Used 2021 BMW X3 Plug-in Hybrid Consumer Reviews
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Volvo to BMW - great upgrade
wbm, 07/26/2021
2021 BMW X3 xDrive30e 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric plug-in hybrid 8A)
17 of 17 people found this review helpful
We had a Volvo S60 Inscription - nice car, but small details, such as no roof rack, and small trunk after installing a spare tire mean that it was not suitable for long trips. We looked at the XC60 hybrid, but with no spare, it did not seem ready for camping trips (we did use the spare on the Volvo - it paid for itself first time when we had a flat on the way to the airport on an interstate...). The BMW has run flat tires, which may not be optimal, but they at least allow one to get off a dangerous auto route when one has a flat. We have now put in 2000 miles on short and long trips on the BMW. Overall, we found the BMW X3 hybrid with executive package to be more refined than the Volvo - great handling, lots of power, comfortable, quiet, nice sound system, android auto works so one can use google maps. In terms of gas mileage, I assume the EPA 24 mpg comes from gas only. However, the hybrid system seems to work well, and without charging, we are getting consistently around 32 mpg (same as the S60, which is a sedan), so the range in practice is about 420 miles. At home, we get around 18-20 miles per change on electric only, and so we rarely buy gas when not on a trip (got a Mustart charger that plugs into the dryer outlet - charging is 4 hours). Finally, as others have pointed out, the car has great safety numbers. A Gripe: With the kick opening of trunk means the BMW hitch does not work, and one has to use a stealth hitch, which works well. However, with a bike rack installed, one has to be careful with both the kick opening (which can open and hit the rack), and backing up - need to turn off parking, otherwise car slams on brakes since it thinks the hitch is a wall. Since bikes stick out, the lane warning light is often on. Would be handy if there was bike rack detection or setting. Overall, we are very happy with the car, and just have to learn to turn off the park assist when backing up with bikes...
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Lovin' my x30e PHEV
BMW Appreciator, 02/22/2021
2021 BMW X3 xDrive30e 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric plug-in hybrid 8A)
17 of 19 people found this review helpful
After years in sedans, I transitioned to an SUV. My 3rd BMW and I love how they drive, the 2021 x30e is even more fun. It's loaded with amenities and I'm having fun with the plugin. Got the Exec package and loving all features - ACC, electronics, LDW seems more like LKA on highway (not sure if that is a BMW thing), racing seats, heated front/rear, pano roof. It's quick, taut and enjoyable. All in a smaller package so I can park it in front of my office and not feel self-conscious. A real winner.
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Quick acceleration and great gas mileage
Rob, 05/15/2021
updated 11/18/2021
2021 BMW X3 xDrive30e 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric plug-in hybrid 8A)
15 of 17 people found this review helpful
First BMW I've owned but very happy. Got the 2021 30e hybrid since it was some $1200 less than the 30i with tax credit. Gives a very quiet ride with nearly instant acceleration making it lots of fun to drive. Can pass cars and trucks on highway with easy, even crusing at 70+ mph. Have been getting 40-65 mpg on short trips (50-100 miles) without trying, but drops to low 30's on long 200-400 mile trips. I hardly buy it any gas. Worried about its listed 320 mile limited range but it has been more like 350-425 so has not been an issue at all. Always get more than 20+ mile electric range. Very comfortable on longer drives. Bought in part due to its IIHS crash numbers which rank among the best. Got several options (parking assist, drivers assist pro, Premium package) which bumped the price up $6k but feel it was worth it. With 12k mileage, no issues. Perhaps the best car I ever bought. Quiet ride, fast when needed, nice interior plus great gas mileage. What's not to like?
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Reliable and well built for the money
Jim, 04/14/2023
2021 BMW X3 xDrive30e 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric plug-in hybrid 8A)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
This car works great for our use. We are a little over two years with this car. No issues at all. Only been back to the dealer for annual maintenance (with is 100% covered). We don’t drive this one as much as the average user. 26 months, and only 19k miles. 8k on battery. The car computer tells us that we have averaged 54 mpg since purchase. On long trips (over 100 miles), we seem to be getting about 33 mpg. The plug in battery has a range of about 18 -20 miles. A few less in the winter. There are three battery modes. Max- this will use the battery until it drains. We get about 18 miles. Auto- this is the normal driving setting. Uses battery around town. Switches to gas on highway. Will recharge the batter with resistance from wheels turning and breaking. It doesn’t recharge much. Might get an extra mile for every 20 miles driven. The third setting is Battery Control. You can set what level you want the battery to maintain, and while you drive the car, it somehow recharged the batter much faster than in the auto setting. On Highway driving, it will recharge the batter at a rate of about 1 mike for every 3-4 driven. With this setting, I will use the auto around town, then switch to this on the Highway, when it gets the battery back up to 75%, I switch back to auto. Even though the batter only gives you about 18-20 miles per full charge, on trips to my sons college (about 150 miles round trip) I can get close to 50 miles of battery use from the recharging in “battery control” mode. My wife works 2 miles from home and does most shopping about 8-10 miles away. She can go months without filling up. On long trips, It seems like the car is learning her driving habits (maybe it just seems that way) when we first got the car, it would run on battery until it drained (then switch to the gas motor). Now, 2 years later, it will start in battery, then switch to gas on the highway. The build quality is nice. We had an Acura mdx for years and this is just as nice. The one major complaint is the radio. I passed on the $800 upgrade. Thinking a 55k car with the “executive” upgrade, should be nice. I have never paid for a radio upgrade in any car. Well, it is needed with the bmw. The volume is very low. With window closed at Highway speed, you need the volume at 50-60%, just to hear it. To compare with my grand Cherokee, or the mdx, the radio volume is usually about 25% at those speeds. Once you get about 60-75%, the music doesn’t sound clear. So driving at high way speeds with the windows down, you are not going to hear the music very well. I am a little concerned about the cost after the 3 yr maintained expires. I imagine the battery recharging is probably wearing away the brakes at a much faster rate. Over all, very happy with the car. Bought this in Feb 2021. Before the crazy price increases. We were told to order exactly what we wanted. Since they only had one on the lot. It only took 6 weeks from order to delivery. Sticker was $57400. We got 8% off plus a $2500 instant rebate. Brought the price close to $50 plus tax and tags. Total was about 54k. When we did our taxes at the end of the year, we got $5800 back. So the car was about 48k out of pocket. I just checked. And kbb trade in value for this car (2 yes old) is $41500. So if I trade it in today, it would have cost me $6500 to drive for 2 years. About $300/month. Not bad for a vehicle depreciation
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Nice, but Build quality issues
Mart, 10/10/2021
2021 BMW X3 xDrive30e 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric plug-in hybrid 8A)
12 of 17 people found this review helpful
3 months after purchasing a BMW3xe there was a significant rattle/ tapping somewhere in the vehicle. the dealer discovered the noise was coming from the sun roof. Now they have to take the entire sunroof out and replace it. This should not be happening with a 64K car. If I could go back in time I would get an Audi or Porsche instead, but this point even a Subaru would be better.
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Hybrid is pretty good
alicat0818, 08/21/2023
2021 BMW X3 xDrive30e 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric plug-in hybrid 8A)
4 of 5 people found this review helpful
I ordered the car from the factory and purchased it after an initial lease. BMW makes a fun car to drive. I had trouble with the battery and stereo, but they sorted it out. I've noticed that the battery distance isn't as good as when I first bought it, but it's still enough for local trips. It gets great mileage for the size on gas.
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First Place Against Itself
Ace Phillips, 10/09/2022
2021 BMW X3 xDrive30e 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric plug-in hybrid 8A)
3 of 4 people found this review helpful
The BMW X3 xDrive30e is a nifty machine. I found the price--although more expensive than its gasoline counterparts--to be really great, especially with a nearly $7,500 rebate. The exterior styling is really lovely compared to the current whisker phase the X3 has been going through lately, and the ride is impressively smooth for its not-so-impressive ground clearance. The interior feels grand and very luxurious, even compared to its costly Daimler rival. Headlamps are brilliant for lighting up dark roads and blindspots cease to exist (especially because of that 360-degree camera feature!). Contrary to this article, I've found the MPG to be amazing, although I've only been really using the comfort mode for a long while now. Quick sidenote: Perhaps the writer's MPG may have been unimpressive because of all those sporty, bulky, and therefore heavy additions... Anyway, I do, however, find the driving to be rather unpleasant: Although the ride is smooth as silk, I find the pull of the brakes and seemingly slow acceleration to be quite unpleasant (this is my first time using a PHEV or EV, so perhaps that's just my love of petrol cars talking). Although never struggling to achieve motorway speeds, something is very obviously missing with the driving experience of the xDrive30e. The climate control area of the infotainment system, however, is very likable. The software is very user friendly and I love how easy it is to cancel a route or mute voice guidance. The console wheel, too, is an awesome feature I hope never goes away in BMWs. However, some of the buttons blend together in darker environments, and the shifter is far from ideal, perhaps the most confusing piece of technology I've witnessed in any car. But, although short on range, the xDrive30e satisfies that craving of owning a hybrid/electric car superbly, which brings me to my next point: The BMW xDrive30e has no competition other than itself. You see, as of 2021 and even 2022, PHEV luxury cars are a bit of a rare breed, with luxury vehicles usually being either fully electric or fully gas-powered. Finding one that is a crossover, too, proves to be even more difficult, but BMW did well to bridge this gaping pit. No other automakers have accurately executed a European luxury crossover like BMW has, still maintaining its "SUV-ness," which is why I'm not sure how to place it among other vehicles since I feel it would be comparing apples to, say, blueberries. Although appearing with much in common, the xDrive30e and its alternatives really have little in common, unless of course, you're talking about the xDrive30i or the sDrive30i, in which you realize that those are the PHEV's main competitors (AKA itself). Regardless, I am glad that BMW offered this eccentric vessel, and despite my complaints, I do not regret my purchase, even if it has now been perhaps forever discontinued.
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