Compare the2025 BMW X3VS 2025 Lexus NX

Safety
Warranty
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics

Safety

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The BMW X3 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help 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 NX doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The X3 has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The NX doesn’t offer front seat center 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 NX doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

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

Both the X3 and the NX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, plastic fuel tanks, 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 available around view monitors.

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 NX:

	X3	NX
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	96	233
Neck Injury Risk	32.2%	34.2%
Neck Stress	262 lbs.	303 lbs.
Neck Compression	30 lbs.	41 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 NX:

	X3	NX
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	214 lbs.	238 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	108	134
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	13 inches
HIC	162	380
Spine Acceleration	37 G’s	48 G’s
Hip Force	472 lbs.	892 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 NX’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 NX (3/36,000 vs. 1/10,000).

There are over 43 percent more BMW dealers than there are Lexus dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the X3’s warranty.

Engine

The X3 has more powerful engines than the NX:

	Horsepower	Torque
X3 30 xDrive 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid	255 HP	295 lbs.-ft.
X3 M50 xDrive 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid	393 HP	428 lbs.-ft.
NX 250 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder	203 HP	184 lbs.-ft.
NX 350h AWD 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid	240 HP
NX 350 AWD 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder	275 HP	317 lbs.-ft.
NX 450h+ AWD 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid	304 HP

As tested in Motor Trend the X3 30 xDrive 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Lexus NX:

	X3	NX 350h AWD	NX 350 AWD
Zero to 60 MPH	6 sec	7 sec	7.3 sec
Quarter Mile	14.5 sec	15.4 sec	15.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	94.5 MPH	89 MPH	92.1 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the X3 gets better mileage than the NX running its gasoline engine:

			MPG
X3
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	27 city/33 hwy
		3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	25 city/30 hwy
NX
	FWD	250 2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	26 city/33 hwy
	AWD	250 2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	25 city/32 hwy
		350 2.4 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/28 hwy

Both the X3 and the NX have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All X3s have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. The NX 350h/450h+ doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

The X3 has 2.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the NX (17.2 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the BMW X3 higher (6 to 7 out of 10) than the Lexus NX (5 to 6). This means the X3 produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the NX every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

The X3 M50’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 NX doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the X3 M50 xDrive’s brake rotors are larger than those on the NX:

	X3 30 xDrive	X3 M50 xDrive	NX
Front Rotors	13 inches	13.7 inches	12.9 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	13.5 inches	12.5 inches

The X3 stops much shorter than the NX:

	X3	NX
60 to 0 MPH	108 feet	131 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the X3 has larger standard tires than the NX (245/50R19 vs. 235/60R18). The X3’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the NX (F:255/40R21 & R:285/35R21 vs. 235/60R18).

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 NX’s standard 60 series tires. The X3’s optional 255/40R21 front and 285/35R21 rear tires have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile than the NX’s optional 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the X3 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the NX. The X3’s optional 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the NX.

The X3 has a standard 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 NX; 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

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the X3’s wheelbase is 6.9 inches longer than on the NX (112.8 inches vs. 105.9 inches).

The X3’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (50.5% to 49.5%) than the NX’s (57.7% to 42.3%). This gives the X3 more stable handling and braking.

The X3 30 xDrive handles at .92 G’s, while the NX 450h+ AWD pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The X3 30 xDrive executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.6 seconds quicker than the NX 450h+ AWD (25.8 seconds @ .72 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the X3 M50 xDrive has a greater minimum ground clearance than the NX 350 F Sport Handling AWD (8.3 vs. 7.7 inches), allowing the X3 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The X3 30 xDrive’s minimum ground clearance is .4 inch higher than on the NX (8.5 vs. 8.1 inches).

Passenger Space

The X3 has 2.2 inches more front headroom, 1.6 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear legroom and 1.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the NX.

Cargo Capacity

The X3 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the NX with its rear seat up (31.5 vs. 22.7 cubic feet). The X3 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the NX with its rear seat folded (67.1 vs. 46.9 cubic feet).

Servicing Ease

The engine in the X3 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the NX. 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 NX 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 NX prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

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 NX can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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

The NX’s optional cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The X3’s optional adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

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

The BMW X3 has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the rear view mirror. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. Lexus charges extra for Homelink® on the NX.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the BMW X3 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the NX.

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