Exterior

The exterior remains the same for 2009, and the X3 retains its awkward angles, disjointed taillights and odd lower bodywork. It's not unattractive, but it sure isn't as stylish as Mercedes' new GLK350, Audi's Q5 or the new Volvo XC60, which actually turned heads when I tested it recently.

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    Safety
    BMW's inflatable tubular Head Protection System includes side curtain-type airbags for the first and second rows. Front-seat side-impact airbags are installed, and rear side-impact airbags are opt ...

    The concept
    This system issues a warning at speeds above approx. 40 mph/65 km/h if the vehicle is about to leave the lane on roads with lane markings. The steering wheel begins vibrating gently. The time o ...

    Starting the engine
    The engine starts automatically under the following conditions: ▷ Manual transmission: The clutch pedal is pressed. ▷ Automatic transmission: By releasing the brake pedal. After the ...