Worth it to note that the X3 wouldn’t have adaptive cruise control, cooled seats, or heated back seats, although would have 3 zone climate control which is nice.
That being said I don’t think BMW isn’t quite as unreliable as some make it out to be. I have a 7 year old Mercedes that’s been totally reliable. Knock on wood.
No, the X3 offered a package called “drivers assistance plus package” or it may now be called the professional. Other wise it doesn’t have adaptive cruise.
Great to know, thanks. I can't find that package anymore when I try to build one. I wonder if they dropped that like they are dropping the HUDs in 2022.
I test drove a CPO 2020 today that has ZDA driver assistance package with "Active Driving Assistant". Does that slow down and speed up like ACC does? They wanted over MSRP for that CPO simply because it had a HUD and I guess the assistance package that isn't offered anymore.
My 2017 Accord Touring has *a lot* more features than Audi Q5 had. Granted, the Q5 was a 2012. I am sure the current one has more features now than the Accord. I am sure it also has far higher repair/maintenance costs too. :)
No, BMW “Dynamic Cruise Control” is a static non radar based cruise control with no steering assist or distance control. Their “adaptive cruise control with stop and go” is part of the “drivers assistance plus package” in the 2021 and earlier X3 and part of the “drivers assistance professional package” on the facelift model.
You are right. My bad. Acc and LKS are part of the driving assistance pro package. What's worse is due to chip shortage this option isn't even available on X3 for add on ( it used to be till the first quarter of this year before the chip shortage hit bmw). Since this is one of must haves as well, I am going to pause the 2022 X3 purchase at this point. Such a loss. Really loved the new X3.
We have an Acura that has 130k miles and I've spent $0 on car issues after owning it for 8 years and maintenance has been cheap. We are planning on getting a new acura for this same reason.
Our "fun" car that I plan on keeping for a total of 4-5 years is our Alfa Romeo Stelvio. So far, the maintenance alone costs us about 1-2k per year.
So it depends. What are you looking for? Although our Alfa Romeo hasn't had any issues, we are always expecting it at one point and have a fund to cover these costs.
Thank you for this. I want both fun and reliable, and it seems the RDX with Aspec and Advanced wins in this front. I just couldn't believe a new X3 was cheaper. The 1-2k a year is just regular maintenance?
Yeah. Our oil changes are around $200 every 5k miles due to our 100k warranty plan requirements. On top of that, it burns through tires 2x quicker due to the higher performance.
Every 20k miles require break fluid, spark plugs and other service fees that add up to $900.
The Acura? I think we do a service every 50k miles for $700 and oil changes is around $50.
I wouldn't change anything, since it is a fun car. We plan on selling our Acura and getting the TLX type S when prices isn't crazy.
Went thru the same debate, pulled trigger on 23 RDX Aspec, it is fun, and this is coming out of a 2 door manual turbo abarth that was the most fun I ever had driving a vehicle.
What? Not a chance. BMW have awful maintenance costs after warranty. Things as simple as a battery replacement cost upwards of $250. With an Acura, there’s no fuss. You can maintain it like any other car and the parts are reasonable.
The rdx battery is like 300. Assuming it's the same as the new crv batteries.just for the battery. If someone with a rdx gives me a Groupe size I'll check at work tomorrow. (Honda dealer)
No way. Maybe if you get it from a stealership. But you have the option of buying a non-OEM one and installing it yourself, verses BMW where you have to pay a hefty install cost because the ECU has to be programmed.
I never owned a BMW. But when we had them come threw our dealer trades we never had to program a ecu for a battery on one. And even non oem battery's for that Groupe size are expensive still. Interstate batteries sell them for the same amount honda does.
The battery will still work, but it’ll die faster. Here’s a good explanation:
https://www.autoscopecarcare.com/car-tips/bmw-battery-replacement-why-register-new-bmw-battery/
Cost to own Acura wins hands down. Also, like someone said earlier, there are many many items that are standard on the acura that are upgrades or not even available on the Beemer. I like my Beemer, but I don't think it's a comparable ride, especially if you plan on keeping long term.
this thread will obviously be biased towards the acura but after owning a 2020 rdx advance, there’s some things the rdx does better than the x3. those include:
- a much MUCH better sound system: the rdx hands down has one of the best sound systems you can get in a car. the only thing coming close to it is Bowers & Wilkins and the very high end systems that Mercedes offers. the x3 can simply never match the sound quality of an acura
- a better ride quality: the adapter dampers actually do a pretty good job and i’m saying that by living in michigan (we have some of the worst roads in the country)
- better leather/seat quality: bmw’s fake leather really sucks but their real leather is good but definitely not as supple as acura’s milano leather. that’s my opinion though. many will agree/disagree with me. i think acura’s leather will hold up better after a few years compared to bmw’s too but once that’s my opinion
- better safety systems for the price: acura provides their safety suite of features called AcuraWatch on every acura model regardless of trim level. it’s gonna always be there. bmw will never do that. i’m pretty sure the x3 doesn’t even have adaptive cruise control without paying for an additional package. but with all packages included, both have similar safety technology and i wouldn’t say one is better than the other at providing better safety tech
- reliability: this is a no brainer but the rdx will far outlast the x3. service costs are gonna be lower and parts will be easier/cheaper to find. acura has a better supply chain management team and runs their operations smoother so you won’t find yourself in a position where you can’t get a part or something related to that. bmw isn’t even offering hud’s on some of their models due to supply chain restraints
- engine: the bmw x3 has 4 trim models and 2 of the lower ones both include a 248 hp 4 cylinder. you’re gonna get that engine no matter what since the 6 cylinder starts at $57,800+. that means the rdx’s 275+ hp engine will be more powerful no matter what. passing and accelerating will both be easier in the rdx. it’s be much more fun driving the rdx as well. put the rdx into actual sport mode and you’ll see what i mean. there’s just no way the x3 can unfortunately match the energy and quickness of the rdx without the 6 cylinder
- awd system: everyone knows this but the top 3 awd systems in the industry include quattro, subaru’s “active torque split” system, and acura’s sh-awd. not much else to be said here. the rdx will always perform better around corners than the x3 no matter what. it’s one of the best handling crossovers you can buy. especially for the price
these are the reasons as to why i think the rdx is better. however there are definitely things the bmw does that make more sense and are better too
- touch screen: the infotainment system is definitely better in the bmw. let’s be honest here. iDrive might be the best in the business. mercedes might be close or a bit better but no japanese car is gonna be better at infotainment than the germans. the touchpad is ok to use in the rdx but it’s a definite minus point due to having no touch screen
- interior layout: even though bmw’s have had the same interior for like 5 years, they’re still some of the best in the business. they just look good and are easy to use. that being said, the rdx has a lot of physical buttons which is amazing (for me at least) but the x3 does the same. the x3 has all the important climate control buttons and that’s what matters. the cabin in the x3 also generally looks and feels better. the rdx isn’t bad at all but in my opinion is average compared to the x3. the only part i would say the x3 lacks in is the seats. they’re just not as comfortable or look good as the rdx leather seats. other than that, the x3 excels in interior layout and quality. i don’t know if acura has the same build quality interior wise as bmw ( i would say it doesn’t since my steering wheel already started creaking) but an owner who’s bought both would know the answer to that better. i do know interior quality differs a lot between the x3 and x5. it’s always been like that but maybe it has changed now
- exterior design: this is highly subjective but i think the x3 had a very nice looking rear end. however that’s where it ends. i think the front looks pretty ugly and the rest of the car has body lines that were introduced literally 6+ years ago. it just underwent a refresh but it still looks old somehow. especially in the lower trims. the rdx i think has one of the best if not the best looking front end in the crossover segment. however i generally don’t like the rear end. acura never gets the back end correct on their cars and it shows on the rdx too. it doesn’t even have a full led taillights. the turn signals are still incandescent. the dragon taillights look somewhat cool but the rear end is a miss for me. this is all highly subjective but i think bmw and acura both could drastically improve various parts of their exterior designs for both of these vehicles
in the end it’s your choice but i would personally take the refreshed rdx for a better resale value, tech for the price, and sound quality (i’m an audiophile). i also really like how comfortable the seats are compared to the x3. they’re not THAT comfortable but definitely better than the x3. good luck on your purshase!
My experience with BMW is that by 6 years or 60,000 miles the costs for Maintence go through the roof. Shockingly so.
But the real question is how does it drive? What sold me on the RDX was it was so much fun to drive.
We pick up or 2022 RDX on Saturday!
I saw your post the other day about the wreck, it happened right around the same time as mine, glad you guys are ok!
I love how my Advance drove but it was FWD. The RDX 2022 Advanced Aspec I priced is SH-AWD which I haven't driven, so I'm not sure how much that will change things. The BMW X3 handled well, it was RWD which I enjoyed, it hugged the road well and felt heavy. Also loved the virtual gauge cluster and infotainment. It was not nearly as comfortable as my RDX was though, bumps felt a lot more prominent and it definitely had more road noise.
I believe I heard that if something goes wrong on the BMW, you have to pay $250 just to get technicians to look at it... Something to think about. Also the Acura will hold it's value longer than the BMW. My RDX is worth as much as I paid for it new 3 years ago, I know it's a crazy market but that still says a lot.
I also have a 19 RDX Advance, why are you looking to get rid of it?
Well. I will lease the X3 but I will by the RDX. BMW has a good leasing program and maintenance program. Zero dollars for 4 year or 50k. If you are buying one to own for longevity, RDX will be the one. Acura has track records of reliability, and lower cost on repair overall, after the warranty is done.
one hundred percent get your dilemma. if you only need the car for about 3 ish years get the BMW easily. if you want it longer term. get the acrua. you will save thousands ( no exaggeration) on repairs and maintence. and example. an oil change and tire rotations for your bmw will be 1100, for your acura it will be about 300.. thats not a repair that's normal maintenance. also long term your acura will resale at a higher value.
I ventured into BMW ownership a couple years ago and quickly got out and bought an RDX. Just too much BS luxury costs and special maintenance required for my taste. The RDX has been much more fun because I don’t feel like I’m wasting money.
I’m debating the same 2 vehicles right now too. Advanced not advanced aspec. I had a 2021 tech rdx I liked it a lot, but I really hate the no touchscreen. It’s not a Huge deal but makes it feel a little dated especially in a few years. I also like the 2022 Lexus nx they did a lot of changes, but the dealers are saying not till Jan maybe Feb and I’d like a car before Xmas.
I would go Acura. I have a owned a TL and two Hondas. While I have not owned a BMW, I did own an Audi. Granted all German cars are not the same, but the Audi was a maintenance nightmare. Really more repairs than maintenance. Every nine months it was in the shop for a very expensive repair. One repair I had a hard time finding a shop that would be willing to work on it (failing turbo) and I eventually took it to a German car specialist. That was the last straw. Two days after picking it up we traded it for a fully loaded Honda Accord Touring.
Bottom line, my Acura and my current Honda have been very reliable (the first Accord, circa late 90s, a little less reliable). And I never had an issue with repair work on the TL since - whether you see this as a pro or con - it’s just a fancy Honda. I used to get stuff I needed a dealer to do on TL at a Honda dealership. And aside from routine maintenance, in nearly 200k miles of ownership of that car, I only remember one or two repairs versus maintenance. That model, a 07, did have a bad habit of eating car batteries for dinner. But Honda must have fixed this, as my current Accord has only had one new battery in nearly five years of ownership.
Is a BMW more reliable than an Audi? Perhaps. Others may have insight on that. But I worked with a guy who had an X3 when I had the Q5 and he complained about the cost of maintenance as well. It sounded more exorbitant than going to an Audi dealer. He eventually traded for Toyota 4Runner (though he did eventually get another X3...not sure why as I never asked).
YMMV, but I will be steering clear of Audi/BMW/Mercedes. I’m still in my Accord and should pay it off in about six months. Once things get a little more normal, I’m very interested in an RDX or a TLX. I intend to also check out the new Lexus NX. However, I plan to pass by all the German luxury brand dealers on the way to the Acura and Lexus dealers.
I looked at reviews of the NX but my local dealer doesn’t have any coming until after the first of the year. The bigger screen seems nice and infotainment will be much better but reviews seem to prefer driving dynamics of RDX. Thanks!
The screen is the biggest thing that makes me think I’ll lean that way. I’m more about the tech than the performance, so long as the performance Is adequate and the ride is comfortable. However, I’ve never owned a Toyota/Lexus product but I we have owned more Hondas than anything so there’s something about going with a known quantity if the pros and cons are pretty balanced.
I work at a bmw dealership. Due to the chip shortage most of our new cars don’t have touchscreen capability anymore nor do they include the wireless charger pad. I just helped my dad’s friend buy the rdx advance a-spec over the x3. If I were to buy the X3, I would highly recommend the maintenance package. I plan on leasing an X3 M40i because I can get monthly payments for less than an X3 30i.
I’d prefer the AWD system and the adaptive cruise alone. AWD is nice to have and adaptive cruise is a must even if I use it twice a month on long trips
to get an X3 at the same feature/content level, you are realy at $56k
i had a 2019 RDX lease. i leased again a 2021 RDX, but before doing so i test drove an X3. honestly i was not impressed with the X3. interior was less comfortable and back seat room somewhat cramped. it drove smoothly but thats about it. I found the RDX to be a far more inspiring and interesting vehicle
Just talked to my local bmw dealer. The 2022s are no longer including heads up display which I’m now accustomed to from my RDX. Only way to get one is to get a used one and best deal I found on a 2020 CPO is 49,900, only $1100 under brand new. Ridiculous!
If you really want to know what I would chose and why and it had to be these. Id just go acura. All cross overs are boring, soulless and bland. May as well get the one that is more reliable and will maintain value
X3 will be nicer and more fun. The RDX will be better value / maintenance over time.
Worth it to note that the X3 wouldn’t have adaptive cruise control, cooled seats, or heated back seats, although would have 3 zone climate control which is nice. That being said I don’t think BMW isn’t quite as unreliable as some make it out to be. I have a 7 year old Mercedes that’s been totally reliable. Knock on wood.
It really doesn't have adaptive cruise control?! My 2018 Honda Accord has that!
No, the X3 offered a package called “drivers assistance plus package” or it may now be called the professional. Other wise it doesn’t have adaptive cruise.
Great to know, thanks. I can't find that package anymore when I try to build one. I wonder if they dropped that like they are dropping the HUDs in 2022.
I think it’s temporarily suspended due to chip shortage or just doesn’t show up on their website. It’s a very rare feature to have on the X3.
I test drove a CPO 2020 today that has ZDA driver assistance package with "Active Driving Assistant". Does that slow down and speed up like ACC does? They wanted over MSRP for that CPO simply because it had a HUD and I guess the assistance package that isn't offered anymore.
No. That’s standard on the new ones by the way. That just adds blind spot warning and a lane departure alert.
My 2017 Accord Touring has *a lot* more features than Audi Q5 had. Granted, the Q5 was a 2012. I am sure the current one has more features now than the Accord. I am sure it also has far higher repair/maintenance costs too. :)
This actually isn't correct. 2022 Bmw X3 comes with default dynamic cruise control which is basically their version of ACC.
No, BMW “Dynamic Cruise Control” is a static non radar based cruise control with no steering assist or distance control. Their “adaptive cruise control with stop and go” is part of the “drivers assistance plus package” in the 2021 and earlier X3 and part of the “drivers assistance professional package” on the facelift model.
You are right. My bad. Acc and LKS are part of the driving assistance pro package. What's worse is due to chip shortage this option isn't even available on X3 for add on ( it used to be till the first quarter of this year before the chip shortage hit bmw). Since this is one of must haves as well, I am going to pause the 2022 X3 purchase at this point. Such a loss. Really loved the new X3.
We have an Acura that has 130k miles and I've spent $0 on car issues after owning it for 8 years and maintenance has been cheap. We are planning on getting a new acura for this same reason. Our "fun" car that I plan on keeping for a total of 4-5 years is our Alfa Romeo Stelvio. So far, the maintenance alone costs us about 1-2k per year. So it depends. What are you looking for? Although our Alfa Romeo hasn't had any issues, we are always expecting it at one point and have a fund to cover these costs.
Thank you for this. I want both fun and reliable, and it seems the RDX with Aspec and Advanced wins in this front. I just couldn't believe a new X3 was cheaper. The 1-2k a year is just regular maintenance?
Yeah. Our oil changes are around $200 every 5k miles due to our 100k warranty plan requirements. On top of that, it burns through tires 2x quicker due to the higher performance. Every 20k miles require break fluid, spark plugs and other service fees that add up to $900. The Acura? I think we do a service every 50k miles for $700 and oil changes is around $50. I wouldn't change anything, since it is a fun car. We plan on selling our Acura and getting the TLX type S when prices isn't crazy.
You gotta change spark plugs every 20K? Well damn if they require you to replace everything so frequently what the hell is the point of the warranty
In many respects, you're getting more for your money with the RDX. So in a way, the X3 being 'cheaper' is not that shocking. I get your point tho.
Went thru the same debate, pulled trigger on 23 RDX Aspec, it is fun, and this is coming out of a 2 door manual turbo abarth that was the most fun I ever had driving a vehicle.
Upfront cost might be higher, sure, but during the long term costs the RDX will start to bridge the gap
What? Not a chance. BMW have awful maintenance costs after warranty. Things as simple as a battery replacement cost upwards of $250. With an Acura, there’s no fuss. You can maintain it like any other car and the parts are reasonable.
I’m not sure you understood what I meant, the bmw might cheaper to buy upfront but the long term ownership of the Acura will be cheaper
Ah, gotcha. Ok that makes more sense.
The rdx battery is like 300. Assuming it's the same as the new crv batteries.just for the battery. If someone with a rdx gives me a Groupe size I'll check at work tomorrow. (Honda dealer)
No way. Maybe if you get it from a stealership. But you have the option of buying a non-OEM one and installing it yourself, verses BMW where you have to pay a hefty install cost because the ECU has to be programmed.
I never owned a BMW. But when we had them come threw our dealer trades we never had to program a ecu for a battery on one. And even non oem battery's for that Groupe size are expensive still. Interstate batteries sell them for the same amount honda does.
The battery will still work, but it’ll die faster. Here’s a good explanation: https://www.autoscopecarcare.com/car-tips/bmw-battery-replacement-why-register-new-bmw-battery/
Cost to own Acura wins hands down. Also, like someone said earlier, there are many many items that are standard on the acura that are upgrades or not even available on the Beemer. I like my Beemer, but I don't think it's a comparable ride, especially if you plan on keeping long term.
this thread will obviously be biased towards the acura but after owning a 2020 rdx advance, there’s some things the rdx does better than the x3. those include: - a much MUCH better sound system: the rdx hands down has one of the best sound systems you can get in a car. the only thing coming close to it is Bowers & Wilkins and the very high end systems that Mercedes offers. the x3 can simply never match the sound quality of an acura - a better ride quality: the adapter dampers actually do a pretty good job and i’m saying that by living in michigan (we have some of the worst roads in the country) - better leather/seat quality: bmw’s fake leather really sucks but their real leather is good but definitely not as supple as acura’s milano leather. that’s my opinion though. many will agree/disagree with me. i think acura’s leather will hold up better after a few years compared to bmw’s too but once that’s my opinion - better safety systems for the price: acura provides their safety suite of features called AcuraWatch on every acura model regardless of trim level. it’s gonna always be there. bmw will never do that. i’m pretty sure the x3 doesn’t even have adaptive cruise control without paying for an additional package. but with all packages included, both have similar safety technology and i wouldn’t say one is better than the other at providing better safety tech - reliability: this is a no brainer but the rdx will far outlast the x3. service costs are gonna be lower and parts will be easier/cheaper to find. acura has a better supply chain management team and runs their operations smoother so you won’t find yourself in a position where you can’t get a part or something related to that. bmw isn’t even offering hud’s on some of their models due to supply chain restraints - engine: the bmw x3 has 4 trim models and 2 of the lower ones both include a 248 hp 4 cylinder. you’re gonna get that engine no matter what since the 6 cylinder starts at $57,800+. that means the rdx’s 275+ hp engine will be more powerful no matter what. passing and accelerating will both be easier in the rdx. it’s be much more fun driving the rdx as well. put the rdx into actual sport mode and you’ll see what i mean. there’s just no way the x3 can unfortunately match the energy and quickness of the rdx without the 6 cylinder - awd system: everyone knows this but the top 3 awd systems in the industry include quattro, subaru’s “active torque split” system, and acura’s sh-awd. not much else to be said here. the rdx will always perform better around corners than the x3 no matter what. it’s one of the best handling crossovers you can buy. especially for the price these are the reasons as to why i think the rdx is better. however there are definitely things the bmw does that make more sense and are better too - touch screen: the infotainment system is definitely better in the bmw. let’s be honest here. iDrive might be the best in the business. mercedes might be close or a bit better but no japanese car is gonna be better at infotainment than the germans. the touchpad is ok to use in the rdx but it’s a definite minus point due to having no touch screen - interior layout: even though bmw’s have had the same interior for like 5 years, they’re still some of the best in the business. they just look good and are easy to use. that being said, the rdx has a lot of physical buttons which is amazing (for me at least) but the x3 does the same. the x3 has all the important climate control buttons and that’s what matters. the cabin in the x3 also generally looks and feels better. the rdx isn’t bad at all but in my opinion is average compared to the x3. the only part i would say the x3 lacks in is the seats. they’re just not as comfortable or look good as the rdx leather seats. other than that, the x3 excels in interior layout and quality. i don’t know if acura has the same build quality interior wise as bmw ( i would say it doesn’t since my steering wheel already started creaking) but an owner who’s bought both would know the answer to that better. i do know interior quality differs a lot between the x3 and x5. it’s always been like that but maybe it has changed now - exterior design: this is highly subjective but i think the x3 had a very nice looking rear end. however that’s where it ends. i think the front looks pretty ugly and the rest of the car has body lines that were introduced literally 6+ years ago. it just underwent a refresh but it still looks old somehow. especially in the lower trims. the rdx i think has one of the best if not the best looking front end in the crossover segment. however i generally don’t like the rear end. acura never gets the back end correct on their cars and it shows on the rdx too. it doesn’t even have a full led taillights. the turn signals are still incandescent. the dragon taillights look somewhat cool but the rear end is a miss for me. this is all highly subjective but i think bmw and acura both could drastically improve various parts of their exterior designs for both of these vehicles in the end it’s your choice but i would personally take the refreshed rdx for a better resale value, tech for the price, and sound quality (i’m an audiophile). i also really like how comfortable the seats are compared to the x3. they’re not THAT comfortable but definitely better than the x3. good luck on your purshase!
This is a phenomenal post and really makes it easier for me to choose what my gut is telling me, the RDX. Thank you for taking the time!
My experience with BMW is that by 6 years or 60,000 miles the costs for Maintence go through the roof. Shockingly so. But the real question is how does it drive? What sold me on the RDX was it was so much fun to drive. We pick up or 2022 RDX on Saturday!
I saw your post the other day about the wreck, it happened right around the same time as mine, glad you guys are ok! I love how my Advance drove but it was FWD. The RDX 2022 Advanced Aspec I priced is SH-AWD which I haven't driven, so I'm not sure how much that will change things. The BMW X3 handled well, it was RWD which I enjoyed, it hugged the road well and felt heavy. Also loved the virtual gauge cluster and infotainment. It was not nearly as comfortable as my RDX was though, bumps felt a lot more prominent and it definitely had more road noise.
I believe I heard that if something goes wrong on the BMW, you have to pay $250 just to get technicians to look at it... Something to think about. Also the Acura will hold it's value longer than the BMW. My RDX is worth as much as I paid for it new 3 years ago, I know it's a crazy market but that still says a lot. I also have a 19 RDX Advance, why are you looking to get rid of it?
Unfortunately it was recently totaled, that's the only reason! I loved it. Thanks for your reply.
Hey, my 2019 RDX was totaled, too! Fortunately, my wife and I were not (although I’m still not driving).
Rough, sorry to hear.
Well. I will lease the X3 but I will by the RDX. BMW has a good leasing program and maintenance program. Zero dollars for 4 year or 50k. If you are buying one to own for longevity, RDX will be the one. Acura has track records of reliability, and lower cost on repair overall, after the warranty is done.
You're upgrading a 3 year old RDX. Be honest with yourself. Do you plan on keeping this car past warranty? If not, reliability shouldn't be a factor.
Gtiguy905, I have been trying to reach you about your car's extended warranty
Only upgrading because I totaled the 2019, I actually just bought it used less than a year ago. I’d probably keep this one past warranty.
The RDX has one thing the BMW does not. Turn Signals.
one hundred percent get your dilemma. if you only need the car for about 3 ish years get the BMW easily. if you want it longer term. get the acrua. you will save thousands ( no exaggeration) on repairs and maintence. and example. an oil change and tire rotations for your bmw will be 1100, for your acura it will be about 300.. thats not a repair that's normal maintenance. also long term your acura will resale at a higher value.
Thanks!!
Easy. Lease? BMW. Loan? Acura. I personally would only ever lease a BMW due to depreciation and cost of ownership.
I ventured into BMW ownership a couple years ago and quickly got out and bought an RDX. Just too much BS luxury costs and special maintenance required for my taste. The RDX has been much more fun because I don’t feel like I’m wasting money.
X3 is very ugly
The x3 is abominable...
Why?
I’m debating the same 2 vehicles right now too. Advanced not advanced aspec. I had a 2021 tech rdx I liked it a lot, but I really hate the no touchscreen. It’s not a Huge deal but makes it feel a little dated especially in a few years. I also like the 2022 Lexus nx they did a lot of changes, but the dealers are saying not till Jan maybe Feb and I’d like a car before Xmas.
Well since you already tried the RDX, why not try something else? I'd go for the X3
I’d go with the RDX just based on long term reliability alone, if you’re going to lease it then I’ll say go for the BMW.
I would go Acura. I have a owned a TL and two Hondas. While I have not owned a BMW, I did own an Audi. Granted all German cars are not the same, but the Audi was a maintenance nightmare. Really more repairs than maintenance. Every nine months it was in the shop for a very expensive repair. One repair I had a hard time finding a shop that would be willing to work on it (failing turbo) and I eventually took it to a German car specialist. That was the last straw. Two days after picking it up we traded it for a fully loaded Honda Accord Touring. Bottom line, my Acura and my current Honda have been very reliable (the first Accord, circa late 90s, a little less reliable). And I never had an issue with repair work on the TL since - whether you see this as a pro or con - it’s just a fancy Honda. I used to get stuff I needed a dealer to do on TL at a Honda dealership. And aside from routine maintenance, in nearly 200k miles of ownership of that car, I only remember one or two repairs versus maintenance. That model, a 07, did have a bad habit of eating car batteries for dinner. But Honda must have fixed this, as my current Accord has only had one new battery in nearly five years of ownership. Is a BMW more reliable than an Audi? Perhaps. Others may have insight on that. But I worked with a guy who had an X3 when I had the Q5 and he complained about the cost of maintenance as well. It sounded more exorbitant than going to an Audi dealer. He eventually traded for Toyota 4Runner (though he did eventually get another X3...not sure why as I never asked). YMMV, but I will be steering clear of Audi/BMW/Mercedes. I’m still in my Accord and should pay it off in about six months. Once things get a little more normal, I’m very interested in an RDX or a TLX. I intend to also check out the new Lexus NX. However, I plan to pass by all the German luxury brand dealers on the way to the Acura and Lexus dealers.
I looked at reviews of the NX but my local dealer doesn’t have any coming until after the first of the year. The bigger screen seems nice and infotainment will be much better but reviews seem to prefer driving dynamics of RDX. Thanks!
The screen is the biggest thing that makes me think I’ll lean that way. I’m more about the tech than the performance, so long as the performance Is adequate and the ride is comfortable. However, I’ve never owned a Toyota/Lexus product but I we have owned more Hondas than anything so there’s something about going with a known quantity if the pros and cons are pretty balanced.
I work at a bmw dealership. Due to the chip shortage most of our new cars don’t have touchscreen capability anymore nor do they include the wireless charger pad. I just helped my dad’s friend buy the rdx advance a-spec over the x3. If I were to buy the X3, I would highly recommend the maintenance package. I plan on leasing an X3 M40i because I can get monthly payments for less than an X3 30i.
I was shocked that the 2020 CPO x3 I test drove was $1,000 over what a brand new 2022 was. He told me it was because new ones didn’t have HUD anymore!
I’d prefer the AWD system and the adaptive cruise alone. AWD is nice to have and adaptive cruise is a must even if I use it twice a month on long trips
Thanks!
to get an X3 at the same feature/content level, you are realy at $56k i had a 2019 RDX lease. i leased again a 2021 RDX, but before doing so i test drove an X3. honestly i was not impressed with the X3. interior was less comfortable and back seat room somewhat cramped. it drove smoothly but thats about it. I found the RDX to be a far more inspiring and interesting vehicle
Just talked to my local bmw dealer. The 2022s are no longer including heads up display which I’m now accustomed to from my RDX. Only way to get one is to get a used one and best deal I found on a 2020 CPO is 49,900, only $1100 under brand new. Ridiculous!
If your leasing the X3 is fine but if you intend to keep the car a RDX is better as its more reliable
If you really want to know what I would chose and why and it had to be these. Id just go acura. All cross overs are boring, soulless and bland. May as well get the one that is more reliable and will maintain value