{"id":35115,"date":"2025-10-16T11:06:02","date_gmt":"2025-10-16T15:06:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/?p=35115"},"modified":"2025-10-16T11:06:02","modified_gmt":"2025-10-16T15:06:02","slug":"payne-road-trippin-in-the-big-bold-boosted-bmw-x3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/2025\/10\/payne-road-trippin-in-the-big-bold-boosted-bmw-x3","title":{"rendered":"Payne: Road trippin’ in the big, bold, boosted BMW X3"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Gaylord<\/em>\u00a0\u2014 I made an easy drive this fall up Interstate 75 to Charlevoix. Cruising on adaptive cruise control at 80 mph, listening to Sirius XM. Navigating Google Maps on a jumbotron screen while taking in the fall colors. I could have been in any compact SUV.<\/p>\n

But as I exited at Gaylord onto the challenging M-32 twisties, I selected the SPORT head-up display with digital racing tachometer, toggled the automatic shifter to manual SPORT mode, and engaged the shift\/BOOST paddles sprouting from the steering wheel.<\/p>\n

GRRRRRR! went the 255 ponies in front of me.\u00a0Achtung!<\/em>\u00a0I\u2019m in a BMW X3, all right.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/div>\n

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The 2025 BMW X3 is made in South Carolina.<\/em><\/div>\n

Henry Payne, The Detroit News<\/em><\/p>\n

I spent the next 25 miles conquering S-turns, long downhill sweepers and short straightaways while red-lining the eight-speed transmission. It was a welcome pick-me-up on a long road trip \u2014 and a welcome departure from the average SUV.<\/p>\n

In truth, the average SUV is very, very, very good these days.<\/p>\n

Since BMW unveiled its xActivity concept \u2014 the near-production peek at the first-gen, 2004 X3 \u2014 at the 2003 Detroit Auto Show (back when the Detroit show scored major BMW reveals), autodom has changed and compact utes have become the largest non-pickup segment in the U.S. market. Every major automaker from Acura to VW sells in the segment. Made in America, the X3 is BMW\u2019s best-selling U.S. model.<\/p>\n

This competitive shark tank has created an impressively high standard for entry. Combine that with the electronics revolution, and the compact segment has democratized with little practical difference between mainstream and luxe offerings.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/figure>\n
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The 2025 BMW X3 sports a chunkier exterior design than sleek Bimmer sedans.<\/em><\/div>\n

Henry Payne, The Detroit News<\/em><\/div>\n

My $52K BMW X3\u2019s dual digital screen? The $30K Hyundai Tucson offers a similar unit. The X3\u2019s standard all-wheel-drive system? Same for the $31K Subaru Forester. The sporty, automatic chiclet shifter? The $32K VW Tiguan\u2019s got it. BMW\u2019s 255-horse turbo-4 engine? Yeah, yeah \u2014 check out the $42K Mazda CX-50 Turbo\u2019s 256-horsepower unit.<\/p>\n