Break the BMW X3 M Competition down and you get a multipurpose sports car with the ability to go off-road, do the school run and take in a track day at the weekend. Officially, it’s a midsized luxury SUV, competing with similarly powerful cars like the Mercedes-AMG GLC 63S and Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio. The great interior, explosive performance and all-round usability makes the X3 M Competition a very capable leasing choice.
Extremely powerful.
Capable in town and on the track.
Speed, luxury and practicality all in 1 package.
The drawcard of a performance SUV is that, for all its sportiness, it remains practical when the need to carry people and luggage arises. The X3 M Competition has a spacious cabin, rear seats with backrest adjustment, and both front and rear rows have seat heating as standard.
Head and legroom are among the best in class, and the 550 litres of boot space matches the Audi SQ5 and Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S, while being significantly better than the Porsche Macan and edging out the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio as well. There is an additional storage area beneath the boot floor unless you opt for the spacesaver spare tyre.
The rear seats fold down flat, increasing the loading capacity to 1600 litres, which is enough for a mountain bike, tent and enough baggage for a week away. In terms of storage space, you get 4 cupholders, 4 decent door pockets, a wireless phone charging pad as well as additional USB ports. The centre-console armrest is more than big enough to accommodate wallets and small handbags.
There’s no getting away from the fact that getting a heavy SUV to accelerate like a sports car will impose a fuel penalty. The twin-turbo 3.0-litre 6-cylinder engine returns approximately 26mpg on the combined cycle and while this is better than most rivals, it’s definitely not an economy car. As a comparison, the slower Porsche Macan manages 24.8mpg and the similarly powerful Mercedes-AMG GLC 63S does 21.8mpg.
The BMW X3 M Competition has a number of strong rivals to contend with. The Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio looks a bit more special, while the Mercedes-AMG GLC 63S has an even more characterful V8 engine.
The Porsche Macan Turbo is arguably the dynamic benchmark while the slightly larger Jaguar F-Pace SVR is another V8 rival with plenty of pace and even more interior space. For the best balance of speed, practicality and the latest technology, the BMW X3 M Competition remains hard to beat.
This is a relatively new product, but the early signs suggest that this is a very reliable performance SUV. All BMWs come with a 3-year/unlimited-mileage warranty as standard.
There is only 1 very well-equipped trim level available for the X3 M Competition. However, you can add on individual options like a towbar and a panoramic sunroof. There are also additional packs like the Technology Pack Plus, which adds advanced driver aids, and the M Driver’s Pack which increases the top speed from 155- to 177mph, and even includes a ‘BMW M Intensive Training’ course.
Yes, it has front and rear parking sensors, and a surround-view camera as standard. You can also add a package which will park the car for you.
The BMW X3 M can seat 4 to 5 adults in comfort. It has adjustable rear seat backrests and offers plenty of storage space for phones, wallets and drinks. The boot is as big as its main rivals, too.
Both cars are essentially the same model, but the Competition version has 510hp as opposed to 480hp, and is fitted as standard with an M Sport exhaust system and unique 21-inch wheels. Only the Competition variant is available to lease in the UK.
Get the best price for your BMW X3 M Competition lease at Vanarama. Guaranteed with Vanarama’s Price Promise, and you’ll never have to worry about unwanted hidden fees. We also provide you with extra protection should the worst happen, and give you access to expert advice when you need it.
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