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:

    Executing functions using short commands
    Functions on the main menu can be performed directly by means of short commands, nearly irrespective of which menu item is currently selected, e.g., ›Vehicle status‹. List of short commands of ...

    Destination entry by voice
    General information ► Instructions for voice activation system, refer to page 22. ► When making a destination entry by voice, you can change between voice operation and iDrive. υ ...

    Changing wheels
    Notes The vehicle equipment does not include a spare tire. When using run-flat tires or tire sealants, a tire does not need to be changed immediately in the event of pressure loss due to a flat ...