BMW X3 M Competition (F97)

The BMW X3 M Competition makes an unusual choice in a catalogue of 600 cars: only 10 of them pair an inline-6 engine with AWD. That decision places this 2020 SUV in a narrow technical group, trading some of the simplicity of other layouts for a combination built around all-weather traction and six-cylinder character. The result is a car that sits in the top half of the catalogue for performance, with 510 bhp placing it 316th overall and a 0-100 km/h time of 4 seconds making it faster than 283 of the 600 cars.

That balance is where the X3 M Competition finds its identity. Its 2,993 cc, 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged inline-6 produces 600 Nm of torque, with AWD delivering the drive to all four wheels. The choice of a twin-turbocharged inline-6 is also an uncommon one here, shared by just 14 cars in the catalogue. It is not the most extreme performance entry in the collection, ranking 330th for top speed at 285 km/h, but its numbers show a focused approach rather than a pursuit of a single headline figure. The car combines SUV practicality, a 4/5 seater sports utility vehicle body style, and a drivetrain configuration that appears in only a small part of the wider selection.

Price places the X3 M Competition in a different part of the conversation. At a used price of £55,000, it ranks 415th out of 600, making it more expensive than 185 cars in the catalogue. Its £108 cost per bhp reflects the relationship between its performance output and acquisition price. For a collection that spans 48 BMW models and 197 German cars, this one occupies a specific position, bringing a BMW performance SUV with a rare combination of inline-6, twin-turbocharged power and AWD.

The X3 M Competition sits away from the absolute extremes of the catalogue. It is not among the highest-powered cars, the fastest cars, or the most expensive cars, yet its particular combination separates it from many alternatives. With 10 inline-6 AWD cars and 14 twin-turbocharged inline-6 cars in the full 600-car selection, it represents a distinct corner of the garage: a performance SUV shaped by a drivetrain choice that few others share. Adding this BMW means choosing a car defined less by chasing the limits of one category and more by bringing together several capabilities in one precise package.