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.

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Car washes
Notes Steam jets or high-pressure washers When using steam jets or high-pressure washers, hold them a sufficient distance away and use a maximum temperature of 140 ℉/60 ℃. Ensure th ...

Tow-starting and towing
Observe applicable laws and regulations Observe applicable laws and regulations for tow-starting and towing.◀ No additional passengers Do not transport any passengers other than the d ...

Fuel gauge
Fuel tank capacity: approx. 14 US gal/53 liters. You can find information on refueling on page 206. If the tilt of the vehicle varies for a longer period, when you are driving in mountainous ar ...