Safety

The X3 earned a 2009 Top Safety Pick designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the agency's highest award. That means it earned top scores in IIHS' frontal-offset, side-impact and rear crash tests. All X3s have standard electronic stability control and a full complement of airbags.

As of publication, the Q5, GLK350 and XC60 hadn't been tested by IIHS.

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    Driving pleasure
    Driving the X6 M changed the way I looked at this vehicle. Some of that gangly look disappeared as the vehicle's performance matured my perception. It has a toughness, a meanness too that it didn' ...

    Visual warning
    The approach of the vehicle to an object can be shown on the Control Display. When the distance to an object is small, a red bar is shown in front of the vehicle, as it is in the PDC display. ...

    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 GL ...