Compare the2023 Infiniti QX50VS 2023 BMW X3

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Infiniti QX50 have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision. The BMW X3 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Infiniti QX50 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.

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 QX50 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The X3 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Both the QX50 and the X3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, plastic fuel tanks, 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, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

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 Infiniti QX50 is safer than the BMW X3:

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

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the QX50 is 1.6% to 2.5% less likely to roll over than the X3.

The QX50 comes with a full 4-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The X3’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 10,000 miles sooner.

Infiniti’s powertrain warranty covers the QX50 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than BMW covers the X3. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the X3 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The X3’s redline is at 7000 RPM, which causes more engine wear, and a greater chance of a catastrophic engine failure. The QX50 has a 6000 RPM redline.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Infiniti vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Infiniti 1 place higher in reliability than BMW.

The QX50’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 20 more horsepower (268 vs. 248) and 22 lbs.-ft. more torque (280 vs. 258) than the X3 s/xDrive30i’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Infiniti QX50 is faster than the X3 s/xDrive30i 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder:

On the EPA test cycle the QX50 gets better mileage than the X3:

The QX50 has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The X3 doesn’t offer a CVT.

The QX50 stops shorter than the X3:

For better traction, the QX50 Sport/Sensory/Autograph’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the X3 (255/45R20 vs. 245/45R20).

The QX50 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 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The QX50 AWD handles at .84 G’s, while the X3 xDrive30i pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The QX50 AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the X3 xDrive30i (26.7 seconds @ .66 average G’s vs. 27.6 seconds @ .63 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the QX50’s turning circle is 3 feet tighter than the X3’s (36.4 feet vs. 39.4 feet).

For greater off-road capability the QX50 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the X3 (8.6 vs. 8 inches), allowing the QX50 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Infiniti QX50 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 200 to 250 pounds less than the BMW X3.

The design of the Infiniti QX50 amounts to more than styling. The QX50 has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .32 Cd. That is lower than the X3 (.32 to .35) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the QX50 get better fuel mileage.

The QX50 uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The X3 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The QX50 has 3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the X3 (104.4 vs. 101.4).

The QX50 has .3 inches more front shoulder room, 2.3 inches more rear legroom and 1.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the X3.

The front step up height for the QX50 is 1.3 inches lower than the X3 (17.2” vs. 18.5”). The QX50’s rear step up height is .8 inches lower than the X3’s (17.7” vs. 18.5”).

The QX50 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the X3 with its rear seat up (31.4 vs. 28.7 cubic feet). The QX50 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the X3 with its rear seat folded (65.1 vs. 62.7 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the QX50 easier. The QX50’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 26.6 inches, while the X3’s liftover is 28.5 inches.

The QX50’s cargo area is larger than the X3’s in almost every dimension:

The QX50 Luxe/Sport/Sensory/Autograph’s standard Entry/Exit Assist raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The X3 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the QX50 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 QX50’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the X3’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Infiniti QX50 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) for the front seat. Wireless charging costs extra on the X3.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the QX50 is less expensive to operate than the X3 because it costs $654 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the QX50 than the X3, including $115 less for a water pump, $505 less for a muffler, $83 less for front brake pads, $182 less for a starter, $235 less for fuel injection, $93 less for a fuel pump, $219 less for front struts, $278 less for a timing belt/chain and $199 less for a power steering pump.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Infiniti QX50 and the BMW X3, based on reliability, safety and performance.