Compare the2023 Mazda CX-50VS 2023 BMW X3

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Mazda CX-50 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, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the CX-50. But it costs extra on the X3.

Both the CX-50 and X3 have rear cross-traffic warning, but the CX-50Turbo Premium Plus has Rear Cross Traffic Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic.

Both the CX-50 and the X3 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, and daytime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the CX-50 the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 53 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The X3 has not been fully tested, yet.

Mazda’s powertrain warranty covers the CX-50 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 over 54 percent more Mazda dealers than there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the CX-50’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mazda above average in long-term dependability. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, BMW is rated lower.

The CX-50’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 8 more horsepower (256 vs. 248) and 62 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 258) than the X3 s/xDrive30i’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the CX-50 gets better mileage than the X3:

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the CX-50 (except Turbo)’s fuel efficiency. The X3 doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Mazda CX-50 uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended with the 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder engine for maximum performance). The X3 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The CX-50 stops shorter than the X3:

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the CX-50 is 1.6 inches wider in the front and 1.3 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the X3.

For better maneuverability, the CX-50’s turning circle is 3.4 feet tighter than the X3’s (36 feet vs. 39.4 feet).

For greater off-road capability the CX-50 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the X3 (8.3 vs. 8 inches), allowing the CX-50 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The CX-50 Premium/Turbo’s minimum ground clearance is .6 inch higher than on the X3 (8.6 vs. 8 inches).

The Mazda CX-50 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 350 to 500 pounds less than the BMW X3.

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the CX-50 2.5 Turbo is quieter than the X3 M40i xDrive (37 vs. 40 dB).

The CX-50 has 1.4 inches more front legroom and 3.4 inches more rear legroom than the X3.

The CX-50 has a much larger cargo volume than the X3 with its rear seat up (31.4 vs. 28.7 cubic feet).

The CX-50’s cargo area is larger than the X3’s in almost every dimension:

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the CX-50 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 CX-50’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the X3’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Mazda CX-50 and the BMW X3, based on reliability, safety and performance.