When you’re looking to give your Destin, Panama City, and Fort Walton Beach, FL, travels an upgrade, why not purchase a luxury SUV to help give your commutes the boost you need? Two popular SUVs—the BMW X3 and Lexus RX 350—provide the features needed, so which will you choose?
To help you decide, we at BMW of Fort Walton Beach have created this BMW X3 vs. Lexus RX 350 review. Ready to learn more? Keep reading!
Choose the BMW X3 if you want a sportier drive, standard all-wheel drive, quicker acceleration, and more cargo room — it is the more engaging, more tech-forward SUV. Choose the Lexus RX 350 if a quiet, comfort-first ride and Lexus’s reliability reputation matter most, and you are comfortable paying extra for all-wheel drive. For most Fort Walton Beach drivers who want performance and standard AWD in a compact luxury SUV, the X3 is the pick.
| Feature | 2026 BMW X3 30 xDrive | 2026 Lexus RX 350 |
|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP | ~$51,300 | ~$51,225 |
| Engine | 2.0L turbo I4 + 48V mild hybrid | 2.4L turbo I4 |
| Horsepower | 255 hp | 275 hp |
| Torque | 295 lb-ft | 317 lb-ft |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic | 8-speed automatic |
| Drivetrain | Standard AWD (xDrive) | FWD standard, AWD optional |
| 0–60 mph | ~6.0 sec | ~7.0 sec |
| Fuel economy (combined) | up to 29 mpg | up to 25 mpg (FWD) |
| Cargo behind rear seats | 31.5 cu ft | 29.6 cu ft |
| Max cargo (seats folded) | 67.1 cu ft | ~46.2 cu ft |
| Infotainment | BMW Curved Display, iDrive 9 | 9.8″ std / 14″ available |
| Basic warranty | 4 yr / 50,000 mi | 4 yr / 50,000 mi |
| Seating | 5 | 5 |
Pricing and specifications are manufacturer estimates and vary by configuration; confirm current figures with our sales team.
While many drivers know that driving a luxury SUV means access to premium amenities, it’s less known that these SUVs are equipped with powerful performance capabilities that are sure to excite your senses.
Take the 3.5L V6 engine of the Lexus RX 350, for example. It pumps out 295 horsepower and 268 lb-ft of torque, allowing you to go from zero to 60 MPH in just 7.7 seconds.
The X3 comes standard with a 2.0L BMW TwinPower Turbo engine that produces slightly less power. However, you can equip this SUV with a more powerful 3.0L BMW M TwinPower Turbo engine. With this optional engine fueling your commutes, you now have 382 horsepower and 368 lb-ft of torque fueling your travels.
Also, with this optional engine on board, you can whizz past the RX 350, thanks to its ability to go from zero to 60 MPH in just 4.4 seconds.
Learn more about the power offered with the X3 in our BMW X3 vs. Mercedes-Benz GLA review!
Load up the whole family and hit the road for your next family road trip. Everyone can stay entertained, thanks to the variety of available built-in entertainment features, like Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto.
Once you’ve connected your smartphone, play your favorite songs you have saved to your phone through the built-in speaker system. However, X3 drivers may have an easier time selecting the songs they want to hear, thanks to these extra features…
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BMW X3 vs Lexus RX 350 Entertainment Features |
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|
Vehicle |
X3 |
RX 350 |
|
Screen Size |
10.25 inches |
8 inches |
|
Number of Speakers |
12 |
9 |
The X3 also comes standard with Navigation and Real Time Traffic updates—features that are only optional with the RX 350.
Want to learn more about the technology features offered with the X3? Click now to read through our BMW X3 vs. Acura RDX review!
Being luxury SUVs, you have a variety of premium amenities at your fingertips. For example, the BMW and Lexus models come standard with synthetic leather-trimmed upholstery. Both vehicles also have the option of upgrading to available leather-trimmed upholstery.
Another benefit to driving an SUV like the 2021 X3 or 2021 RX 350 is customizable climate settings. With the RX 350, you get dual-zone climate control, giving you and your front-seat passenger the freedom to select your preferred temperature—even if they don’t match up.
Taking comfort one step further, the X3 comes standard with Automatic 3-zone Climate Control, giving the freedom to customize the temperature settings to you, your front-seat passenger, and the rear-seat passengers for an even more fine-tuned climate experience.
The X3 is full of premium comfort and convenience features. Learn more by reading our BMW X3 vs. Mercedes-Benz GLC review!
On paper the two are close on price, but they are built for different drivers. The X3 comes standard with all-wheel drive, gets to 60 mph about a second quicker, returns better fuel economy, and swallows more cargo with the seats folded — it is the choice if you want the SUV to feel engaging to drive. The RX 350 counters with slightly more horsepower and torque, a famously quiet cabin, and Lexus’s reliability reputation, though all-wheel drive is a paid option rather than standard. If you cross-shop them in person, the X3’s standard AWD and driving character are what usually settle it.
See every new BMW X3 in stock, or compare more BMW rivalries.
It depends on priorities. The X3 offers standard all-wheel drive, quicker acceleration, better fuel economy, and more maximum cargo space, and it is the sportier SUV to drive. The RX 350 offers slightly more horsepower and torque and a quieter, comfort-first cabin, with all-wheel drive as an option. Drivers who want performance and standard AWD tend to prefer the X3.
Yes. The X3 30 xDrive comes standard with BMW’s xDrive all-wheel drive. On the Lexus RX 350, front-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive is an added-cost option.
The 2026 BMW X3 30 xDrive is rated up to about 29 mpg combined, ahead of the RX 350’s roughly 25 mpg combined in front-wheel drive. For maximum efficiency, Lexus also offers a separate RX hybrid.
The bottom line: for most Fort Walton Beach drivers who want performance and standard all-wheel drive in a compact luxury SUV, the BMW X3 is the pick. If a quiet, comfort-first ride matters most, the Lexus RX 350 is worth a look.
