Who Has the Better Interior: The X3 or the RX 350?

The BMW X3 and the Lexus RX 350 both come with synthetic leather upholstery. You can also opt for real leather if you're looking for a more luxurious touch.

The X3 may be able to keep your passengers more comfortable, thanks to its standard automatic 3-zone climate control. The RX 350 only comes standard with dual-zone automatic climate control.

Both luxury SUVs come with intuitive infotainment systems that will keep you connected on the go. They share the following features:

• Bluetooth®
• Apple CarPlay™
• Touchpad Controller
• Wi-Fi Hotspot
• Voice Control

When your favorite song comes on, you will want to be in the BMW X3. It can be outfitted with a 16-speaker Harman Kardon® surround sound system. The available Mark Levinson® premium surround sound audio system in the Lexus RX 350 only comes with 15 speakers.

Innovative Safety

Luxury vehicles have always stood on the forefront of automotive safety, and the BMW X3 and the Lexus RX 350 are no exception. They come with advanced safety suites. The Active Driving Assistant, standard on the X3, includes:

• Frontal Collision Warning
• Active Blind Spot Detection
• Lane Departure Warning

The Lexus Safety System+ 2.0 equips very similar features to the Lexus RX 350, but you will only get the Active Protection System with the BMW X3. When this standard system detects an imminent collision, it prepares the vehicle by automatically tightening the seat belts, closing the windows, and activating post-crash braking.

In a crowded parking lot, you will have the confidence that comes with a surround-view camera. This technology-available with both luxury SUVs-will give you a better view of what is around your vehicle, so you can maneuver into tight spots with ease.

BMW X3 vs Lexus RX 350: Performance

If you're looking for efficiency and energetic performance, the BMW X3 has the advantage in both categories. Its 2.0L TwinPower Turbo inline 4-cylinder engine can take you from 0 to 60 MPH in just 6 seconds. It takes the 3.5L V6 of the RX 350 a full 7.7 seconds to reach the same speed.

The BMW X3 also achieves an EPA-estimated 25 city/29 highway MPG with the help of its standard 8-speed Sport automatic transmission. The Lexus RX 350 also comes with an 8-speed automatic transmission, but it can only manage an EPA-estimated 20 city/27 highway MPG.

Both SUVs come with selectable drive modes, so you can dial in your drive. Whether you're looking for enhanced fuel economy or more excitement, there's a drive mode to suit your needs.