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Good
points: Handling, engine, build quality,
transmission, small turning radius
Concerns:
Price of options, stiff ride, power, radio reception
"What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other word would smell
as sweet." Shakespeare
In other words, if it rides like a BMW, is built like a BMW, and handles
like a BMW it must be a BMW even though it looks like a small sports
utility vehicle. BMW calls its new X3 a sports activity vehicle, but by
any other name it is sweet all the same.
This
is the type of transportation that is not meant for drivers who simply
want to use the highway to go from point A to point B. The X3 is designed
for those who want to take the shortcut to grandmother's house and,
hopefully, she lives at the top of a snow-covered mountain. It is meant
for driving enjoyment.
Whereas most
similar vehicles offer a lenient ride that treats roughened roads with
respect and consoles the driver with a softened suspension to help pave
over life's rough spots, the X3 takes large expansion joints and potholes
personally, conveying through the nicely weighed steering a sense of
indignity that these puny imperfections could possible challenge its
progress. You are kept aware of what the X3 is doing, but like any good
administrator who has selected the best vessel for the job, you let it
handle the difficulties while you place your worries elsewhere.
BMW's nomenclature that this is a sports activity vehicle is designed to
prepare the consumer for the reality that although it does offer utility
it is essentially designed for those who enjoy a more active life style,
of which driving is considered a major part of that criteria. No question
that the X3 is arguably the most-agile SUV type vehicle available and when
combined with sensible fuel mileage, a good build quality, enough room for
five adults, and a bright interior this BMW is going to appeal to those
buyers looking for utility, and yes, activity, especially with the cargo
rails that enable you to tie down bicycles and other adventure seeker
items safely inside the cargo bay. By the way, the X3 has more
usable cargo room than the larger X5.
Buyers have plenty of other choices when it comes to car based SUVs in this
price range which is now dominated by
the Lexus RX. But there isn't any competition in that bracket for a SUV/SAV
that offers some nice luxury features such as a panoramic sunroof, plenty
of safety features, and snappy handling.
Mom's
view: The
lip on the bottom of the door threshold protrudes above the entryway
enough to catch a heel and this consistently bothered me. But, once
inside, this is a sweet machine if you like to drive. You can order a
standard transmission, but I frequently travel in heavy traffic so
thankfully we had the very fine shifting five-speed automatic unit.
Unfortunately, we also had the base 2.5-liter
engine rated at 184 horsepower. We found this engine lacking in the 3
Series wagon and so even with the better gearing of this sports activity
vehicle we were constantly wishing for more power. This was especially
true with the family onboard, when passing, or traveling in the mountains.
The gas mileage, which the government listed at 17/23, is good, but we
were hard pressed to get much over 18 in mixed driving. We suggest you
consider the larger 3.0 engine and the 39 extra horsepower it brings to
your momentum generation. There is very only a one mile per gallon fuel
penalty for the more robust engine. As for
ordering the standard six speed manual transmission over the five-speed
automatic for better fuel economy, look for an increase of one or two
miles per gallon with the manual unit.
The X3's interior has the traditional BMW no nonsense appearance.
Regardless, the bright materials and trim make it a happy, non-offensive
place from which to direct your travels. I did find the climate controls
overly complex and the cupholders lacking in depth and size, but the
overall appearance is quite Scandinavian and user friendly.
There
isn't a large cargo area, but the pass through and the simple way the rear
seats fold down makes adequate room. The rear cargo door is painless to
lift, but the design of its handhold makes it difficult to grasp if you
have long fingernails and/or small hands. I was surprised to see the
battery mounted under the storage bay with a number of other items. They
are neatly arranged and someone should get an award for the way the cargo
floor cover hooks to the back of the rear seat. Another positive feature
is the cargo holding rails that enable you to carry more awkward items
such as a bicycle. Remember, this is a sports activity vehicle.
Safety wise, this X3 is loaded. Although the government and private crash
scores have not been released they should be at least as good as the above
average marks of the X5. Standard features on this SAV are four-wheel
antilock disc brakes, Dynamic Stability Control, Hill Descent Control, and
front and side curtain airbags. Rear torso side airbags are optional. My
favorite safety feature was the brakes. Sometimes my first reaction in a
tight situation is not to steer around the problem as race drivers might
do, but to hit the brakes. Thus I enjoyed the binders on the X3 knowing
that someday I am going to attend yet another driving school and learn to
overcome my panic first reaction and thus be able to remove the "This car
brakes for potential problems" bumper sticker.
Dad's
view: It
is interesting that BMW has made this new model available with a standard
transmission. It is not that it is difficult to do since the transmission
and powerplant are from the 3 Series, but that BMW feels there is enough
interest. We have not tested the manual model, but found the five-speed
Steptronic automatic excellent, especially in the mountains where the
transmission held itself in a lower gear when going downhill.
We never did find anything to challenge BMW's xDrive system that
automatically distributes power to the wheels with the most traction. It
just does the job without bothering you with difficult decisions. On paper
this system should enhance both wet and dry driving but with this high
center of gravity I wouldn't want to get too frisky with this SAV. Of
course, getting frisky could take a bit of time with the 2.5 X3 as it
takes
about ten seconds to get to 60 mph.
So, what we have here is a handy sized vehicle capable of journeying most
anywhere and doing so with some passion. Although we think the 3 Series is
an excellent vehicle, the 2.5i X3 just does not offer enough grunt to take
advantage of its donor ship's prowess. My recommendation is to take a test
drive in the 3.0i model because it may be worth the additional six to
seven thousand dollars more to have the extra motivation. You also get a
better audio system, wheels, tires, as well as rain-sensing wipers, front
fog lights, lighted visor vanity mirrors, front and rear reading lamps,
cruise
control, leather-wrapped steering wheel, plus a four-function onboard
computer, and quicker acceleration. Still, even the 2.5i gives you
automatic climate control, one-touch power windows, heated mirrors, a CD
player, keyless entry, and the safety and superior handling features.
Although I have long felt that Subaru's and Audi's all wheel drive were
the ones I most preferred in challenging driving situations, the BMW's new
xDrive all-wheel-drive and traction system is their equal. The xDrive uses
a transfer case behind the transmission that sends the power to the axle
best capable of momentum. The unit works well with what BMW calls its
Dynamic Stability Control, which is traction control by any other name.
The nice part is that under normal driving the back end gets 60 percent of
the action making the X3 react like a rear wheel drive sedan. If you are
stuck, this system can transfer all the power to the most capable axle.
Meanwhile, the traction control can either apply brakes or inhibit engine
output until control is obtained.
One look underneath provides a clear view to the fact this is a BMW. The
front drive shaft goes through the oil sump in order to get a lower center
of gravity and the rear suspension is a fortified version of the
multi-link setup on the 3 Series.
The bottom line for me is that this is perhaps too rugged riding a vehicle
for those not used to driving BMWs, but ideal for those who understand the
importance of handling. The problem was whether or not someone who wants a
good handling vehicle would bypass the 3 Series sedan, coupe, and
convertible for the added utility of this SAV. Either way, you should take
the time to test drive the X3 and see for yourself what a superior job BMW
has done in transferring a sports sedan feeling into this new offering.
Young
working woman's view: This is the
strangest SUV I have ever driven. It just does not feel or act like a SUV.
Sure, you have the higher seating position and the boxy look common to all
of them, but it has sharp handling, is so effortless to park in tight
spots it should be knighted for this feature, the steering is precise, and
the suspension well controlled.
Maybe a little bit too well controlled because it
does get stern over rough roads. I found myself totally forgetting what I
was driving as I was able to maneuver as if I was in a sedan, and a sporty
one at that. The down side
was the lack of low-end power.
My
friends asked me a couple of tough questions about the X3 that you need to
consider before buying. The first was if the solid ride would not get
tiring after a while. The second was whether or not you were paying more
for the name than you should. To answer the first question, I liked
driving the X3, but those in the backseat complained about the ride over
rough roads. Secondly, as for paying for the name, the answer is yes. This
is not an attractive vehicle and without the BMW name it would probably be
ignored by the majority of the public until the price came down.
However, after
wheeling the X3 through a variety of daily tasks and a trip to the
mountains, I can tell you it is worth every cent. Of course, I would have
liked some extra features such as a less Spartan interior, a rear cargo
net, a much better radio antenna, tires that are less noisy, more
cupholders, a garage door opener, and a front console that you can open
without being double-jointed.
The interior has some very unique ideas. The X3 features rear seatbacks
that fold fairly flat without having to remove the headrests or the lower
cushion. There are small and useful storage nets in the front seats and
rear sections. The rear seat back also has a pass through and divides so
you can carry long objects by just sacrificing seating for one person. We
had the optional cargo floor rails that can be used to tie down bicycles
and other heavy objects. It reminded me of a similar feature on the Saab
wagons. As a
reminder, a friend of mine was carrying the base of a concrete bird feeder
in her car when it was rear-ended. She was okay, just a snore neck, but
the bird feeder base went through the backseat of her sedan and would have
severely injured anyone riding there. So don't think these tie-downs are
needless features.
Working,
college attending young male's view: Hey, Mom, they shrunk the X5! Yep, that was my reaction to this BMW. But
even thought it was smaller it really wasn't. (This is what happens when
you take two philosophy courses in a row.)
The X3's 71
cubic feet of cargo volume is larger than the X5's despite the X3 being
smaller outside. The major difference between the two is the weight; the
X5 is about 650 pounds heavier, and the height where the X3 is about two
inches shorter.
There is plenty of front headroom, the sunroof provides an airy feeling
when opened, but there is barely enough legroom in back for large people
either vertically or horizontally. The place to be in the X3 is the
driver's seat. There is ample room in front, although my legs did hit the
dash bottom at times. The tilt/telescope steering wheel has a good feel;
the seats are grippy, but not necessarily as comfortable as on other BMWs.
All in all, the interior is like an old friend who hasn't changed much
over the years. On the other hand, he wasn't your best friend.
My major concerns were the cupholders and the lack of small storage areas.
This is a sports activity vehicle and it must have the utility inherent in
competitive models and that includes the ability for people to eat, drink,
and carry whatever. I would say the people who designed this interior were
neat nicks who have no earthly idea of what a mess a family can make when
there isn't enough storage spaces or good cupholders.
With a fuel capacity of 17.7 gallons your real life driving range between
trips to the gas station is going to be about 300 miles. If you opt for
the standard six-speed manual transmission you are going to average about
one mile per gallon more. This is in line with others in this weight and
engine output category.
In terms of six-cylinder competition, I would say the Volkswagen Touareg,
and Lexus RX 330 are closest although neither offers the road
feel of the X3. The Lexus is larger, softer riding, and has more luxury
features. The Volkswagen has a superior interior, more
off-road capability, but is about 1000 pounds heavier and feels it,
especially at the fuel pump. My choice would probably be the X3 simply
because it is more fun and I can get my music, skateboard or whatever
trend I am following onboard and out of site.
Family
conference: BMW has put fourth a noble effort to provide a sporty vehicle that can
comfortable hold a family and provide adequate performance and utility.
What they have also done is create a great venue for a more powerful
version that could create an entire new niche vehicle; the hot rod SUVs.
It would not
take much to make it competitive with the current champion, the
turbocharged Porsche Cayenne, since that model must carry around 800
pounds more. We believe there is an M engine putting out 315 or more
horsepower sitting in one of these somewhere in Germany right now.
Meanwhile, the X3 won the Alcan Winter Rally.
In the meantime the best combination we found was the X3 with the optional
3.0-liter engine and five-speed Steptronic. We would stay with the regular
suspension, but be tempted to order the Servotronic
vehicle-speed-sensitive steering since it makes the X3 more fun
to drive and park. We would also consider GPS, bi-xenon headlights and
rear parking sensors.
Written by The
Car Family
