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:

Front seat heating
Switching on Press the button once for each temperature level. The maximum temperature is reached when three LEDs are lit. If the drive is continued within approx. 15 minutes, the seat h ...

1 Series M
Rather than the single-turbo setup from the 135i, the 1 Series M gets a twin-turbo six-cylinder that's good for 335 hp and 332 pounds-feet of torque. In extreme situations, the 1 Series M can ente ...

Check the tire inflationpressure regularly
Check and, if necessary, correct the tire inflation pressure at least twice a month and before starting on a long trip. Low tire inflation pressure increases rolling resistance and thus raises f ...