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:

Surround View
The concept Surround View includes the following systems: ▷ Backup camera ▷ Side View. ▷ Top View. It assists the driver when parking, maneuvering and on blind driveways and i ...

Activating the voice activation system
1. Press the button on the steering wheel. 2. Wait for the signal. 3. Say the command. The command is displayed in the instrument cluster. This symbol in the instrument cluster indicate ...

Automatic mode
The automatic engine start/stop function is operational after each engine start. The function is activated above a certain speed. ▷ Manual transmission: above 3 mph, approx. 5 km/h. ▷ ...