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:
The concept
The voice activation system can be used to
operate functions by means of spoken commands.
Most menu items on the Control Display can
be voiced as commands. The system
prompts you to make ...
Ignition on
Press the Start/Stop button, and do not press on
the brake pedal at the same time.
All vehicle systems are ready for operation.
Most of the indicator and warning lamps in the
instrument cluster ...
Cargo
The trunk measures 14 cubic feet, which makes it similar in size to the Audi
A8's (14.6) but smaller than the Jaguar XJ's (16.4), LS 460's (18) and S-Class'
(16.3). It's quite deep and rectangular ...