X3 in the Market

At $38,000, the X3 starts substantially higher than its nearest competitor, the Acura RDX. Save for its problematic transmission behavior, the BMW offers a more buttoned-down driving experience than the Acura. For some, that's worth every penny.

As BMW surely knows, the X3 can't sit on its pedestal forever. Land Rover's entry-level LR2 is on the way, and so are the Audi Q5 and Volvo XC60. If the X3 is to remain a desirable car, BMW will have to fix a few things so buyers need not weigh the good against the bad — because there will be plenty of very good alternatives soon.

    See also:

    Checking the pressure
    Only check the tire inflation pressure when the tires are cold. This means after driving no more than 1.25 miles/2 km or when the vehicle has been parked for at least 2 hours. When the tires a ...

    Map view for split screen
    The map view can be selected for the split screen independently from the main screen. 1. Open "Options". 2. "Split screen" 3. Move the controller to the right repeatedly unt ...

    Safety
    The BMW 1 Series hasn't been crash-tested. It includes frontal, front-seat side-impact and side curtain airbags. Also standard are antilock brakes and an electronic stability system with traction ...