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:

Status display
The tire and system status is indicated by the color of the tires. A change in the tire inflation pressure during driving is taken into account. A correction is only necessary if this is indicat ...

Front passenger side
Opening Pull the handle. The light in the glove compartment switches on. The net in the glove compartment is provided for stowing the storage tray for the cupholder. Close the glove compartme ...

Engine oil temperature
► Cold engine: the pointer is at the low temperature end. Drive at moderate engine and vehicle speeds. ► Normal operating temperature: the pointer is in the middle or in the ...