Comparison: Ground clearance BMW X3 vs. competitors 2024

Ground clearance is the distance between the lowest point on a BMW X3's undercarriage and the ground.It is an important factor to consider when driving off-road or in areas with rough terrain, as a higher ground clearance allows this to clear obstacles more easily.With it’s wheelbase of 2865 mm and height of 1660 mm, the BMW X3 has a ground clearance of 216 mm. The highest ground clearance you can find amongst similar vehicles has Mercedes-Benz GL 320 CDI (X164 ), which is 91 mm more than the X3 20d - 307 mm.To give an example, the Mercedes-Benz has a 91 mm higher ground clearance compared to the BMW , giving the Mercedes-Benz an advantage in this aspect. On the other hand, the worst ground clearance in the "medium SUV" category is the Mercedes-Benz GLC 220 d , which is 123 mm - that makes it 93 mm less than the BMW in question.Height-wise, the BMW outperforms the rival by 21 mm.
Table of contents:

BMW X3 - How has the ground clearance changed over the generations?

BMW X3 generations

(Ground clearance)
BMW X3 generations
Generation yearGround clearance
X3, Model year 2004 (E83)0 mm
X3, Model year 2006 (E83 (1. Facelift))201 mm
X3, Model year 2010 (F25)212 mm
X3, Model year 2014 (F25 (1. Facelift))204 mm
X3, Model year 2017 (G01/F97)204 mm
X3, Model year 2021 (X3 G01/F97 (1. Facelift))204 mm
X3, Model year 2024 (X3 G45)216 mm
1. X3, Model year 2004 (E83) ? mm
2. X3, Model year 2006 (E83 (1. Facelift)) 201 mm
3. X3, Model year 2010 (F25) 212 mm
4. X3, Model year 2014 (F25 (1. Facelift)) 204 mm
5. X3, Model year 2017 (G01/F97) 204 mm
6. X3, Model year 2021 (X3 G01/F97 (1. Facelift)) 204 mm
7. X3, Model year 2024 (X3 G45) 216 mm
The difference in Ground clearance between first generation (E83) from 2004 and last generation (X3 G45) from 2024 is 21.6cm mm.
The ground clearance of the current generation of X3 is 216 mm.

The ground clearance compared to other BMW models

BMW X3 vs other current cars by BMW

(Ground clearance)
Ground clearance: X3 vs. other models by BMW
Variant nameGround clearance
4{series} M4 CSL Coupé 113 mm
Z4 M Performance Roadster 114 mm
Z4 Roadster 117 mm
8{series} Cabrio 118 mm
5{series} M5 CS Limousine 119 mm
3{series} M3 CS Limousine 119 mm
3{series} M3 Limousine 120 mm
4{series} M4 Coupé 120 mm
8{series} Coupé 121 mm
4{series} M4 Cabrio 121 mm
3{series} M3 Touring 122 mm
2{series} M2 Coupé 123 mm
4{series} Cabrio 124 mm
8{series} M Performance Cabrio 125 mm
i4 125 mm
i4 M Performance 125 mm
4{series} M Performance Cabrio 126 mm
8{series} M8 Cabrio 127 mm
4{series} Coupé 127 mm
8{series} Gran Coupé 128 mm
8{series} M Performance Coupé 128 mm
8{series} M Performance Gran Coupé 128 mm
2{series} M Performance Coupé 128 mm
4{series} M Performance Coupé 129 mm
8{series} M8 Coupé 130 mm
8{series} M8 Gran Coupé 130 mm
3{series} M Performance Limousine 130 mm
3{series} M Performance Touring 130 mm
2{series} M Performance Cabrio 130 mm
5{series} M Performance Limousine 131 mm
5{series} M5 Limousine 132 mm
i7 136 mm
i7 M Performance 136 mm
i5 M Performance Limousine 136 mm
7{series} 136 mm
7{series} M Performance 136 mm
i5 M Performance Touring 137 mm
6{series} GT 138 mm
5{series} Touring 140 mm
3{series} Limousine 140 mm
3{series} Touring 140 mm
4{series} Gran Coupé 140 mm
4{series} M Performance Gran Coupé 140 mm
2{series} Coupé 140 mm
2{series} Cabrio 140 mm
5{series} Limousine 144 mm
i5 Limousine 146 mm
i5 Touring 147 mm
1{series} 153 mm
1{series} M Performance 153 mm
iX2 167 mm
iX1 170 mm
2{series} Active Tourer 171 mm
iX3 179 mm
X2 182 mm
X1 M Performance 189 mm
iX 203 mm
iX M Performance 203 mm
X3 204 mm
X3 M 204 mm
X3 M Performance 204 mm
X4 204 mm
X4 M 204 mm
X4 M Performance 204 mm
X1 205 mm
X5 M 212 mm
X6 M 212 mm
X5 214 mm
X5 M Performance 214 mm
X6 216 mm
X6 M Performance 216 mm
X7 221 mm
X7 M Performance 221 mm
1. 4{series} M4 CSL Coupé 113 mm
2. Z4 M Performance Roadster 114 mm
3. Z4 Roadster 117 mm
4. 8{series} Cabrio 118 mm
5. 5{series} M5 CS Limousine 119 mm
6. 3{series} M3 CS Limousine 119 mm
7. 3{series} M3 Limousine 120 mm
8. 4{series} M4 Coupé 120 mm
9. 8{series} Coupé 121 mm
10. 4{series} M4 Cabrio 121 mm
11. 3{series} M3 Touring 122 mm
12. 2{series} M2 Coupé 123 mm
13. 4{series} Cabrio 124 mm
14. 8{series} M Performance Cabrio 125 mm
15. i4 125 mm
16. i4 M Performance 125 mm
17. 4{series} M Performance Cabrio 126 mm
18. 8{series} M8 Cabrio 127 mm
19. 4{series} Coupé 127 mm
20. 8{series} Gran Coupé 128 mm
21. 8{series} M Performance Coupé 128 mm
22. 8{series} M Performance Gran Coupé 128 mm
23. 2{series} M Performance Coupé 128 mm
24. 4{series} M Performance Coupé 129 mm
25. 8{series} M8 Coupé 130 mm
26. 8{series} M8 Gran Coupé 130 mm
27. 3{series} M Performance Limousine 130 mm
28. 3{series} M Performance Touring 130 mm
29. 2{series} M Performance Cabrio 130 mm
30. 5{series} M Performance Limousine 131 mm
31. 5{series} M5 Limousine 132 mm
32. i7 136 mm
33. i7 M Performance 136 mm
34. i5 M Performance Limousine 136 mm
35. 7{series} 136 mm
36. 7{series} M Performance 136 mm
37. i5 M Performance Touring 137 mm
38. 6{series} GT 138 mm
39. 5{series} Touring 140 mm
40. 3{series} Limousine 140 mm
41. 3{series} Touring 140 mm
42. 4{series} Gran Coupé 140 mm
43. 4{series} M Performance Gran Coupé 140 mm
44. 2{series} Coupé 140 mm
45. 2{series} Cabrio 140 mm
46. 5{series} Limousine 144 mm
47. i5 Limousine 146 mm
48. i5 Touring 147 mm
49. 1{series} 153 mm
50. 1{series} M Performance 153 mm
51. iX2 167 mm
52. iX1 170 mm
53. 2{series} Active Tourer 171 mm
54. iX3 179 mm
55. X2 182 mm
56. X1 M Performance 189 mm
57. iX 203 mm
58. iX M Performance 203 mm
59. X3 204 mm
60. X3 M 204 mm
61. X3 M Performance 204 mm
62. X4 204 mm
63. X4 M 204 mm
64. X4 M Performance 204 mm
65. X1 205 mm
66. X5 M 212 mm
67. X6 M 212 mm
68. X5 214 mm
69. X5 M Performance 214 mm
70. X6 216 mm
71. X6 M Performance 216 mm
72. X7 221 mm
73. X7 M Performance 221 mm

How does the ground clearance of the BMW X3 compare to it's nearest competitors?

BMW X3 vs. similar cars

(Ground clearance)
Ground clearance: BMW X3 vs. similar cars
Car modelGround clearance
Mercedes-Benz GL-Klasse 2006307 mm
Audi Q8 2018245 mm
Volvo XC60 2008230 mm
BMW X3 2024216 mm
ALPINA XD3 2013212 mm
Subaru Solterra 2022210 mm
ALPINA XD4 2018204 mm
Jaguar E-Pace 2018204 mm
Infiniti QX30 2016202 mm
Hyundai Tucson 2004195 mm
SsangYong Actyon 2006189 mm
Ford Kuga 2008188 mm
Renault Koleos 2008188 mm
Hyundai ix55 2009185 mm
Hyundai Grand Santa Fe 2013180 mm
Dodge Nitro 2007180 mm
SsangYong Korando 2011180 mm
Citroen C-Crosser 2007174 mm
Peugeot 4008 2012168 mm
Ford Edge 2016152 mm
Mercedes-Benz GLB 2019135 mm
Mercedes-Benz GLC 2015123 mm
1. Mercedes-Benz GL-Klasse 2006 307 mm
2. Audi Q8 2018 245 mm
3. Volvo XC60 2008 230 mm
4. BMW X3 2024 216 mm
5. ALPINA XD3 2013 212 mm
6. Subaru Solterra 2022 210 mm
7. ALPINA XD4 2018 204 mm
8. Jaguar E-Pace 2018 204 mm
9. Infiniti QX30 2016 202 mm
10. Hyundai Tucson 2004 195 mm
11. SsangYong Actyon 2006 189 mm
12. Ford Kuga 2008 188 mm
13. Renault Koleos 2008 188 mm
14. Hyundai ix55 2009 185 mm
15. Hyundai Grand Santa Fe 2013 180 mm
16. Dodge Nitro 2007 180 mm
17. SsangYong Korando 2011 180 mm
18. Citroen C-Crosser 2007 174 mm
19. Peugeot 4008 2012 168 mm
20. Ford Edge 2016 152 mm
21. Mercedes-Benz GLB 2019 135 mm
22. Mercedes-Benz GLC 2015 123 mm

Similar cars

Audi Q5
Ground clearance:
-4% (208 mm)


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ALPINA XD3
Ground clearance:
-6% (204 mm)


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ALPINA XD4
Ground clearance:
-6% (204 mm)


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Cadillac XT4
Ground clearance:
-100% (0 mm)


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Audi Q7
Ground clearance:
+13% (245 mm)


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Audi Q8
Ground clearance:
+13% (245 mm)


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Volvo XC90
Ground clearance:
+24% (267 mm)


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Jaguar F-Pace
Ground clearance:
-1% (213 mm)


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