Which 2017 BMW X3 Is Right for You?
The 2017 BMW X3 is a quality crossover that is great for camping or just grabbing weekly groceries. It has a distinct sophistication you can only get from BMW. But which X3 is the one for you?
X3 sDrive28i
The sDrive28i is the base model X3. It starts at $40,0450 and comes with a 2.0-liter TwinPower Turbo in-line four-cylinder engine that’s capable of 240 horsepower. The sDrive28i is a rear-wheel drive vehicle.
The exterior has several features that you won’t find in less expensive models from other manufacturers. You get heated power-fold mirrors, rain-sensing windshield wipers, LED fog lights, and roof rails. While these may seem like small additions, they upgrade the sDrive28i enough to make the price worth it. After all, who doesn’t want roof rails for extra cargo space?
On the inside, the sDrive28i goes from a rugged weekend warrior to pure comfort. The driver’s seats are power-adjustable and use SensaTec upholstery, which is BMW’s rebranded leatherette. Just for a little accent, the cabin is also surrounded with burl walnut wood trim and pearl gloss chrome.
If you’re looking at the sDrive28i for long drives, you may be wondering about the entertainment system. Well, BMW didn’t slack. This trim comes with HD Radio, pre-wiring for SiriusXM, and a HiFi Sound System with nine speakers and a 205-watt digital amplifier.
X3 xDrive28i
The xDrive28i starts at $42,050 and is a bit of a disappointment. Like previous years, the xDrive28i simply adds all-wheel drive to the X3, along with hill descent control. There are no additional features that make this trim stand out. While adding all-wheel drive may be important to some, the $3,000 price hike is a little steep, considering some other brands charge less for the same change.
X3 xDrive35i
The X3 xDrive35i starts at $48,950, but it’s worth every penny. Everything about this crossover improves from the previous models. The most noticeable change is the 3.0-liter BMW TwinPower inline six-cylinder, 24-valve engine that’s capable of 300 horsepower. Add to the fact that it’s all-wheel drive like the xDrive28i, it’s easy to say that the xDrive35i is worth it.
But unlike the xDrive 28i, that’s not the only improvement. The top-tier X3 comes with a ton of extra features to sway customers away from the lesser trims. The exterior get Xenon adaptive headlights with auto-leveling and LED Corona headlight-rings.
The interior also sees some major improvements, including four-way lumbar support for the front seats and a panoramic moonroof with fully automatic, two-piece glass panels. Drivers can access the power liftgate using the keyless entry, which has hands-free capabilities.
The entertainment system comes completely decked out. You get a 16-speaker Harman Kardon surround sound system with a 600-watt amplifier and speed-sensitive equalization. Every song will sound ten times better, and it’ll be nearly impossible not to take joyrides to listen to your favorite band. The entertainment system also adds Bluetooth connectivity and USB ports.
Overall, these changes make the upgrade worth it, especially when drivers are considering whether to purchase the xDrive28i or the xDrive35i. If you’ve resolved to spring for something more than the base model at all, there’s hardly any competition between these two trims.
(Featured image via Facebook.)
