BMW X3 2022 News

As Alfa Romeo follows the lead of European car manufacturers like Volvo, Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar Land Rover by offering a fully electric range from 2027, the Italian carmaker is waiting to see the reaction to its new Tonale SUV before committing to a fully electric version.

Now that Australian pricing and specifications for the new Mazda CX-60 SUV have been confirmed it’s worth taking a look at the premium medium SUV market to work out if it’s the best option across its price range.

While Mazda remains one of the most popular car brands in Australia, maintaining a 9.1 per cent market share in the country bested only by the ever-dominant Toyota's 21.7 per cent, there are sections of the market that Mazda hopes it can muscle in on.The

How much is too much?

BMW's traditonally shaped-and-styled electric X3 alternative has received an update before it has had a chance to launch in Australia.

A new plug-in hybrid is the headline new addition to the updated 2022 BMW X3 line-up that will go on sale by the end of the year.It will be just part of an overhauled X3 and X4 range that both feature a raft of styling changes and specification tweaks to keep the mid-size SUVs appealing against rivals including the Audi Q5, Mercedes-Benz GLC, Volvo XC60 and Lexus NX.The addition of the plug-in hybrid, known officially as the X3 xDrive30e, will come at around the same time as the all-electric X3-based iX3 hits Australian showrooms, giving the Bavarian brand a much stronger electrified range. It features the same powertrain as the existing 330e and 530e, a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine paired with an electric motor. It makes 215kW/420Nm and has a claimed fuel economy return of 2.8L/100km with up to 55km of range on electric power only.The PHEV will get unique styling elements, including its own front bumper, as well as blue rings on the BMW logos and an ‘electrified by i’ badge on the flanks.All new X3 models will get some styling tweaks, including a new larger kidney grille (in keeping with the brand’s recent trend) as well as thinner headlights, new front and rear bumpers and redesigned rear lights.A major change for both the X3 and X4 is an overhaul of the interior, with the 4 Series centre console now used in both SUVs.Key new equipment upgrades that are standard across the range include adaptive LED headlights, high beam assist, keyless entry, remote software updates and reversing assistant, plus models previously available with partial cloth trim now get Sensatec faux leather.The X3 xDrive30e will be priced from $104,900, which puts it at a $10,000 premium over the similarly equipped xDrive30d (from $94,900) and significantly more expensive than the petrol-powered xDrive30i (from $87,900). The rest of the X3 range will continue with a variety of petrol and diesel engines, beginning with the xDrive20i at $73,900 and stretching all the way to $115,900 for the high-performance X3 M40i. The range-topping model gets several performance parts including 21-inch M Sport alloy wheels, M Sport differential, adaptive M suspension and new-for-2022 BMW Laserlights as standard.An M Sport package will be fitted as standard to the xDrive30i, xDrive30d and xDrive30e.As for the X4, it too gets similar styling changes with the larger grille but to set it apart the coupe-style SUV gets mesh inserts in the grille. Both the X4 xDrive20i and xDrive30i get M Sport packages included now, which feature new-look 19-inch alloy wheels as well as the option for 20- or 21-inch rims.The X4 M40i, like its X3 counterpart, gets a BMW M kidney grille with chrome frame and high-gloss kidney bars, as well as new exterior mirrors and a new rear bumper.Then there's the range-topping M Competition versions of the X3 and X4, which get similar changes and are priced from $160,900 and $167,900 respectively. They're once again powered by a 3.0-litre twin-turbo petrol inline six-cylinder engine that produces 375kW of power, although torque has gone up 50Nm, to 650Nm, helping to trim their zero-to-100km/h sprint time to a scant 3.8 seconds.2022 BMW X3 pricing*X3 sDrive 20i - $73,900X3 xDrive20d - $76,900X3 xDrive30i -  $87,900X3 xDrive30d - $94,900X3 xDrive30e - $104,900X3 M40i - $115,900X3 M Competition - $160,9002022 BMW X4 pricing*X4 xDrive20i - $85,900X4 xDrive30i - $95,900X4 M40i - $115,900X4 M Competition - $167,900*All prices exclude on-road costs

BMW has revealed the facelifted versions of the related third-generation X3 wagon and second-generation X4 ‘coupe’, with the mid-size SUVs due in Australian showrooms in the fourth quarter of this year with a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) surprise

The facelifted version of the third-generation BMW X3 mid-size SUV has been accidentally leaked