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:

Tire damage
General information Inspect your tires often for damage, foreign objects lodged in the tread, and tread wear. Notes Driving over rough or damaged road surfaces, as well as debris, curbs and other ...

VALVETRONIC, Double-Vanos and direct injection
The combination of a high power output and a simultaneous reduction in emissions is achieved by VALVETRONIC variable valve timing and Double-Vanos variable camshaft timing. The latest generation o ...

Requirements
▷ Equipment version with full preparation package mobile phone. An Emergency Request can be made, even if no mobile phones are paired with the vehicle. ▷ BMW Assist is activated. &# ...