One glance at the X3’s interior and over its competitors, buying the BMW seems to be a cinch. The cabin of the X3 is and will continue to be revered for its unmatched refinement and the highest level of luxury. While the setup is somewhat similar to the outgoing model, by using better materials, introducing leatherette upholstery, and adorning the cabin with gloss materials through the central console and wooden inlays on the dashboard, BMW has set standards of design for the rivals to live up to.
But amidst all of its flamboyance, the X3 does not forego practicality. Its cabin is commodious in its build and a family of five will never have issues for additional space. However, with lower legroom at its disposal for the rear seat occupants, taller passengers might feel that their movement has been restricted, but the X3 never really seems to disappoint. At the front, it is a different story altogether. The driver and passenger seats are highly supportive and come with power-adjustability for greater autonomy. They are placed in a commanding position and outward visibility is also not an issue. To add to its likability, the X3 also sports the largest cargo bay in the segment, and at 28.7 cu.-ft of space, the SUV can easily accommodate your luggage and golf kit on a weekend getaway.
Model
|
2018 BMW X3
|
2018 Mercedes-Benz GLC Class
|
2018 Volvo XC60
|
2018 Audi Q5
|
Passenger Capacity
|
5
|
5
|
5
|
5
|
First Row (Head/shoulder/legroom)
|
41.1/57.6/40.3
|
37.8/57.3/40.8
|
38/58.2/41.5
|
41.7/57.7/41
|
Second Row (Head/shoulder/legroom)
|
39.1/56/36.4
|
38.5/56.5/37.3
|
38/56.3/38
|
39.3/56.5/37.8
|
Cargo Capacity (cu.-ft)
|
28.7 cu.-ft
|
19.4 cu.-ft
|
17.8 cu.-ft
|
25.1 cu.-ft
|
Like the BMW X3, both the Audi Q5 and Volvo XC60 have also been redesigned in 2018. While the former focuses on simplicity, Volvo’s latest design ideology on the inside is to make its display screen the center of attraction. But what remains common between both these vehicles is that they lead the segment in terms of overall passenger space. On the other hand, the Mercedes-Benz GLC Class replicates the ideas of its German counterparts. It is undeniably luxurious and unquestionably capacious; however, all the contemporaries of the BMW failed to compete with it in terms of cargo capacity, with the XC60 lurking at the bottom of the table with a total boot space of 17.8 cubic feet.
Some of the salient interior features include:
- 8-way power driver and passenger seats with height adjustability
- Leatherette Upholstery
- Auto-dimming rearview mirror
- Interior Air Filtration
- Tri-zone climate control
- Electrochromic Rearview Mirror
How intuitive is the infotainment system of the 2018 BMW X3?
BMW’s X3 is highly modern and voguish and its contemporary nature is also visible in how its infotainment system has been curated. As is typical to all BMW vehicles, the X3 makes use of a combination of touch functionality and a console-mounted rotary knob to control its 6.5-inch touchscreen unit. It is backed by the iDrive infotainment system, which is highly intuitive and does not have a steep learning curve to it. The X3 is fairly equipped in this regard and vaunts features like Apple CarPlay, a navigation system, and Bluetooth connectivity. However, what does come as a surprise is that the SUV is denuded of Android Auto compatibility, a feature that is now readily available in vehicles below its class as well.
Some of the salient infotainment features include:
- 12-speaker sound system
- Auxiliary Audio Input
- Apple CarPlay
- AM/FM Stereo
- USB Connection
- HD and Satellite Radio