BMW X3 hybrid reliability & safety rating
Some patchy ownership survey results for BMW are countered by strong safety options for the X3 plug-in
| Euro NCAP | Adult protection | Child protection | Safety assist |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 stars (2019) | 88% | 83% | 71% |
The BMW X3 plug-in is just as safe as the regular X3. However, results from the 2022 Driver Power survey suggest that the X3 ownership experience leaves a lot to be desired, with poor ratings for reliability.
BMW X3 hybrid reliability & problems
There wasn’t enough data to include the X3 in this year’s survey, but last year's results showed that around 31% of owners who responded to the 2022 Driver Power survey reported a fault in the first year of ownership. Overall, the X3 finished in a disappointing 71st place out of the top 75 cars in that survey, although this rating isn’t specific to the plug-in xDrive30e model and applies to the whole X3 range.
In the 2023 Driver Power rankings, BMW as a brand was in the bottom third in 21st place out of 32 manufacturers included. That’s better than the reliability results for rival brands Mercedes (25th) and Audi (30th) but behind Volvo (13th), Jaguar (10th), and Lexus (8th).
Safety
The X3 matches most of its rivals in getting a five-star safety rating from crash test experts Euro NCAP, with decent adult and child protection scores. All models have standard cruise control, lane-departure warning, autonomous emergency braking, front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera.
Adaptive cruise control with a stop-go function comes with the Driving Assist Professional pack, which brings a range of uprated warning systems and driving aids to help make motorway driving more relaxing. These include blindspot monitoring to let you know if there’s a vehicle alongside you in your blindspot, traffic light recognition, lane centring assistance and rear cross-traffic alert to prevent you from backing out into the path of an approaching car.
This pack is currently only available with the pricey Technology Pack Plus, which includes a 360-degree dashcam recorder and a self-park assist system.
