- BMW adds new Rugged Package to the X3 20d for the South African market.
- It includes grippy tires, a roof box, and paint protection film.
- The setup makes the X3 more capable for light off-road adventures.
The all-new BMW Neue Klasse iX3 may have captured most of the attention this year, but the Bavarian brand hasn’t turned its back on internal combustion. In South Africa, the familiar X3 has been given a touch of grit with a new Rugged Edition package created for those who like to get their wheels dirty.
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The highlight of the optional package is a set of 18-inch alloy wheels finished in Frozen Midnight. They’re smaller than the standard 19-inch wheels, but they are fitted with grippier Grabber All-Terrain tires featuring thicker sidewalls (255/60 R18).
Paired with BMW’s standard xDrive all-wheel drive system, the setup should let drivers venture a little further off the beaten path. BMW hasn’t added a lift kit to accompany the all-terrain tires, though it has equipped the Rugged Edition with Adaptive suspension as standard.
The bodywork remains unchanged, but interestingly, it’s now protected by a paint protection film to keep the finish safe from stray stones and trail debris. The upgrades continue with a BMW Roof Box capable of holding 320 liters (11.3 cubic feet) of gear, plus an automatic tow hitch.
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Interior upgrades are limited to a set of all-weather mats and a heating function for the front and rear seats.
Which Model Gets the Treatment?
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The Rugged Edition treatment is exclusively available for the entry-level X3 20d xDrive variant. This means it is not as powerful as the modified X3 M50 that took part in the 2024 Rebelle Rally, retaining the stock mild-hybrid 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel engine, producing 194 hp (145 kW / 197 PS) and 400 Nm (295 lb-ft) of torque.
The optional package costs R 102,000 (around $6,000 at current exchange rates), pushing the price of the X3 20d xDrive from R 1,158,417.20 ($68,200) to R 1,260,417.20 ($74,200).
On paper, this price could get you a more potent 2026 X4 M50 xDrive in the U.S., but South Africa’s import duties and luxury taxes shape the market in ways that make direct comparisons tricky.
If you still find the X3 too civilised, BMW is reportedly developing a more rugged SUV designed to take on heavyweights like the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, Lexus LX, and Land Rover Defender.
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It’s expected to sit closer in spirit to those off-roaders than the road-focused X lineup, and it will also face a rival from Audi built on the upcoming Scout platform.
