The new 2.0-liter turbo-four paired to an eight-speed automatic helps the new X3 achieve 21/28 mpg; with the 3.0-liter inline-six engine, the X3 was rated 19/25 mpg. While mpgs are up in the new X3, power figures remain the same in both models at 240 hp, but torque has increased by 39 lb-ft to 260 lb-ft in the new model. Not only is the 2013 X3 an improvement over its predecessor, but it’s also an improvement over competitors such as the 2.0-liter Audi Q5 (20/27). Mercedes-Benz’s 2013 GLK250 – powered by a 2.1-liter diesel four-cylinder engine – arrives this year.
The 2013 X3’s new turbo-four, called the N20, is also used in the Z4 roadster, 328i sedan, and 528i sedan. With X3 mileage reaching 28 mpg on the highway, don’t be surprised to see the smaller U.S.-spec X1 surpass 30 mpg in EPA tests when it hits U.S. showrooms.
