Compare the2023 Land Rover Range Rover VelarVS 2023 BMW X3

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Land Rover Range Rover Velar have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The BMW X3 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

Both the Range Rover Velar and X3 have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Range Rover Velar has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The X3’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Range Rover Velar. But it costs extra on the X3.

Both the Range Rover Velar and the X3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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.

The battery on the Range Rover Velar is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the Range Rover Velar’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The X3’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

The Range Rover Velar has more powerful engines than the X3:

The Range Rover Velar has 4.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the X3 (21.7 vs. 17.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Land Rover Range Rover Velar higher (7 out of 10) than the BMW X3 (5 to 7). This means the Range Rover Velar produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the X3 every 15,000 miles.

For better stopping power the Range Rover Velar’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the X3:

The Range Rover Velar stops shorter than the X3:

For better traction, the Range Rover Velar has larger standard tires than the X3 (255/50R20 vs. 245/50R19). The Range Rover Velar’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the X3 (265/45R21 vs. 245/45R20).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Range Rover Velar offers optional 22-inch wheels. The X3’s largest wheels are only 21-inches.

The Range Rover Velar offers an optional 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 Range Rover Velar has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Range Rover Velar’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The X3 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Range Rover Velar is 1.2 inches wider in the front and 1.3 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the X3.

The Range Rover Velar handles at .82 G’s, while the X3 xDrive30i pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Range Rover Velar R-Dynamic S executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.4 seconds quicker than the X3 xDrive30i (26.2 seconds @ .7 average G’s vs. 27.6 seconds @ .63 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Range Rover Velar has a greater minimum ground clearance than the X3 (8.4 vs. 8 inches), allowing the Range Rover Velar to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Range Rover Velar w/Air Suspension’s minimum ground clearance is 1.9 inches higher than on the X3 (9.9 vs. 8 inches).

The design of the Land Rover Range Rover Velar amounts to more than styling. The Range Rover Velar 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 Range Rover Velar get better fuel mileage.

The Range Rover Velar has a much larger cargo volume than the X3 with its rear seat up (30.9 vs. 28.7 cubic feet).

The Range Rover Velar’s cargo area is larger than the X3’s in almost every dimension:

The Range Rover Velar’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the X3’s (5291 vs. 4400 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the BMW X3 is only 4400 pounds. The Range Rover Velar offers up to a 5511 lbs. towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Stability Assist (TSA) on the Range Rover Velar uses the Dynamic 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.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the X3, the Range Rover Velar has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The Range Rover Velar’s standard Entry and Exit Mode raises the steering wheel, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The X3 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are optional on the Range Rover Velar to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The X3 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

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

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The Range Rover Velar offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The X3 doesn’t offer headlight washers.

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its January 2019 issue and they ranked the Land Rover Range Rover Velar higher than the BMW X3 xDrive30i.