Compare the2022 Hyundai NexoVS 2021 BMW X3 xDrive30e

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Hyundai Nexo are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW X3 xDrive30e doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the Nexo and the X3 xDrive30e have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Nexo its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2021, a rating granted to only 73 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The X3 xDrive30e has not been fully tested, yet.

The Nexo comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The X3 xDrive30e’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Nexo 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than BMW covers the X3 xDrive30e. Any repair needed on the motor, fuel cell, batteries, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the X3 xDrive30e ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 2 times as many Hyundai dealers as there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Nexo’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are better in initial quality than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai 8th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 17 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is ranked 20th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai 7th in reliability, above the industry average. With 7 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is ranked 10th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 6 places higher in reliability than BMW.

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

For better maneuverability, the Nexo’s turning circle is 2.7 feet tighter than the X3 xDrive30e’s (36.7 feet vs. 39.4 feet).

The Hyundai Nexo may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 450 to 600 pounds less than the BMW X3 xDrive30e.

The Nexo has 1.2 inches more front legroom and 2.2 inches more rear legroom than the X3 xDrive30e.

The Nexo has a much larger cargo volume than the X3 xDrive30e with its rear seat up (29.6 vs. 27.2 cubic feet).

The Nexo’s cargo area is larger than the X3 xDrive30e’s in almost every dimension:

The Nexo 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 Nexo 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.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Hyundai Nexo has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the X3 xDrive30e.

The Nexo has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The X3 xDrive30e doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Nexo Limited’s Remote Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The X3 xDrive30e’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.