Ranked #46 car in the UK · SUV · 8,881 units sold last year

BMW X3

The BMW X3 covers the G01 (2018-2024) and the newer G45 (2024 on), with the all-electric iX3 sold alongside. It's the driver's choice among premium mid-size SUVs - sharper to steer than an Audi Q5 or Mercedes GLC, with strong petrol, mild-hybrid and xDrive30e plug-in hybrid options. Spacious, well-made and quick, it's the sporting pick in a sensible class.

BMW X3
Photo: Alexander-93 via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Body
SUV
Years
2018–2026
Fuel
Petrol / Mild Hybrid / Plug-in Hybrid / Electric
Range
54 mi

WLTP

Insurance
Group 30

The short version

46/100

Forecourt score

Value 43 · Reliability 60 · Insurance 22

The BMW X3 holds its value about averagely and is dearer to run than most. Its MOT-based reliability is good, 76 out of 100, ahead of 60% of the cars we track. On three-year value retention it ranks better than 43% of models.

The Forecourt score blends how this car ranks against the catalogue on value retention, reliability and insurance cost (weighted 40/40/20). Higher is better; running cost is not yet folded in.

Pick your version

Fuel

Mild Hybrid · 1998cc

Power

208 ps

Drivetrain

AWD

Cam drive

Chain

Quoted MPG

38 mpg

The volume X3 (G45 new gen). 2.0L turbo with 48V mHEV, 208 PS, 8-speed Steptronic, xDrive AWD. 7.8s 0-62. 38+ mpg achievable. M Sport — 19-inch wheels. The mainstream premium mid-SUV.

Tell us about the one you're looking at

2023
20182026
28,131 mi
0Expected: 28,131180k
good
PoorFairGoodExcellent

Tidy and well looked-after for its age — the typical car.

Remembered as you browse other cars.

Optional — fills in the exact year and ULEZ status for your specific car. The registration isn’t stored.

Estimated market value

How we got this number — click for the breakdown, or to challenge it.

£31,400

Range £26,750£36,400

medium confidence

When new (2023)£52,000Age-based value£32,760Mileage adjustment+£0Condition & region+£20Market calibration+£420Forecourt price£33,200Private sale£29,600Part-exchange£26,050
Buythis 3-year-old

Past the steep drop — most of the depreciation is behind it.

At 28,131 miles it’s about the ~31,039 typical for a 3-year-old.

Seen one for sale?

£

A data-led guide from the depreciation curve, UK parc trend and reliability — not financial advice.

The depreciation curve

How a 2023-registration BMW X3 loses value over time.

What it costs to own

Over

Based on the 2023 car with 28,131 miles you entered above — worth about £31,400 today — here is the cost of owning it for the next 5 years, at roughly 9,377 miles a year.

5-year total

£24,935

Per year

£4,987

All-in per mile

£0.53

Fuel per mile

19.4p

If a company carAround £740/mo Benefit-in-Kind tax at the 40% rate (£370/mo at 20%) — 37% band

Depreciation£5,516
Fuel / energy£9,074
Servicing£2,570
Road tax£975
Insurance£6,800

If you're a company-car driver

At 37% BIK, a 40% taxpayer would pay about £740/month in company-car tax (£370/month at 20%) — on top of the running costs above. Full BIK table below for context.

Best age to buy — around 4 years

A 4-year-old example loses roughly £3,700 a year — under half the £10,800 a one-year-old sheds. The steepest drop is behind it.

Uses current UK pump and home-charging prices (DESNZ weekly), typical-driver insurance and manufacturer service intervals. "Fuel per mile" is just the energy input — so an EV at ~9p and a diesel at ~22p make running-cost comparison direct. A guide; your own costs will vary.

How it compares

Where this car ranks against the 340 vehicles in our index — higher is better.

Holds its valuebetter than 43%
Reliabilitybetter than 60%
Fuel economybetter than 19%
Cheap to insurebetter than 22%

Percentile rank across our full index. A measure is shown only where the data spreads meaningfully across the index.

Petrol, diesel, hybrid or EV?

How the available versions compare on price, running cost, and the headaches each tends to develop.

xDrive20 / 30e / M50 (G45)

BMW's volume mid-SUV. G45 (2024+) is the new gen. Cross-shop Audi Q5, Mercedes GLC, Volvo XC60, Genesis GV70. The X3 PHEV is best fleet pick; M50 the hot variant. iX3 NA1 EV launches 2026 with Neue Klasse platform.

New price
£55,000
Annual fuel / energy
£1,700
3-yr depreciation
48%

Watch for

  • ·G45 too new for major patterns
  • ·Mk3 G01 had some 2.0d EGR cooler failures (campaign-fixed)
  • ·iX3 NA1 (new EV variant, 2026) is the sibling EV

Fuel/energy costs based on this week’s UK averages (w/c 22/06/2026) · Petrol 153.3p/L, Diesel 172.5p/L, Electricity 27.0p/kWh · DESNZ

Estimated insurance

Group 30 of 50 (upper-mid — pricier to insure) · Comprehensive · 3 years NCB

Indicative annual comprehensive premiums for this car, by driver age band and risk profile. Pick the combination closest to your circumstances.

3 years
0 yearsBaseline: 3 years15+
Risk profile:

Estimated annual premium · typical, age 33-39

£1,360/ year

Roughly £113 per month

Typical

Average UK driver — 3 years NCB, average postcode, no recent claims.
Age bandLower riskTypicalHigher risk
Age 17-25£3,101£3,876£5,039
Age 26-32£1,618£1,904£2,323
Age 33-39Selected£1,197£1,360£1,605
Age 40-49£1,016£1,129£1,309
Age 50+£906£1,006£1,188

How we estimate this

Indicative annual comprehensive premium estimates. The 'Typical' figure represents an average UK driver in each age band; Lower and Higher risk show the realistic spread driven by factors UK insurers legitimately price on (postcode, occupation, claims history, NCB, voluntary excess, modifications). Based on 10,000 miles/yr, £250 voluntary excess, and the no-claims bonus selected above. Always get individual quotes before buying.

Expected annual costs

Adjust the annual mileage to match how you'll actually use the car. Insurance is what you selected above (age 33-39, typical risk, 3 yrs NCB).

9,377 mi/yr
2,000UK avg for this model: 9,37730,000

Routine service

£290

Annual main-dealer service

Major service

£280

Every 2 years, annualised

Road tax

£195

Standard rate, post year-one

Electricity

£666

3.8 mi/kWh, 27p blended

Insurance

£1,360

Age 33-39, group 30

Clean-air zones

ULEZ compliant
  • Plug-in Hybrid, Mild Hybrid variants are compliant with London ULEZ and all UK clean-air zones.
  • All petrol variants meet Euro 4 standards and are ULEZ compliant.

Based on London ULEZ standards — Birmingham, Bath, Bristol, Sheffield, Glasgow and other UK clean-air zones generally follow the same rules.

Total expected£2,791 / year

Excludes depreciation and unscheduled repairs (see next section).

Unexpected costs

What out-of-warranty repairs typically run, by mileage band. Your selected mileage is highlighted.

0-30k miles

£120

per year · low risk

30-60k miles

£360

per year · low risk

60-100k miles

£780

per year · medium risk

100k+ miles

£1,350

per year · high risk

Tyres

215/65 R17 · 235/55 R18 · 235/50 R19

What a full set of four will cost you (including fit and balance), and which brand each tier of buyer should pick. A typical set lasts about 24,000 miles.

Budget

£400

set of 4, fitted · £85 per tyre

Mid-range

£580

set of 4, fitted · £130 per tyre

Premium

£840

set of 4, fitted · £195 per tyre

What to fit

Optional extras worth paying for

Factory options ranked by how much of their original cost they recover at resale. Anything above 70% return tends to make money back; below 40% is paying for your own enjoyment.

OptionNew costAdded used valueReturn

Tow bar (factory-fit)

Niche, but the buyers who want one will pay for it.

£650£45069%

Parking sensors & reversing camera

Near-expected now — its absence costs more than its presence returns.

£500£30060%

Heated seats / cold-weather pack

£450£20044%

Adaptive / matrix LED headlights

£900£40044%

Metallic or premium paint

Almost universal — an unusual colour is the bigger resale risk.

£600£20033%

Panoramic / opening roof

£1,100£35032%

Advanced driver-assistance pack

£1,500£45030%

Larger alloy wheels

£700£20029%

Premium sound system

£800£20025%

Parts most likely to fail

Drawn from owner reports and warranty data. Filtered for relevance to 28,131 miles.

Watch now

Failure typically happens around your current mileage.

Upcoming

A known weak point — but you haven't reached its usual mileage yet.

Already due

Past its usual failure mileage. Either already fixed, or about to.

Tyres & wheelsUpcoming

Typical at over 100k milesCost £80-£500low severityParts high

Recorded in 5.7% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 1,299,352 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

SuspensionUpcoming

Typical at over 100k milesCost £150-£450medium severityParts high

Recorded in 7.9% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 1,299,352 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

BrakesUpcoming

Typical at over 100k milesCost £150-£500medium severityParts high

Recorded in 5.8% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 1,299,352 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

Lighting & signallingUpcoming

Typical at over 100k milesCost £15-£120low severityParts high

Recorded in 5.0% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 1,299,352 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

Driver's viewUpcoming

Typical at over 100k milesCost £60-£300low severityParts high

Recorded in 2.8% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 1,299,352 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

Seat belts & restraintsUpcoming

Typical at over 100k milesCost £80-£250low severityParts high

Recorded in 1.8% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 1,299,352 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

"Parts low/medium/high" indicates how easy the replacement part is to source — discontinued or specialist parts mean longer workshop time and bigger bills.

Safety rating

Euro NCAP's independent crash-test rating for the BMW X3, from its 2017 assessment.

5/5
TEST YEAR2017
Rating expired (test protocol superseded)

The passenger compartment of the X3 remained stable in the frontal offset test.

Independent crash-test data from Euro NCAP. Star ratings reflect the test protocol of the year shown — newer protocols are stricter, so a 5-star from 2024 represents a higher bar than a 5-star from 2014.

MOT outlook

How this model fares at its MOT as it ages — from 1,321,622 real DVSA test records.

MOT pass rate by age

A 3-year-old X3 passes its MOT 88.9% of the time; by 22 years that has slipped to 71%. The y-axis is zoomed to this model’s range so the trend is readable.

Longevity

0%of 22-year-old examples are still taxed and on the road — a useful read on how well the model lasts.

From 6,854 vehicles registered in 2004.

Survival by registration year

25%50%75%100%20042026

Each point is one registration cohort. Older cars on the left, newer on the right. A flatter line means the model holds up over time; a steep drop means cohorts disappear from UK roads faster.

What’s on the road

The fuel-type split of every X3 currently MOT’d in the UK. From 162,442 vehicles.

  • Diesel 62.0%
  • Hybrid 16.2%
  • Petrol 12.6%
  • Electric 8.9%

Common MOT failures by mileage

The defect categories this X3 fails on most often, and how the failure rate climbs as the miles add up — from the same DVSA test records.

Category0-30k30-60k60-100k100k+
Tyres & wheels4%5%5%6%
Suspension1%3%5%8%
Brakes1%2%3%6%
Lighting & signalling1%3%5%
Driver's view1%1%2%3%
Seat belts & restraints1%2%

Share of MOT tests in each mileage band with at least one defect in that category. The peak band for each is highlighted.

Typical mileage by age

The average odometer reading for a X3 at MOT, by age — measured from the same DVSA records, not assumed. A useful yardstick for whether a given car has done more or fewer miles than its age suggests.

  • 0 yr24,729
  • 1 yr21,535
  • 2 yr24,580
  • 3 yr31,039
  • 4 yr39,831
  • 5 yr48,379
  • 6 yr57,295
  • 7 yr66,380
  • 8 yr75,474
  • 9 yr83,839
  • 10 yr92,116
  • 11 yr99,667

Mean recorded mileage at MOT by vehicle age, from DVSA test records (ages with at least 10 tests shown).

Reliability

76/ 100

Good

Composite of MOT pass rate, defect prevalence and cohort survival from 1,299,352 tests — high confidence.

MOT outlook · age 5 years

86%first-time pass rate

55th percentileAbout catalogue average

Based on 136,475 MOT tests · ranked against 248 catalogue models with comparable data

Where this car sits in the catalogue

0%50%90%

Pass-rate distribution across 248 catalogue models

Things owners say

  • 01The petrol xDrive20i suits most; the xDrive30e PHEV lowers BIK if you can charge it at home or work.
  • 02The iX3 electric is a quiet, long-range used EV - check battery health records like any used electric car.
  • 03Larger optional wheels look the part but firm up the ride noticeably on UK roads - smaller rims ride better.

Safety recalls

Manufacturers occasionally issue safety recalls to fix a fault free of charge. You can check whether the BMW X3, or your exact vehicle, has any outstanding recalls on the official DVSA service.

Check on GOV.UK

Opens the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency recall checker. Choose the make, model and year of manufacture — no registration needed.

Theft risk

A general indicator from UK 2025 theft data and this car’s characteristics — not a prediction for any one vehicle.

Whole-car theft

Higher

Desirable SUVs like this are relay-theft targets — keyless entry can be exploited from the driveway in under a minute.

Parts theft

Higher

Hybrid versions are a catalytic-converter target — a hybrid cat is rich in precious metals and can be cut out in about a minute.

Worth doing

  • Keep keys in a Faraday pouch and away from the front door to block relay attacks.
  • A catalytic-converter guard or forensic marking makes a hybrid far less appealing to cut.
  • A visible steering lock is a cheap, strong deterrent on a frequently-targeted car.

Clean-air zones

Whether driving a BMW X3 into a UK clean-air zone will cost you anything. Rules use the same Euro standard across most zones — petrol from 2006 and diesel from 2015 onwards are exempt; pure electric is always exempt.

Charging zones for cars

CityAreaDaily chargeLikely outcome
LondonAll of Greater London (within the M25)£12.50
Likely exempt
Petrol from 2006 meets Euro 4.
BirminghamInside the A4540 Middleway£8.00
Likely exempt
Petrol from 2006 meets Euro 4.
BristolCity centre and part of the Portway£9.00
Likely exempt
Petrol from 2006 meets Euro 4.
GlasgowCity centre
Likely exempt
Petrol from 2006 meets Euro 4.
EdinburghCity centre
Likely exempt
Petrol from 2006 meets Euro 4.
AberdeenCity centre
Likely exempt
Petrol from 2006 meets Euro 4.
DundeeCity centre
Likely exempt
Petrol from 2006 meets Euro 4.

Zones that don't charge private cars

  • BathCity centre (Private cars and motorbikes are not charged).
  • BradfordOuter ring road and the Aire Valley (Private cars are not charged).
  • SheffieldInside the A61 inner ring road (Private cars are not charged).
  • Newcastle & GatesheadCity centres and the Tyne, Swing, High Level and Redheugh bridges (Private cars are not charged).
  • PortsmouthPart of the city centre (Applies to taxis, PHVs, buses, coaches and HGVs only).

Model-level guidance only. To check a specific registration, use the official gov.uk clean-air zone checker. Zone charges and boundaries are set by local councils and change over time.

UK charging network

119,080 public chargers across the UK

As of 2026-04-01, the UK has 119,080 publicly available EV chargers, up 12.6% on the prior year (13,281 added in 2025). 23% of those are rapid (50 kW+) or ultra-rapid (150 kW+), so the network can support both home and on-route charging.

3-8 kW

50%

Standard

8-50 kW

27%

Standard plus

50-150 kW

12%

Rapid

150 kW+

11%

Ultra-rapid

Source: Department for Transport / Zapmap · Released 2026-05-21 · DfT statistics

Company car tax

What HMRC's Benefit-in-Kind charge looks like if you ran this BMW X3 as a company car, by tax year and income-tax band. Calculated from a CO₂ of 163 g/km and a WLTP electric range of 54 miles, using £60,000 as the P11D value.

Tax yearBIK %Tax @ 20%Tax @ 40%Monthly @ 20%Monthly @ 40%
2025-2637%£4,440£8,880£370£740
2026-2737%£4,440£8,880£370£740
2027-2838%£4,560£9,120£380£760
2028-2939%£4,680£9,360£390£780
2029-3039%£4,680£9,360£390£780

P11D value is approximated from the latest new price; the exact figure on your tax code will depend on options fitted. The 4% diesel surcharge applies only to non-RDE2 (pre-2021) diesels — we assume RDE2 compliance for current models. Bands and rates from HMRC's Autumn Budget 2024 confirmation through 2029/30.

Servicing & the dealer network

How well-supported BMW is across the UK — a practical read on how easy servicing, parts and warranty work will be to find.

Franchised UK dealers

~145

Large network

Premium mainstream

Network size relative to the UK's largest (BMW is 3.2% of all franchised outlets)

Servicing, parts and warranty work are easy to find UK-wide, and most independent garages know the brand well — which keeps maintenance competitive.

For context, the UK has roughly 4,500 franchised car-dealer outlets in total, plus about 15,500 independent garages.

Approximate figures, curated from public UK industry sources (NFDA, Car Dealer Magazine). Franchised networks shrink year on year — these indicate network size, not an exact count.

Dimensions & weight

Length

4,600 mm

Width

1,880 mm

Height

1,650 mm

Kerb weight

1,750 kg

Boot

500–1,600 L

Fuel tank

60 L

How many are still out there

Of every BMW X3 ever registered in the UK, this is what's actively on the road, parked off the road on a SORN, or gone for good.

Total ever registered

129,698

Currently taxed & on road

124,009

96% of all registered

SORN (off road)

5,689

4% of all registered

Scrapped or exported

0

UK fleet trend — 2014 to 2025

+4.3% vs 2024
53,585124,009

Source: DfT VEH0124 vehicle licensing statistics (year-end 2025) · Updated 1 Jul 2026

Common questions

BMW X3, answered

Is the BMW X3 ULEZ compliant?
Most petrol BMW X3s from 2006 and diesels from September 2015 meet the Euro standards for London ULEZ and other UK clean-air zones, so they are generally exempt from the daily charge. Pure-electric versions are always exempt.
What insurance group is the BMW X3 in?
The BMW X3 sits in insurance group 30 of 50. Your actual premium still depends on age, postcode, annual mileage and no-claims history.
Is the BMW X3 reliable?
Our reliability score for the BMW X3 is 76 out of 100 (good), derived from DVSA MOT records, with a first-time MOT pass rate of about 86% at the reference age.
What economy does the BMW X3 get?
Expect roughly around 3.8 miles per kWh for a typical BMW X3, based on official figures and our running-cost model. Real-world figures vary with driving style, load and conditions.
What are the common problems on the BMW X3?
On the BMW X3, the issues that come up most by mileage include Tyres & wheels, Suspension and Brakes. The section above breaks down each one with its typical mileage, repair cost and severity.
How many BMW X3s are on UK roads?
About 124,009 BMW X3s are currently taxed and on the road in the UK, from DfT vehicle-licensing data.

Same underpinnings

Built on the BMW CLAR platform

Rear/all-wheel-drive longitudinal platform for BMW's 3-Series and above. Steel-aluminium hybrid construction. Different badges, often substantially different residuals, but broadly the same mechanicals and repair cost profile.

BMW Cluster Architecture · BMW

Common questions

BMW X3, answered from the data

Is the BMW X3 reliable?
The BMW X3 scores 76/100 on Forecourt's MOT-based reliability measure, ahead of 55% of the cars we track. That is computed from 1,321,622 real DVSA MOT test results.
How much does a used BMW X3 cost?
A 2023 BMW X3 with around 28,131 miles is worth roughly £31,400 today (typical range £28,350–£34,450). Dealer forecourt prices sit higher and part-exchange offers lower; newer or lower-mileage examples cost more.
How quickly does the BMW X3 depreciate?
A new BMW X3 typically loses about 37% of its value over the first three years, then depreciates more slowly. Buying at three to five years old avoids the steepest part of the curve.
What insurance group is the BMW X3?
The BMW X3 sits in insurance group 30 of 50 — the middle of the scale. Exact premiums depend on the trim (some versions sit a few groups higher or lower), your age, postcode and no-claims history.
What goes wrong on a used BMW X3?
The most common age-related issues we track for the BMW X3 are: tyres & wheels (typically around over 100k miles, £80-£500 to put right); suspension (typically around over 100k miles, £150-£450 to put right); brakes (typically around over 100k miles, £150-£500 to put right). A full service history and a recent MOT with no advisories are the best protection.
What does the BMW X3 cost to run?
Expect around 36 mpg combined, £195 a year in road tax, about £290 for a standard annual service. The full cost-of-ownership table above breaks this down per year and per mile for the exact year and mileage you choose.

Answers are generated from this car's Forecourt data — DVSA MOT records, DfT licensing statistics and our valuation model — and update with the weekly data refresh.

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