Compare the2022 Chevrolet BoltVS 2021 BMW X3 xDrive30e

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Bolt are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The X3 xDrive30e doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Both the Bolt and the X3 xDrive30e have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Chevrolet Bolt is safer than the BMW X3 xDrive30e:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Chevrolet Bolt is safer than the BMW X3 xDrive30e:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Chevrolet’s powertrain warranty covers the Bolt 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than BMW covers the X3 xDrive30e. Any repair needed on the motor, lithium batteries, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the X3 xDrive30e ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 8 times as many Chevrolet dealers as there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Bolt’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 35 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is ranked 18th, below the industry average.

On the EPA test cycle the Bolt gets better fuel mileage than the X3 xDrive30e running on electricity (131 city/109 hwy vs. 59 city/61 hwy MPGe).

On the EPA test cycle the Bolt gets better fuel mileage than the X3 xDrive30e running its gasoline engine (131 city/109 hwy MPGe vs. 21 city/27 hwy).

The Bolt’s maximum EPA estimated driving range is 259 miles on a full charge. The X3 xDrive30e can only travel about 23 miles before it has to start its internal combustion engine.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Chevrolet Bolt higher (10 out of 10) than the BMW X3 xDrive30e (7). This means the Bolt produces up to 11.8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the X3 xDrive30e every 15,000 miles.

The Bolt’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the X3 xDrive30e’s standard 60 series tires.

The Bolt has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The X3 xDrive30e doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For better maneuverability, the Bolt’s turning circle is 4.6 feet tighter than the X3 xDrive30e’s (34.8 feet vs. 39.4 feet).

The Chevrolet Bolt may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1000 pounds less than the BMW X3 xDrive30e.

The Bolt is 1 foot, 10.7 inches shorter than the X3 xDrive30e, making the Bolt easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Bolt has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The X3 xDrive30e doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Bolt has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the X3 xDrive30e only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The Bolt was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” in 2017. The X3 xDrive30e has never been a Car and Driver “Top Ten” pick.

The Bolt was chosen as one of Automobile Magazine’s “All Stars” in 2017. The X3 xDrive30e has never been an “All Star.”

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Bolt as the 2017 North American Car of the Year. The X3 xDrive30e has never been chosen.