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 glance BMW Roadside Assistance can be contacted if assistance is needed in the event of a breakdown. Roadside Assistance can also be contacted via a Check Control message. Start Roadside A ...

Capturing the image
The image is captured by two cameras integrated in the exterior mirrors and by the backup camera. The range equals: approx. 10 ft/3 m to the side. approx. 7 ft/2 m to the rear. In this w ...

Deactivating HDC
Press the button again and the LED goes out. HDC is automatically deactivated above approx. 37 mph/60 km/h. ...