2022 BMW X3 and X4 facelifts revealed, Australian launches due late 2021 – UPDATE
BMW's popular mid-size SUVs have gone under the knife, with updated styling, a new centre console and additional technology.
UPDATE, 9 June 2021, 11am: BMW Australia has confirmed the updated 2022 BMW X3 and X4 will go on sale in Australia in the fourth quarter of 2021 (October to December inclusive). Local pricing and specifications will be announced closer to launch.
The brand has also confirmed the full engine line-up that will be offered in Australia, including a plug-in hybrid variant for the first time. The original story below has been updated with the new information.
9 June 2021, 9:20am: The facelifted 2022 BMW X3 and X4 have been unveiled.
Nearly four years after the ‘G01’ X3 made its public debut, BMW has treated one of its most popular models in Australia – and its sleeker, coupe-styled X4 sibling – to a mid-life facelift, bringing an updated look, reworked interior and new technologies for the new model year.
Up front, the updated SUVs gain reworked headlight signatures – using LED technology as standard, with matrix LED and laser offered as options – flanking conjoined kidney grilles (bearing a mild resemblance on M Sport models to the soon-to-depart M2 Competition coupe) and sitting above more aggressive air intakes that differ in design between standard and M Sport variants.
Above: BMW X3 xDrive30e, in non-M Sport guise. Top: BMW X4 M40i, with the M Sport pack.
Changes along the side are limited to new alloy wheel designs and new roof rails for X3 models, while at the rear new LED tail-light signatures sit inside the existing model’s housings, above revised lower bumper designs.
Inside, the X3 and X4 gain the new centre console design from the latest 4 Series mid-size car, featuring a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and an enhanced satellite navigation system as standard across all European models, along with a 5.1-inch digital instrument display.
Meanwhile, expect Australian models to feature 12.3-inch versions of both the digital instrument cluster and central infotainment display, the latter including support for Amazon Alexa and a new My BMW app.
Other interior enhancements include a new ‘Control Island’ panel around the gear selector (shared with the 4 Series), and the addition of Sensatec sports seats and tri-zone automatic climate control as standard in Europe.
Under the bonnet, all European-market engines now feature some form of electrification, from a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, to a fully-fledged plug-in hybrid setup – however, whether the electrified systems will make their way to Australia is unclear.
In Australia, buyers will have the option of three petrol engines in both X3 and X4 models, with X3 buyers exclusively having the choice of two diesels and, for the first time, a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) option, and the fully-electric iX3.
Entry-level petrol cars will feature 135kW/300Nm 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinders in the rear-wheel-drive X3 sDrive20i and all-wheel-drive X4 xDrive20i, upgrading to a 140kW/400Nm 2.0-litre turbo-diesel in the X3 xDrive20d.
The xDrive30i’s 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder develops 185kW and 350Nm – up 5kW over European models – while the X3 xDrive30d diesel produces a carry-over 195kW and 620Nm.
The X3 and X4 M40i sit atop the range – full-fat M models aside (click here to read more about those models) – with 285kW and 500Nm from a 3.0-litre turbo-petrol inline-six, matching the low-riding M340i and M440i.
A plug-in hybrid X3 xDrive30e will be available for the first time, combining a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor to develop 215kW, and cover over 40km on a single charge.
There's also the all-electric iX3 – click here to read more about that variant.
Drive continues to be sent to all four wheels in all bar the base, rear-drive sDrive20i and electric iX3, through an eight-speed torque-converter automatic transmission.
On the safety front, BMW claims its Driving Assistant Professional package – which enables semi-autonomous driving on freeways, accelerating, braking and steering the vehicle within its lane – is now available on the X3 and X4 families.
It’s joined by improved adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist functions, junction support for the autonomous emergency braking system, a BMW Drive Recorder dashcam feature, and an expanded Parking Assist Plus system with BMW’s Reverse Assistant feature.
The 2022 BMW X3 and X4 ‘LCI’ facelifts will enter production in August 2021.
An Australian launch will occur in the fourth quarter of 2021 (October to December inclusive). Local pricing and specifications will be announced closer to launch.
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