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.
See also:
Service Request
At a glance
Sends information to your service partner to request
the arrangement of a service appointment.
The TeleService data is transmitted during
a Service Request. If possible, your service ...
Hydroplaning
On wet or slushy roads, a wedge of water can
form between the tires and road surface.
This phenomenon is referred to as hydroplaning.
It is characterized by a partial or complete
loss of contact ...
Ride & Handling
One of my lasting memories of the prior-generation X3 was its extremely firm
ride, which led to a choppy driving experience on rough roads. It was
disappointing, to say the least, because BMWs oft ...