BMW X3 M50 xDrive Shows Off Power And Poise In Flagship Form

The BMW X3 has always been a well-rounded premium SUV, but in M50 xDrive form, it gains a healthy dose of M division character that transforms it into something far more compelling. It may not wear a full ‘M’ badge, but the spirit of Munich’s performance skunkworks runs deep here.

At the heart of the X3 M50 is a 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six paired with a 48-volt mild hybrid system, delivering a total of 293 kW and 580 Nm. The numbers translate to serious performance on the road, with the SUV launching from standstill to 100 km/h in just 4.6 seconds. BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system ensures every bit of that power is usable, whether on wet tarmac or through sweeping bends.

Standard equipment is suitably generous for a flagship. There’s a 14.9-inch central display running BMW’s latest operating system, paired with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a crisp head-up display. Adaptive suspension, adaptive LED headlights, and a Harman Kardon audio system are all part of the package, as are heated and cooled seats up front and heated rear outboard seats.

M-specific touches complete the transformation: red brake callipers, M-branded seatbelts, blacked-out Shadowline lighting elements, an illuminated kidney grille, and a distinctive rear spoiler. These cues make it clear the X3 M50 sits at the sharp end of the range, without being overly brash.

On the road, the blend of performance and everyday refinement is impressive. The X3 M50 has the pace and agility to keep keen drivers entertained, while still delivering the comfort, space, and practicality expected of a premium SUV. It’s this balance that makes it such a convincing flagship, and a fitting statement of what BMW does best—injecting genuine performance DNA into a car designed to serve daily life.