When we talk about the most reliable cars and the most reliable car brands, there are a few things that never change. Firstly, if you want the very best reliability you can’t go wrong with anything made in Japan or Korea. Brands such as Toyota, Honda, and Hyundai are consistently at the top of car reliability rankings, with the rest of the automotive world playing catchup.
The second fact is that modern SUVs are notorious for poor reliability. It’s a combination of large and complex powertrains, and also plenty of technology and features, all of which can break.
What that means is, in simple terms, BMW SUVs are not going to top any reliability lists. Does that mean you should avoid them? Absolutely not, and in the SUV world, there are brands with far worse reputations. But it’s still important to know if you’re buying a BMW that is more likely to cause issues, helping you make an informed decision.
What Are The Most Reliable BMW SUVs?
So which SUVs make our list? We’ve used reliability data from major sites to rank how reliable each BMW SUV is, from worst to best. These cars are all on sale now, so we haven’t included any older BMW models where reliability data can be difficult to measure. There are a couple of new SUVs we haven’t included on this list (such as the iX) as they haven’t been on sale long enough to get a clear picture of reliability, but we’ll update this when that info is available.
When we take a look at each SUV below, we’ll cover the main issues owners have experienced, and let you know our thoughts on each SUV. As always with reliability ratings, these are based on the experiences of a large number of BMW owners. For that reason, if you own a BMW SUV (or you’re in the market for one) your experience of reliability may be very different.
With that out the way, let’s start by looking at the first BMW SUV on our list:
BMW X6
Unsurprisingly, the most complex car on our list is the least reliable. The current generation BMW X6 has been on sale since 2020, and it’s one of the more advanced cars in the current BMW lineup. Depending on your region engine sizes range from 2L all the way to the 4.4L V8 in the X6M, and all X6 models come with 8-speed automatic transmission.
Thankfully if there’s one thing BMW know their way around, it’s an engine, and the current X6 has no widespread reliability concerns related to its engine or powertrain. There have been a few minor issues with diesel models, but these are very rare.
The main reliability issues in the X6 are mainly found in non-engine electronics, as with most luxury SUVs. A few of the more common issues have been with the lane departure technology and the electronic sunroof operation. Thankfully these kinds of issues are relatively simple to fix and will be covered by most warranties.
Overall the X6 doesn’t appear on any major consumer ranking lists, as the number of X6 owners is fairly low. JD Power gave the latest X6 a Reliability score of 81/100, which is higher than rivals like the Range Rover Sport and Mercedes GLE, but there is room for improvement.
BMW X5
Next on our list is the BMW X5, the more practical sibling of the X6. These cars share plenty of features and options, and as a result, you see the same issues on the X5. The engine options on the X5 are slightly different though, with the addition of a hybrid X5 45e, which brings its own set of reliability issues.
Across the X5 range, the overall reliability is good, with only a handful of electronic issues mentioned by owners. In the Whatcar 2021 Luxury SUV survey, the X5 placed third for reliability, impressively beating the Volvo XC90.
It’s a slightly different story with the X5 45e though. It’s difficult to know how varied the issues are with a car that’s sold in fairly low volumes, but some owners have reported issues with the charging malfunctioning, which is a fault I’ve seen on a number of other hybrids. Having said that, the majority of 45e owners I’ve heard from have had zero problems with any of the powertrain components, which is a good sign.
Like the X6, the BMW X5 suffers from the usual SUV problem of being too complex with its technology. These types of issues are thankful an easy fix in most cases, but for anyone looking at a luxury SUV (BMW or not) expect the possibility of minor problems.
BMW X3
In our third spot is the BMW X3, their mid-range, practical option. The X3 is the most popular BMW SUV by a long way, and you would expect good reliability as a result. That’s mostly the case here, and although it still has some issues, the X3 is a step up from the X5 & X6.
The X3 comes with a range of engine options, depending on your region. There are the usual selection of diesel and petrol engines, along with a couple of electric options. Firstly, in most regions, you can buy a hybrid model, the X3 30e, and BMW has recently released a new all-electric iX3. I won’t cover the iX3 on this list as reliability information doesn’t exist at this time, but we’ll update you in the future once we find out more from owners.
Looking at powertrain reliability, all BMW X3 models continue the trend of having few issues when it comes to their engines. I’ve seen occasional concerns on diesel models, where engine electronics have developed issues, but these were fixed immediately by BMW. An April 2022 survey through Whatcar placed the diesel X3 at a reliability rating of 96.5% as a result.
The petrol versions of the X3 fare better, with only minor issues, reported. These problems were mostly related to non-engine electronics, and some panel faults, which were mostly fixed on the same day. Compared to its diesel counterpart, the petrol X3 scored a rating of 97.7% in the same Whatcar survey.
BMW X2
Second place on our list goes to the BMW X2. the brand’s entry-level Sports Activity Coupe (SAC), the X2 scored the same as the petrol X3 (97.7%) on the recent Whatcar reliability test. As with most BMW SUVs you can choose from a variety of petrol, diesel, or hybrid engines depending on your region.
Specific reliability data is harder to come by for the X2, as sales are around 10% of the X3 numbers. As a result, there are fewer issues mentioned by owners, but it’s hard to get a good picture of reliability overall.
Some problems owners have experienced relate to non-engine electronics (a theme here) and the exhaust. Once again though, almost all these issues were fixed quickly by BMW and under warranty. One of the main positives with the issues on the X2 was that every car was still driveable, so these issues were at most an inconvenience.
BMW X1
Top of our reliability list is the BMW X1. This compact luxury SUV is in its second generation right now, and you can argue that it started the luxury SUV trend, leading to cars like the Audi Q2 and Volvo XC40. whatever its history, the latest BMW X1 is an excellent car and has the reliability to match.
The X1 is built on the same platform as the X2, and as a result, you get a similar choice of engines. Sales of the X1 dwarf its sibling, and this means plenty of info from owners. Like the BMW X3, there are some specific reliability issues related to diesel models, but these models account for a smaller number of sales. General reliability issues include some interior trim faults, and (you guessed it) non-engine electronics.
In the compact SUV class, the X1 scores very highly on surveys. On the Whatcar reliability survey, the X1 scored 98.4% making it the second most reliable European SUV. AA drivers in the UK gave the X1 a reliability score of 4.5/5 too, making it one of the more reliable luxury SUVs on sale.
Summary
Overall, I wouldn’t count BMW as a brand known for its impeccable reliability record. As with all modern cars, the more technology and complexity in a vehicle, the more can go wrong. This is definitely the case for BMW SUVs, although it’s good to see that for almost all owners, their issues were fixed quickly and under warranty.
As I expected, the most reliable BMW SUV is also the entry-level model, the X1. With fewer optional extras and a more basic design, the simplicity of the X1 results in barely any issues. You won’t get the reliability you can find in a Hyundai or Toyota SUV, but these aren’t ‘luxury’ vehicles, so it;’s unfair to compare the two.
Thanks for reading – if you’ve enjoyed this article and want to find out more, check out the links below:
Comparing The BMW X6 vs The Mercedes Benz GLC Coupe
The Best BMW Packages and Options in 2022
Comparing The BMW X1 vs. The X3
The BMW Luxury Seating Package Explained
