BMW X3
The BMW X3 review pegs the 2010 BMW X3 as a junior member of the German automobile major’s historic line of cars but it has the potential to fill the big shoes of its seniors. The X3 is expected to offer great performance, smooth handling and a memorable drive. But because this segment caters to the luxury segment, it also offers resourcefulness, modern upgrades and new gadgets along with A-grade materials for the upholstery of the seats.
The X3 debuted a good six years back and it got a rocket-start to its success in this segment. In spite of comparatively little change to the overall design the superb handling, a gunning inline-6 engine with a lot of interior space and ample boot space. It may be in the pricier range compared to others in the same class. But the X3 remains the prime choice even though it is the pricier choice because it has comparatively better features and the level of luxury is unmatched.
The power of the all-wheel drive of the BMW X3 xDrive30i is a 3.0 Liter inline 6 engine pushing up to 260 horsepower and 225 pound feet of torque. The X3 comes with both manual six speed transmission and automatic transmission with manual shift control. The manual transmission goes from 0 to 60 in 7.4 seconds and pegs a mileage of 19 miles to the gallon. The automatic transmission version stretches it to 20 miles per gallon in terms of mileage.
The safety features noted during the BMW X3 review, are the inclusion of ABS (Antilock braking system), Automatic Brake Drying, Front Airbags, Side Curtain Airbags, Stability Control and Hill Descent Control. The safety features of the BMW X3 have been appraised by the IIHS (Insurance Institute for High Safety). The X3 has luscious interiors made of fine material and the seats are extremely comfortable with adequate support for drivers who have the need for speed. The rear seats are adequately spaced and have abundant legroom and headroom.
The Dash Equipment is not an intuitive as it is in other BMWs especially those for the ventilation, navigation and audio systems and that is possibly, one of the very few drawbacks of this otherwise fantastic car.
In the mid-size luxury Sports Utility Vehicle category, the BMW X3 xDrive30i has literally no match on twisting, curvy roads because of its fantastic sharp, responsive control primarily due to its brilliant steering, superior running and powerful yet zippy performance from the inline-6 engine. The car performs and handles well even at high speeds and the X3 has no competitor in its segment and with its superlative driving dynamics and superior drive quality, there is no need to look any further if you can manage the slightly hefty price tag.