Compare the2023 BMW X3VS 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Velar

The X3’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Range Rover Velar doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The BMW X3 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Range Rover Velar doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The X3 has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Range Rover Velar doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The X3 has a standard PostCrash iBrake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Range Rover Velar doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The X3 offers an optional Active Park Distance Control that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Range Rover Velar doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The X3 offers an optional Surround View to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Range Rover Velar only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

Compared to metal, the X3’s plastic fuel tank can withstand harder, more intrusive impacts without leaking; this decreases the possibility of fire. The Land Rover Range Rover Velar has a metal gas tank.

Both the X3 and the Range Rover Velar 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, driver alert monitors and available all wheel drive.

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 X3 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 128 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Range Rover Velar has not been tested, yet.

The X3’s corrosion warranty is 6 years longer than the Range Rover Velar’s (12 vs. 6 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the X3 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Land Rover doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Range Rover Velar.

There are over 77 percent more BMW dealers than there are Land Rover dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the X3’s warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the X3’s reliability 30 points higher than the Range Rover Velar.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the X3 first among compact premium suvs in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The Range Rover Velar isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Land Rover vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW above average in initial quality. With 28 more problems per 100 vehicles, Land Rover is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Land Rover vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW above average in long-term dependability. With 5 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Land Rover is rated below average.

As tested in Consumer Reports the X3 s/xDrive30i 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Range Rover Velar P250 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder:

On the EPA test cycle the X3 gets better mileage than the Range Rover Velar:

The X3 has a standard locking fuel door with a power remote release convenient to the driver. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Range Rover Velar. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

The X3 M40i’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Range Rover Velar doesn’t offer launch control.

The X3 stops much shorter than the Range Rover Velar:

The X3’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Range Rover Velar’s standard 55 series tires. The X3’s optional 275/35R21 rear tires have a lower 35 series profile than the Range Rover Velar’s optional 40 series tires.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the X3 can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Range Rover Velar doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The X3 M40i xDrive handles at .88 G’s, while the Range Rover Velar pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The X3 M40i xDrive executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.7 seconds quicker than the Range Rover Velar (25.9 seconds @ .72 average G’s vs. 28.6 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

The X3 is 3 inches shorter than the Range Rover Velar, making the X3 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the X3 uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Range Rover Velar doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The X3 has 2 inches more front headroom, .4 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear headroom and .4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Range Rover Velar.

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the X3 easier. The X3’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 28.5 inches, while the Range Rover Velar’s liftover is 29.7 inches.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that BMW service is better than Land Rover. J.D. Power ranks BMW 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 51% lower rating, Land Rover is ranked 30th.

If the windows are left open on the X3 the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote or with the driver’s door power window switch. The driver of the Range Rover Velar can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the X3 offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Range Rover Velar doesn’t offer cornering lights. The X3 also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the X3 has standard extendable sun visors. The Range Rover Velar doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the X3 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Range Rover Velar doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the BMW X3 offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Range Rover Velar doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The X3’s optional Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Range Rover Velar doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The X3 is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Range Rover Velar doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Insurance will cost less for the X3 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the X3 will cost $1365 to $6630 less than the Range Rover Velar over a five-year period.

The X3 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the X3 will retain 49.78% to 50.55% of its original price after five years, while the Range Rover Velar only retains 46.61% to 47.97%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the BMW X3 will be $19333 to $21336 less than for the Land Rover Range Rover Velar.

Consumer Reports® recommends the BMW X3, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Land Rover Range Rover Velar isn't recommended.

The BMW X3 outsold the Land Rover Range Rover Velar by almost 8 to one during 2022.