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 is a safe car regardless of which drivetrain is chosen, so there's nothing to worry about in this regard. However, the most recent Driver Power customer satisfaction survey suggests that the X3 ownership experience as a whole leaves a lot to be desired, with particularly bad ratings for reliability.
BMW X3 hybrid reliability & problems
Reliability doesn’t appear to be one of the X3’s strong points, with around 31% of owners who responded to the 2022 Driver Power survey reporting a fault in the first year of ownership. Overall, the X3 finished in a disappointing 71st place out of the top 75 cars in the survey, although it should be mentioned that this rating isn’t specific to the plug-in xDrive30e model.
BMW as a brand received a fairly middling reliability rating, with 23% of owners reporting a fault in the first year of ownership – this is better than the reliability results for rival brands Volvo, Jaguar, and Land Rover, around the same as that of Mercedes, and behind that of Lexus and Audi.
Safety
Five stars from Euro NCAP is to be expected from just about every new car on the market, but the X3's decent scores for adult and child protection should be seen as good news. Also encouraging is the amount of available active safety and driver assistance systems, all of which should help minimise the likelihood of a crash in the first place.
All models get cruise control, lane-departure warning, autonomous emergency braking, front and rear parking sensors plus a rear-view camera as standard. Adaptive cruise control with stop-go is standard, while the Technology Plus Pack brings a range of uprated warning systems and driving aids to help make motorway driving more relaxing.
This includes a suite of systems to make your life easier and safer, such as lane-changing assistance, steering and lane-control assistance and even more warning systems, including for crossroads and crossing traffic, among other high-tech features.
