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:
Performance
For 2009, there's just one engine: a 3.0-liter six-cylinder that's good for
260 horsepower. It teams with either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic
transmission. All X3s have all-wheel dr ...
Tachometer
Always avoid engine speeds in
the red warning field. In this
range, the fuel supply is interrupted
to protect the engine. ...
Optimised display, exclusive feel: instruments in black-panel technology,
Control Display with flatscreen design.
The instrument cluster in black-panel technology combines state-of-the-art
display technology with classic sports-car circular instruments. A
high-resolution 9.2-inch display below the four dials ...