Compare the2022 Jeep WranglerVS 2022 BMW X3

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Jeep Wrangler 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 doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, Full-Time Four-Wheel Drive is standard on the Wrangler. But it costs extra on the X3.

Both the Wrangler and the X3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, rearview cameras, available collision warning systems, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

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

There are almost 7 times as many Jeep dealers as there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Wrangler’s warranty.

The Wrangler has a solid front axle with a floating power axle for durability that the X3 xDrive’s independent front suspension and exposed front driveshafts don’t offer.

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

The Wrangler has more powerful engines than the X3:

The Wrangler’s 3.0 turbo V6 diesel produces 12 more horsepower (260 vs. 248) and 184 lbs.-ft. more torque (442 vs. 258) than the X3 s/xDrive30i’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Wrangler’s 3.0 turbo V6 diesel produces 73 lbs.-ft. more torque (442 vs. 369) than the X3 M40i’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Wrangler Rubicon 392 6.4 V8 is faster than the X3 s/xDrive30i 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder (automatics tested):

On the EPA test cycle the Wrangler 4-door running on electricity gets better mileage than the X3:

On the EPA test cycle the Wrangler 4-door running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the X3:

The Wrangler 4Xe can drive on battery power alone for up to 21 miles. The X3 must run its internal combustion engine to move.

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Wrangler Rubicon 392’s fuel efficiency. The X3 doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The Wrangler 4-door’s standard fuel tank has 3.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the X3 M40i’s standard fuel tank (21.5 vs. 17.7 gallons).

The Wrangler offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and sportiness. The X3 doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

For better traction, the Wrangler’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the X3 (315/70R17 vs. 245/45R20).

The Wrangler Sport S/Sahara/Rubicon offers an optional 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 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Wrangler has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the X3; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare or run-flat tires, either of which has mileage and speed limitations.

The Wrangler Rubicon has an active front sway bar, which helps keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnects at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The X3 doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Wrangler 4-door’s wheelbase is 5.6 inches longer than on the X3 (118.4 inches vs. 112.8 inches).

For better maneuverability, the Wrangler 2-door’s turning circle is 4.9 feet tighter than the X3’s (34.5 feet vs. 39.4 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Wrangler Sport 2-door has a 1.7 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the X3 (9.7 vs. 8 inches), allowing the Wrangler to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Wrangler has 2.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the X3 (103.7 vs. 101.4).

The Wrangler 4-door has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the X3 with its rear seat up (31.7 vs. 28.7 cubic feet). The Wrangler 4-door has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the X3 with its rear seat folded (72.4 vs. 62.7 cubic feet).

The Wrangler’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the left swing out door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The X3’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Wrangler uses the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The X3 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Wrangler has a much higher standard payload capacity than the X3 (1233 vs. 902 lbs.).

The Wrangler has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the X3 (1351 vs. 941 lbs.).

The Wrangler’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The X3 does not have an oil pressure gauge.

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

Consumer Reports rated the Wrangler’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the X3’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

The Wrangler (except Sport) offers an optional 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 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Jeep Wrangler JL comes in four door and soft top bodystyles; the BMW X3 isn’t available as a soft top.

Insurance will cost less for the Wrangler owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Wrangler will cost $1700 less than the X3 over a five-year period.

The Wrangler will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Wrangler will retain 73.16% to 86.03% of its original price after five years, while the X3 only retains 48.8% to 50.86%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Wrangler is less expensive to operate than the X3 because it costs $845 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Wrangler than the X3, including $497 less for a water pump, $823 less for a muffler, $26 less for front brake pads, $519 less for a starter, $256 less for fuel injection, $25 less for a fuel pump, $380 less for front struts, $336 less for a timing belt/chain and $1460 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Jeep Wrangler will be $17336 to $23302 less than for the BMW X3.

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its January 2019 issue and they ranked the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 2-door first. They ranked the BMW X3 xDrive30i third.

Motor Trend selected the Wrangler as their 2019 Sport Utility of the Year. The X3 has never been chosen.

The Jeep Wrangler outsold the BMW X3 by almost three to one during the 2021 model year.