Road Trip Rides: 2026 BMW X3

By Jay Kana | Published February 10th, 2026

The BMW X3 compact luxury crossover was their most popular offering in 2025, accounting for approximately 20% of all Canadian sales. Yes, 20% might seem like a low figure for highest volume, consider that BMW has over a dozen different offerings in their lineup.

The X3 blends versatility, it’s right-sized for everyday life with a spacious rear seat, good cargo space and plenty of advanced technology. Plus, with a fuel rating of 802 km per full tank on the four-cylinder trim, it’s ideal for road trips.

Key Info

Body type: Compact crossover
Engine: Two-litre turbocharged four-cylinder, 255 horsepower, 295 lb-ft. of torque, eight-speed automatic or three-litre turbocharged six-cylinder, 393 horsepower, 428 lb-ft. of torque.
Drive type: All-wheel drive
Fuel economy: 8.1 litres per 100/km combined (four-cylinder) 8.6 litres per 100/km combined (six-cylinder.)
Fuel tank size: 65 litres of 91 octane
Total range: 802 to 755 km
Cargo space: 570 litres
Towing capacity: Up to 4,850 pounds

What makes the 2026 BMW X3 a good road trip vehicle?
To start, the driving feel is excellent across both engines, with the higher output six-cylinder providing added excitement even on plain roads. There’s a smooth drive feel, ample power for both getting on highways and for passing, and minimal noise in the cabin at higher speeds.
The standard all-wheel drive system is ideal for year-round road trips in Canada with our varied weather conditions across the country.
After driving the X3 myself for a week in winter, I can say with confidence that it handled southern Ontario roads quite well, absorbed minor road imperfections beautifully and I always felt confident behind the wheel in its capabilities.
For those looking for added ride comfort, there’s an optional adaptive suspension feature that’s worth considering if you’re lifestyle sees you driving a lot.
At the time of publishing, the X3 is gasoline only and later in 2026, an all-electric iX3 variant will be released.

Standard features in the 202 BMW X3 include a fixed panoramic moonroof, remote start, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, heated seats and more.

Inside, BMW’s large screen infotainment system can be operated either by touching the screen or using the handy scroll wheel, which is one of the better systems in the modern automotive industry. The resolution is high, the graphics are crisp and the only drawback is the climate control features are embedded in the bottom of the touchscreen; there are no physical buttons.

There are plenty of storage cubbies to keep clutter to a minimum, the front seats are exceptionally comfortable and rear seat comfort is quite good.

The cabin overall is a comfortable place to spend time in, with modern design elements, a spacious feel (thanks in part to the standard panoramic sunroof,) and even though it’s a compact crossover, it feels slightly larger than it is on the inside.
It was fully redesigned for 2025 and parts of the interior door panels include some plastic parts which, to some, don’t suit the luxury brands previous design elements.

Standard safety includes blind spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert and an anti-collision system.

From daily life to road trips, the BMW X3 is a solid choice for those who want luxury, a smooth and athletic drive feel, plenty of technology and good fuel consumption from a gasoline engine.

3 Perks

Spacious cabin
Impressive driving dynamics
Great fuel consumption ratings for both the four and six-cylinder engines

3 Irks

No hybrid or plug-in hybrid option
Climate controls are all screen-based
Some plastic parts may be unappealing to some