Compare the2023 BMW X3VS 2023 Lexus UX

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Payload and Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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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 UX doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The X3 offers an optional Surround View to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The UX 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.

Both the X3 and the UX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, 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.

The BMW X3 weighs 474 to 909 pounds more than the Lexus UX. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the BMW X3 is safer than the Lexus UX:

	X3	UX
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	102	116
Neck Injury Risk	21%	33%
Neck Stress	202 lbs.	371 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	116/280 lbs.	376/433 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	176	290
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.7 inches
Neck Stress	139 lbs.	163 lbs.
Neck Compression	72 lbs.	94 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	183/114 lbs.	345/566 lbs.

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

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 BMW X3 is safer than the Lexus UX:

	X3	UX
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.8 inches
Hip Force	275 lbs.	323 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	45 G’s	46 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	281	292
Spine Acceleration	43 G’s	44 G’s
Hip Force	624 lbs.	919 lbs.

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

Warranty

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

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the X3 for 2 years and 26000 miles longer than Lexus pays for maintenance for the UX (3/36,000 vs. 1/10,000).

There are over 44 percent more BMW dealers than there are Lexus dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the X3’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates rated the X3 first among compact premium suvs in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The UX was rated second in its category.

Engine

The X3 s/xDrive30i’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 67 more horsepower (248 vs. 181) than the UX’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid. The X3 M40i’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 201 more horsepower (382 vs. 181) than the UX’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the X3 s/xDrive30i 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Lexus UX:

	X3	UX
Zero to 60 MPH	6.7 sec	8.3 sec
Quarter Mile	15.1 sec	16.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	91.5 MPH	87.3 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

Both the X3 and UX have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. The X3 has a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

The X3 has 6.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the UX (17.2 vs. 10.6 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Transmission

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 UX doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the X3’s brake rotors are larger than those on the UX:

	X3	X3 M40i	UX
Front Rotors	13 inches	13.7 inches	12 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	13.5 inches	11.1 inches

The X3’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the UX are solid, not vented.

The X3 stops much shorter than the UX:

	X3	UX
60 to 0 MPH	112 feet	128 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	138 feet	143 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the X3 has larger standard tires than the UX (245/50R19 vs. 225/50R18). The X3’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the UX (F:245/45R20 & R:275/40R20 vs. 225/50R18).

The X3’s optional 245/40R21 front and 275/35R21 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the UX’s 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the X3 has standard 19-inch wheels. Only 18-inch wheels are available on the UX. The X3 offers optional 21-inch wheels.

The X3 offers an optional space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the UX; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

The X3 offers an optional driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The UX’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the X3’s wheelbase is 8.9 inches longer than on the UX (112.8 inches vs. 103.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the X3 is 2.5 inches wider in the front and 3 inches wider in the rear than the track on the UX.

The X3’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (49% to 51%) than the UX’s (57% to 43%). This gives the X3 more stable handling and braking.

The X3 M40i xDrive handles at .85 G’s, while the UX 250h F Sport Handling AWD pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The X3 M40i xDrive executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.2 seconds quicker than the UX 250h F Sport Handling AWD (25.9 seconds @ .72 average G’s vs. 28.1 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

Chassis

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 UX doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The X3 has 11 cubic feet more passenger volume than the UX (101.4 vs. 90.4).

The X3 has 3.8 inches more front headroom, 2.5 inches more front shoulder room, 2.8 inches more rear headroom, 3.3 inches more rear legroom and 3.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the UX.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the X3’s rear seats recline. The UX’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The X3 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the UX (28.7 vs. 17.1 cubic feet).

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the X3’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The UX doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Payload and Towing

The X3 has a 4400 lbs. towing capacity. The UX has no towing capacity.

The X3 has a higher maximum payload capacity than the UX (941 vs. 890 lbs.).

Servicing Ease

The X3 uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The UX uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The engine in the X3 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the UX. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

The power windows standard on both the X3 and the UX have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the X3 is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The UX prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The X3’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The UX’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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

Both the X3 and the UX offer optional heated front seats. The X3 also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the UX.

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 UX doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

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

The BMW X3 outsold the Lexus UX by over six to one during 2022.