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:

Symbols
Indicates precautions that must be followed precisely in order to avoid the possibility of personal injury and serious damage to the vehicle. ◄ Marks the end of a specific item of inf ...

Tire tread
Summer tires Do not drive with a tire tread depth of less than 0.12 in/3 mm. There is an increased danger of hydroplaning if the tread depth is less than 0.12 in/3 mm. Winter tires Do not driv ...

Automatic locking
The setting is stored for the remote control currently in use. 1. "Settings" 2. "Door locks" 3. Select the desired function: ▷ "Lock if no door is opened" ...