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:

AUTO program
Press the button. Air volume, air distribution, and temperature are controlled automatically: Depending on the selected temperature, AUTO intensity, and outside influences, the air is directed ...

Malfunction
The cooler cannot be switched on or switches off, e.g., when the cooling system overheats or if the battery voltage is low. One of the LEDs flashes. Remedy the problem 1. If necessary, allow t ...

Pressure specifications
The tables below provide all the correct inflation pressures for the specified tire sizes at ambient temperature. The inflation pressures apply to the tire sizes approved and tire brands recomm ...