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:

Active cruise control
With active cruise control you can select a desired speed which is then automatically maintained when driving on open roadways and is varied to maintain a selected distance setting to slower m ...

System limits
Sudden tire damage Sudden serious tire damage caused by external influences cannot be indicated in advance. A natural, even pressure loss in all four tires cannot be detected. Therefore, check ...

Opening
During opening, the trunk lid pivots back and up. Ensure that adequate clearance is available before opening. Opening from the outside Press the button on the trunk lid. Press the button ...