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:

Lane Change Warning System monitors vehicles following behind
Inattentiveness or misjudgement of the distance and speed of a vehicle approaching from behind can lead the driver into a critical situation when changing lanes. The optional Lane Change Warning S ...

The concept
▷ The voice activation system can be used to operate functions by means of spoken commands. The system prompts you to make your entries. ▷ Functions that can only be used when the v ...

The concept
When the low beams are switched on, this system automatically switches the high beams on and off. The procedure is controlled by a sensor on the front of the interior rearview mirror. The assi ...