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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Dimensions
Width, height 1. Vehicle height: 57.6 inches / 1,464 mm 2. Vehicle width, without mirrors: 73.2 inches / 1,860 mm 3. Vehicle width with mirrors: 82.4 inches / 2,094 mm Length, wheel base ...

Intermittent operation or rain sensor
The concept The rain sensor automatically controls the time between wipes depending on the intensity of the rainfall. The sensor is located on the windshield, directly behind the interior rearview ...

CBC Cornering Brake Control
When braking during curves or when braking during a lane change, driving stability and steering response are improved further. ...