A proper head-to-head in South Africa — compare price, performance,
fuel economy or electric range, safety and the details that shape long-term ownership.
X3 holds a noticeable catalogue-index lead over B40 Plus.
B40 Plus starts ZAR 365,000 cheaperB40 Plus from ZAR 699,500 · X3 from ZAR 1,064,500
Five key differences
Exact selected derivatives
Swipe sideways to compare every column
Specification
B40 Plus
X3
Maximum Power
B40 Plus165 kW @ 5500 rpm
X3293 kW
Maximum Torque
B40 Plus380 Nm @ 1750-4500 rpm
X3540 Nm @ 1900-4800 rpm
Engine Size
B40 Plus1998 cc
X32998 cc
Combined Fuel Economy
B40 Plus9.0 km/l
X312.5 km/l
Ground Clearance
B40 Plus210 mm
X3190 mm
Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.
Independent editorial assessment
Hagalu editorial ratings
When a variant is selected, its rating out of five applies only to that exact derivative; a model-range review is not inherited. Editorial ratings are separate from the Specification Evidence Index out of 100 and are not customer ratings.
BAIC B40 Plus
Honor Edition
Hagalu editorial rating
4.0/5★★★★★★★★★★
Desk research · Exact variant
Hagalu Editorial Team ·
Editorial assessment, not a customer rating. Not road-tested for this review.
Not yet rated means a complete review is not published; it does not mean the vehicle scored zero. Read the rating methodology.
What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)
B40 Plus
Strengths
Nothing stands out clearly here.
Weak Spots
Less powerful engine setup
Lower fuel efficiency
Fewer listed safety features
Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to:General Use
Specification evidence leader
X3
Strengths
More powerful engine output
Better fuel efficiency
Stronger listed safety equipment
Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
No obvious weak spots to flag.
Best suited to:Published PerformancePublished EfficiencyPublished Practicality
Which One's Right for You?
B40 Plus
Buyers who prefer this derivative's confirmed specification mix
X3
Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures
Full Specs, Side by Side
Open a category, then swipe sideways to compare every column
Spec
B40 Plus
X3
Model Introduced Year
2021
2024
Generation
Current B40 Plus Honor Edition within the locally served first B40 Plus generation, using body-on-frame construction and an electronic part-time 4WD system.
Fourth-generation G45 BMW X3, produced at BMW Plant Rosslyn for South Africa and export markets.
Facelift History
The B40 Plus launched in South Africa in October 2021. The current Honor Edition debuted locally in May 2025, adding electric seat adjustment and a sunroof to the City Hunter-based specification; BAIC now presents it as the sole current B40 Plus derivative.
G45 is the current fourth-generation X3 and the South African launch version; no local facelift has been announced.
Facelift Launched Since
2025
Original current-generation version
Facelift Version Ending
Current
Current
Body Style
Five-door body-on-frame off-road SUV
SUV
Model Year
2021
2026
Production Status
active
active
Segment
Off-road SUV
Premium SUV
Vehicle Type
SUV
Car
Spec
B40 Plus
X3
Length
4630 mm
4755 mm
Width
1925 mm
1920 mm
Height
1871 mm
1660 mm
Wheelbase
2745 mm
2865 mm
Ground Clearance (Default)
210 mm
190 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load)
190 mm
170 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity
75 l
65 l
Boot/Cargo Space
532 l
570 l
Kerb Weight
2110 kg
2055 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW)
2535 kg
2625 kg
Payload Capacity
425 kg
645 kg
Towing Capacity
1500 kg
2500 kg
Seating Capacity
5 seats
5 seats
Number of Rows
2 rows
2 rows
Doors
5 doors
5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius
Not Officially Disclosed
5.8 m
Front Headroom
1010 mm
1014 mm
Rear Headroom
1000 mm
982 mm
Front Legroom
1045 mm
1030 mm
Rear Legroom
900 mm
932 mm
Spec
B40 Plus
X3
Engine
2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine
BMW 48V mild-hybrid turbocharged engine
Engine Code
Not Officially Disclosed
B48
Fuel Type
Petrol
Petrol Mild Hybrid
Hybrid System
Not Applicable
48V Mild Hybrid
Engine Displacement
1998 cc
2998 cc
Cylinders
4
6
Cylinder Layout
Inline
Inline
Valves
Not Officially Disclosed
16
Valves per Cylinder
Not Officially Disclosed
4
Aspiration
Turbocharged
Turbocharged
Fuel System
Not Officially Disclosed
Direct injection
Compression Ratio
Not Officially Disclosed
10.5:1
Bore
Not Officially Disclosed
82.0 mm
Stroke
Not Officially Disclosed
94.6 mm
Maximum Power
165 kW @ 5500 rpm
293 kW
Maximum Torque
380 Nm @ 1750-4500 rpm
540 Nm @ 1900-4800 rpm
Combined Power
Not Applicable
1 kW
Combined Torque
Not Applicable
1 Nm
Motor Type
Not Applicable
Permanent-magnet synchronous electric motor
Number of Motors
Not Applicable
1
Motor Location
Not Applicable
Integrated transmission electric motor
Drive Type
4WD
AWD
Transmission
8-Speed Automatic
8-Speed Automatic
Top Speed
180 km/h
250 km/h
0-100 km/h
9.9 sec
4.6 sec
Quarter Mile
17.2 sec
12.2 sec
Drive Modes
Comfort, Eco, Sport, Snow
Eco, Comfort, Sport
Launch Control
No
No
Rev Limiter
Not Officially Disclosed
7000 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio
78.2 kW/tonne
100 kW/tonne
Torque-to-Weight Ratio
180.1 Nm/tonne
220 Nm/tonne
Battery Capacity
Not Applicable
1 kWh
Usable Battery Capacity
Not Applicable
64.8 kWh
Battery Type
Not Applicable
Lithium-ion
Battery Voltage
Not Applicable
400 V
Electric Range
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
AC Charging Power
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
DC Charging Power
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
AC Charging Time
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
DC Charging Time
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Regenerative Braking
Not Applicable
Yes
Spec
B40 Plus
X3
Gearbox
8AT
8-Speed Automatic
Drivetrain Layout
4WD
All-wheel drive
LSD Available
No
Yes
Transfer Case
Electronic 4WD transfer case
Yes
Differential Lock
Rear electronic differential lock; Front optional electronic differential lock
20" M light alloy wheels Double-spoke style 1036 M Bicolour
Tyre Type
All-Terrain
-
Auto Brake Hold
Yes
-
Handbrake Type
Electric parking brake
Electronic
Towing Unbraked Kg
750 kg
-
Wheel Material
Lightweight dual-tone alloy
-
Spec
B40 Plus
X3
Front Suspension
Double wishbone independent front suspension
M Sports Suspension
Rear Suspension
Five-link non-independent rear suspension
M Sports Suspension
Chassis Type
Body-on-frame
-
Spec
B40 Plus
X3
Service Interval
15000 km
-
Service Plan Duration
4 years / 60000 km
5 years / 100000 km BMW Motorplan
Service Plan Distance
4 years / 60000 km
5 years / 100000 km BMW Motorplan
Service Plan
4 years / 60000 km
5 years / 100000 km BMW Motorplan
Spec
B40 Plus
X3
Warranty Years
5 years / 120000 km
Yes
Warranty Kilometers
5 years / 120000 km
Yes
Warranty
5 years / 120000 km
Yes
Spec
B40 Plus
X3
CO2 Emissions
Not Officially Disclosed
189 g/km
Fuel Octane Requirement
92 RON or higher petrol
-
Spec
B40 Plus
X3
Ownership Role
Private buyer ownership with BAIC South Africa warranty and service support
Private, business and fleet
Price Zar
699500 ZAR
1550000 ZAR
Pricing Role
Current ex-showroom price
Current recommended retail price
Starting Price
699500
1550000
Starting Price Zar
699500
1550000
In depth: how these cars differ
This B40 Plus and X3 comparison uses the exact derivatives selected above for South Africa. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.
Performance index: B40 Plus 71 vs X3 99.
Efficiency index: B40 Plus 41 vs X3 54.
Safety-equipment index: B40 Plus 57 vs X3 92.
Practicality index: B40 Plus 67 vs X3 75.
Ownership-cover index: B40 Plus 62 vs X3 not separately scored.
These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.
Model imagery
B40 Plus and X3 image comparison
Open an image for its full canonical file or visit the model page for the complete vehicle record.
A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.
Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout
X3 leads by 21 points
X3 holds a noticeable catalogue-index lead over B40 Plus.
Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.
Why this scoreView full breakdown
Evidence-index leader
X3
Performance
99/100
Efficiency
54/100
Safety
92/100
Practicality
75/100
B40 Plus
Performance
71/100
Efficiency
41/100
Safety
57/100
Practicality
67/100
Ownership
62/100
What the evidence means
Evidence indexBMW X3
leads the specification evidence index with 82 pts
vs 61 pts for B40 Plus
In Hagalu's specification evidence index, X3 leads. However, B40 Plus may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.
Related comparisons
Continue with closely related South Africa models and comparable body styles.
There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the models and available derivatives in South Africa on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.
Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.
Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.
A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.
Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.
Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.
Compare
Request dealer offers
Let's discuss your next car
Share your interest so Hagalu can follow up about quotations and available discounts. The dealer confirms stock, price and terms.
✓
We've Got Your Details!
Your enquiry has reached Hagalu for follow-up. Any dealer offer will be confirmed separately by the seller.
