Compare the2025 Subaru ForesterVS 2024 BMW X3

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Subaru Forester 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.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Subaru Forester 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 Forester 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.

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

Both the Forester and the X3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee 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, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, around view monitors, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

Subaru’s powertrain warranty covers the Forester 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 83 percent more Subaru dealers than there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Forester’s warranty.

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

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are better in initial quality than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Subaru above average in initial quality. With 23 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 3 places higher in reliability than BMW.

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Forester lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability without compromising ground clearance. The X3 doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

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

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Subaru Forester uses regular unleaded gasoline. The X3 requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

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

The Forester 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.

For better maneuverability, the Forester’s turning circle is 4 feet tighter than the X3’s (35.4 feet vs. 39.4 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Forester has a greater minimum ground clearance than the X3 (8.7 vs. 8 inches), allowing the Forester to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Subaru Forester may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 550 to 750 pounds less than the BMW X3.

The Forester has 9.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the X3 (110.8 vs. 101.4).

The Forester has .5 inches more front headroom, 3 inches more front legroom, .1 inches more front shoulder room, 1.1 inches more rear headroom, 3 inches more rear legroom and .7 inches more rear shoulder room than the X3.

The front step up height for the Forester is 3 inches lower than the X3 (15.5” vs. 18.5”). The Forester’s rear step up height is 1.3 inches lower than the X3’s (17.25” vs. 18.5”).

The Forester has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the X3 with its rear seat up (29.6 vs. 28.7 cubic feet). The Forester has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the X3 with its rear seat folded (74.4 vs. 62.7 cubic feet).

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

Standard Trailer Stability Assist on the Forester uses the Vehicle Dynamics 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.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Subaru service is better than BMW. J.D. Power ranks Subaru 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 15% lower rating, BMW is ranked 13th.

The Forester Touring’s standard easy entry system 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 Forester 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.

The Subaru Forester outsold the BMW X3 by over two to one during 2023.