X3 is now available with an M Sport appearance package which dresses it up to look similar to the racier M40i model. Speaking of the M40i, it gains a 48-volt hybrid system for 2022, but combined horsepower remains the same 382-hp as the 2021 model. The plug-in hybrid xDrive30e has been discontinued. Inside, the center console has been reworked and some secondary controls have been repositioned. While a 10.3-inch infotainment display and a matching digital gauge display are still standard, BMW now offers 12.3-inch upgrades for both.

Regardless of the exact power output, all BMW engines exude a similar strong and refined character. While the M40i’s 382-hp six-cylinder motivates it to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds, we suggest buyers stick with the standard 248-hp four-cylinder, which is plenty powerful. The turbocharged four-cylinder collaborates with the excellent eight-speed automatic to make easy passes in traffic and sip fuel on the highway.

M Sport Package for X3 sDrive30i and X3 xDrive30i

The M Sport Package gives the BMW X3 a sportier and more aggressive appearance.  The front bumper features significantly larger air intakes, inserts which are finished in a high-gloss black, as well as more pronounced air curtains. If the Shadowline Package is selected, the window frames and roof rails, as well as the BMW kidney grille frame and bars are finished in high-gloss black. The sportier rear bumper includes a more prominent diffuser finished in Dark Shadow along with two additional side air-curtain-panels in high-gloss black.

New 19-inch light alloy Y-Spoke Midnight Grey Bicolor Style 887M wheels 245/50R19 tires are included. 20-inch and 21-inch wheels are additionally available, as are M Sport brakes with blue or red brake calipers. The new X3 doesn’t just drive mean with a powerful engine that tears apart the wheels when you want it to; it looks mean with the M Sport Package. So pick your trim, load the family into the rear seats, and really engine that eight-speed automatic as your driving modes makes you smile. And if you want to step up into the Competition Package, just let us know.

The 2022 BMW X3 and X4 Bring Hybrid Power

Through and through, the X3 and X4 retain most of their looks, though designers redesigned the kidney grilles, retouched the bumpers and exhausts, and tweaked the lighting elements in the front and rear. Up front, the LED accents in the headlights are a little slimmer, and the taillights now form a pincer claw element on the X3. I’m not sure I love the look personally, but they definitely help the 2022 model stand out. The X4’s grille gets a unique mesh kidney grille with satin aluminum accents, since it’s the sportier of the two, and a set of wider, sleeker taillights. The performance-oriented M40i models embrace the M life with M kidney grilles and a helping dollop of glossy black elements. A beefier rear diffuser also joins the fray.

Pop the hood on the new SUVs and there sits a 2.0-liter turbo-four engine, unchanged from last year. It still makes 248 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. BMW’s xDrive all-wheel drive system is standard (save for the X3’s base model), as is an eight-speed automatic. Now, step up to the M40i trims and you get an electrified, turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six engine. It now makes 382 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, thanks to the addition of a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. The system pulls power from a separate battery to deploy and also recoups energy typically lost while driving. BMW said the regenerative properties are very intense in the SUVs’ sport mode for more power (performance control is kind of a BMW thing, right?), more often. All in all, 0-60 mph happens in 4.4 seconds, which is darn quick for a couple of utility vehicles. After all, you want to earlier arrival times than your neighbors, right?

But drivers spend most of their time inside the vehicle, and BMW updated the cockpits of the X3 and X4 to keep things fresh (with included voice control, gesture control, and variable sizing heads up display). Both SUVs pull from the latest 4 Series in the center console design. A freestanding display now hangs out, too, and measures 10.25 inches. Opt for the Live Cockpit Professional digital gauge cluster and you’re awarded a 12.3-inch LCD display. It’s standard on the X4.

Below the big center screen are revised HVAC and audio controls with more glossy black touches. LCD displays also accompany the useful physical buttons. Those who follow BMW updates closely will notice new, standard Sport seats in the SUVs complete with perforated SensaTec upholstery. On the active safety front, cruise control, automatic emergency braking with forward collision alert, lane monitoring and blind-spot sensors are all standard.

Buyers can step up to the Driving Assistant Professional to get fancier tech, such as adaptive cruise control complete with stop-and-go functions, lane departure warning, forward-collision warning, and more. It’s not just a fancy leather-wrapped steering wheel; it’s help technology that helps you arrive safely and on time.

Android Auto and Amazon’s Alexa all come along for the ride, too. Or, you can use BMW’s Intelligent Personal Assistant to execute various in-car commands with the “Hey, BMW” wake phrase. More features will likely be added, since both the X3 and X4 also support over-the-air updates now for Connected Music and Remote Software Upgrade.

2022 BMW X3 Pricing

The Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the rear-drive 2022 X3 sDrive30i is $43,700. A destination charge also applies. Adding all-wheel drive changing the model to the xDrive30i, in other words is another $2,000. The M40i is almost $58k. And the high-performance X3 M starts at $69,900, with the Competition version being another $7k. In the bigger premium compact crossover picture, the new-for-2022 Lexus NX is around $40k, with the freshened-for-2022 Acura RDX in a similar bracket. The Volvo XC60 starts at approximately $43k. The Audi Q5 is closer to $45k, likewise the Alfa Romeo Stelvio and the revamped-for-2022 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class Porsche Macan , meanwhile, is more than $53k.

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