Compare the2025 Mazda CX-50VS 2024 BMW X3

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Mazda CX-50 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 Mazda CX-50 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 CX-50 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 CX-50. But it costs extra on the X3.

Both the CX-50 and X3 have rear cross-traffic warning, but the CX-50 Turbo Premium Plus has Rear Cross Traffic Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The X3’s Cross Traffic Warning doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the CX-50 and the X3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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 around view monitors.

Mazda’s powertrain warranty covers the CX-50 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 55 percent more Mazda dealers than there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the CX-50’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mazda above average in long-term dependability. With 5 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, BMW is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda 2 places higher in reliability than BMW.

On the EPA test cycle the CX-50 gets better mileage than the X3:

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the CX-50 (except Turbo/Hybrid)’s fuel efficiency. The X3 doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Mazda CX-50 uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended with the 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder engine for maximum performance). The X3 requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The CX-50 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 CX-50 stops much shorter than the X3:

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the CX-50 is 1.6 inches wider in the front and 1.3 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the X3.

The CX-50 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus handles at .84 G’s, while the X3 xDrive30i pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The CX-50 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the X3 xDrive30i (26.8 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 27.6 seconds @ .63 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the CX-50 Hybrid’s turning circle is 4 feet tighter than the X3’s (35.4 feet vs. 39.4 feet). The CX-50’s turning circle is 3.4 feet tighter than the X3’s (36 feet vs. 39.4 feet).

For greater off-road capability the CX-50 2.5 S Premium Plus has a greater minimum ground clearance than the X3 (8.6 vs. 8 inches), allowing the CX-50 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Mazda CX-50 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 350 to 400 pounds less than the BMW X3.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the CX-50 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus is quieter than the X3 M40i xDrive:

The CX-50 has 1.4 inches more front legroom, .1 inches more rear headroom and 3.4 inches more rear legroom than the X3.

The CX-50 has a much larger cargo volume than the X3 with its rear seat up (31.4 vs. 28.7 cubic feet).

The CX-50’s cargo area is larger than the X3’s in almost every dimension:

The CX-50’s standard Advanced Keyless Entry and Start allow you to unlock the doors from either front door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Comfort Go standard on the X3 only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the vehicle.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the CX-50 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 CX-50’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the X3’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

Insurance will cost less for the CX-50 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the CX-50 will cost $1110 less than the X3 over a five-year period.

The CX-50 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the CX-50 will retain 53.88% to 56.04% of its original price after five years, while the X3 only retains 50.69% to 52.37%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Mazda CX-50 will be $18661 to $19895 less than for the BMW X3.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Mazda CX-50 and the BMW X3, based on reliability, safety and performance.