2018 BMW X3 M40i: Unsuspecting, Surprising and Shocking
The video originally began with me laughing.
I had to cut out the giggles, and give the car the benefit of the doubt. BMW brought it there for a reason, after all.
After getting the go ahead in the hot pits, I pinned the throttle, and wow the M40i treatment makes the X3 seriously fast. Previously, I had driven the entry-level X3 xDrive30i Luxury Design, a name which is much too long. The 2.0L turbocharged inline-four was decently peppy for a 4,200-pound SUV. With the 3.0L turbocharged straight-six, the X3 M40i is a rocket. Despite having ‘just’ 355 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque, the X3 M40i knocks out the quarter mile in 13-seconds flat, with a trap speed of 107 MPH. Don’t underestimate this one at a stoplight. The ZF 8-speed automatic transmission is, as always, excellent, and perfectly tailored to the engine and the driver’s needs. It’s quick, smooth and willing.
The X3 M40i fires down the front straight of Willow Springs
Hitting 125 MPH in the process, this SUV has a level of pace that scared some sports cars at Big Willow. The X3 was a bit unsettled under threshold braking from 125 for turn 1, however, to its credit, the track isn’t level there. Oh, and because it’s a 4,200 pound SUV with eight inches of ground clearance.
The X3 has relatively light steering befitting its intended purpose as street utility vehicle, likewise, there is quite a bit of body roll in the corners, but it does an admirable job of clinging on for dear life. Additionally, while the X3 certainly doesn’t pretend to be a Land Rover with locking diffs and the like, its all-wheel drive system works quite well to keep things stable and surefooted. Through the broader, sweeping corners of Willow Springs, like turn 2, I was able to feel the all-wheel drive system actively working. Oh, and the brakes didn’t fade, despite the X3’s mass and despite the fact it was being driven on a race track. It’s a smoother operator in this environment, all things considered.
The BMW X3 was never meant to be a track day superstar, no matter how many M badges you throw at it. That said, with the M40i package, this X3 performed admirably all day at Willow Springs, other than, perhaps, being a bit low on brake pad by the end of it all.
It’s time to play the numbers game
The 2018 BMW X3 M40i has a starting MSRP of $54,500. It has a 3.0L six-cylinder engine with 355 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque, weighs 4,277 lbs, and delivers EPA fuel economy figures of 20 MPG city and 27 MPG highway. Oh, and for those who like their tape measure a bit too much: it’s 186″ long, 75″ wide, 66″ tall, and has a wheelbase of 112.8″.
All of this puts it squarely in contention with the Audi SQ5. Why? Let’s look at the numbers. The 2018 Audi SQ5 has a starting MSRP of $54,300. It features a 3.0L six-cylinder engine (a “V” to the BMW’s inline configuration), which makes 354 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque, while delivering and EPA fuel economy rating of 19 MPG city and 24 MPG highway. It measures 184″ long, 75″ wide, 65″ tall, and has a wheelbase of 111.2″.
The two German SUVs are so close on paper you would almost assume there’s some inside gaming involved here. In a game of top trumps, their stats are almost identical across the board, though the Bimmer has the clear MPG advantage. Oh, and that extra bit of length, most of which is wheelbase, gives the X3 a slight edge in passenger leg room. Hmm.
Continue reading about the 2018 BMW X3 M40i on the next page.
