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.

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    Special destinations
    Opening the search for special destinations To select special destinations, e.g., hotels or tourist attractions: 1. "Navigation" 2. "Points of Interest" 3. Select the searc ...

    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 ...

    Socket for OBD OnboardDiagnosis
    Position There is an OBD socket on the driver's side for checking the primary components in the vehicle emissions. Emissions ► The warning lamp lights up: Emissions are deteriorati ...