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:

Roadside Assistance
At a glanceBMW Roadside Assistancecan be contacted if assistance is needed in the event of a breakdown. Contact with BMW Roadside Assistancecan also be established using a Check Control message. ...

Tilting the glass sunroof
Push switch upward briefly. ▷ Closed roof is tilted open. ▷ The opened roof closes until it is in its tilted position. The sliding visor stays completely open. ...

Braking safely
Your vehicle is equipped with ABS as a standard feature. Applying the brakes fully is the most effective way of braking in situations when this is necessary. The vehicle maintains steering respo ...