The BMW X3 resembles the larger X5, but a closer look reveals significant styling differences.Notable design cues include the front bumper that frames the traditional twin-kidney grille, its chrome vertical slats complemented by a chrome strip along the base of the side windows. The headlight assembly has a clean look, as do the foglights. The optional xenon headlights include the corona light rings. When the Cold Weather package is ordered, the headlight washers retract into the bumper.
From the front, the stance looks much the same as the X5's, with fenders tautly blistered over wide and widely spaced tires, giving the X3 a BMW-like, road-grabbing face. The headlamp lenses and kidney grilles are shaped differently, as is the bumper and lower grille openings, and the bumper is black as opposed to the X5 bumper's body-color treatment.
The X3 looks like the X5 in side view, though the cut line from the front wheel wells to the front doors was eliminated for a cleaner look. A mild character crease bridges the space between the fender blisters, and a relatively low beltline adds openness to the side windows.