2011 BMW X3 Review by Mike Hanley
The BMW X3 may have been a pioneer among compact luxury crossovers, but a number of competitors — including the Audi Q5, Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class and Volvo XC60 — have entered the fray since its debut as a 2004 model. Now, with the second-generation X3, BMW has new metal to take them on.
The 2011 BMW X3 is still the small luxury crossover of choice for driving enthusiasts, but its substantially more forgiving suspension tuning should make the new version far more appealing.
I tested the base xDrive28i, which starts at $36,750; with options, our test car's sticker price was $43,875. For a side-by-side comparison with the competitors mentioned above, click here.
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Backup camera
The concept
The backup camera provides assistance in parking
and maneuvering backwards. The area behind
the vehicle is shown on the Control Display.
System limits
Check the traffic situation as ...
Interior
Even though it's relatively unchanged for 2009, the X3's interior remains
very upscale for this segment. My test car's dark brown leather upholstery and
black dashboard made for an especially clas ...
Rear door controls
Roller blind for the side windows
Press the button.
The roller blind can only be extended or retracted
when the side window is closed.
Roller blind for rear window
Press the button.
Raising ...