[Autobacs]

So I've driven an X3 awhile back as a loaner. Although it was not an M I remembered it fun to drive but definitely felt smaller having a F06 650i then. I like my current E70 X5M because I think it's not too big and not small either and is lot of fun as a daily. I don't need it for the space but rather for it's looks, performance, and elevated position of an SUV. I have a very good idea of what the X3M's performance is and I am sure it will be more fun than the X5M.

Question to those who went from an X5 to an X3M, did you ever feel the X3 is too small from a driving perspective?

[DC X3M40i]

I came from a 2017 F15 X5. The f97 didn’t feel like a huge step down size wise for me at least. I don’t feel like I’m driving a boat. I prefer the nimbleness of the smaller car. Interior space is smaller yes, but for my family of four it’s more than sufficient for our daily use as well as road trips. Yes there are times that I miss the extra bit of space in the trunk but not enough to make me go back to an x5

[95wildtt]

I came from an older E70 4.8 M Sport with a ton of mods, had it for 10 years, and just felt it was too big for what I needed….
It wasn’t an ///M but pretty fun.

Test drove a 20 X5M, bought a 20 X3M and changed to a 20 X4MC to get an even more car like experience.

Can’t go wrong with the X5M for sure, but the handling and driving experience is much more car like in the x3/x4… if you don’t need the space.

[roadkillrob]

We sent from a G05 X5 Msport to the X3M, space is certainly less especially in the back and especially if you have the spare tire, but still good space kinda miss the split tailgate as stuff likes to fall out of the back especially with the raised floor to accomodate the spare). X3 feels much more agile though and drives more like a car - I can't get over how good the X3M is, it drives so close to the M3 and is so quick, everything feels more alive and it truly feels like and M car, I am sure the X5M is similar with even more power, but from a driving perspective the X3M feels much smaller and more nimble for sure.

[f82fanatic]

I currently have one of each. X3M for me, X5 for the wife. The space in the cabin is very usable and comfortable on both. X5 is bigger but not noticeably so.

The storage in the X5 is substantially larger.

It's fine for me, but my wife uses her X5 as if it were a storage unit. Many amazon/clothing boxes waiting to be returned, etc. My car is always empty.

She recently had her car taken to the shop and I gave her mine for a week or so. I've realized that as a long-term car, the X3 would be too small for her. She needs more storage space.

[mzmz]

Came from a G05 X5 to X4M. The X5 was nice - interior quality was a notch above X3/X4 and the ride was a luxurious experience.

That being said, I felt no connections to X5. It was a logical choice rather than an emotional choice. So I went with emotions this time

[denniss]

Came from g05 to x4mc. I am 6'4" so it's a bit tight on my knees. I drive mostly alone so it's fine. Wife got RR sport so we use that on a longer trips.

[Steadyhand]

We have an extremely low milage X5 (35diesel) from '09 - fully optioned with M-sport, etc. - we use it for vacations and larger shopping trips. Still drives like new and we can't bring ourselves to part with it.

March this year we bought a brand new 2021 X3M w/comp seats/wheels/carbon fiber dash, etc.

The two are wildly different. The X5 diesel (w/425 torque) pulls like a smoooth mule and the whole vehicle (w/sport suspension, etc.) drives like an SUV - a great SUV.

The X3M doesn't drive like an SUV whatsoever and we call it our 'sports car' - it drives completely different than the X5. It's not an SUV experience. We use it for pure pleasure driving. We have four others (three E90s and one F30) and we drive the tar out of those cars (combined 450k miles). The X3M drives far and away more like a true 'sports car' than our four older BMW 'sports' sedans.

It's no 911 or Ferrari, etc., but this X3M is the best sports car we've ever owned. The X5 is nearly 13 years old and still drives like a luxury, quality SUV - it's a luxury and quality 'tank-like' ride we enjoy and the X3M simply falls short on those qualities.

[allinon72]

I'm lucky enough to have both. The X3M is my fun, fast car and the X5 is our cushy, comfortable highway cruiser. I wouldn't compare the 2 but they are both awesome.

[OldBoot522]

We went from am F15 X5 to a 22 X3MC. No regrets.

We bought the X5 because we needed a third row, at the time. I always felt it was a little bit too big for daily use. The G05 X5 line is definitely bigger.

After driving the X3MC while waiting on the M3 with xDrive, we ultimately decided it was the perfect vehicle for us. We feel like the passenger space feels nearly identical, minus the third row and some cargo area that we no longer need.

I’m not sure the size difference between the E70 and F15, but it wouldn’t surprise me if you have the same amount of usable space in the current LCI X3M, due to the normal growth of vehicles with each redesign. Mine is a daily driver, and I don’t feel like I lost any interior comfort. Plus, it is much more fun to zip around in, and also park, especially in those lots where it feels like they used a Prius as the template for the spaces.

It also seems worth reiterating the comment above about the lack of body roll. The F97 does seem to defy physics with how composed it is when cornering.

[GmanJeff]

I, too, have both a X3M and a X5. I find the X5 to be a bit too large for most purposes. It's a tighter fit in my garage and in most parking spaces, and the extra cargo capacity is used infrequently. Unless you have very well defined cargo carrying requirements which point to a larger vehicle, the X3M may hit the sweet spot between utility, performance, and general daily usability.

[dds007]

Too small from a driving perspective? No. It drives like it is small, sporty and nimble compared to the X5.

Is it actually more sport and nimble than the X5? Not sure, I don't drive like that.

Do I prefer it over the x5M? Not at all. I like the comfort and size of the x5. I'm probably getting old though at 36.

[Kilrb]

I went from X5 to X6 and to my X3m, don't miss the others at all