Family resemblance
No doubt, the X3 is a BMW. With its sculpted flanks, its flared fenders and its menacing quadruple headlights, it can't be mistaken for an SUV of another brand. The optional 18-inch wheels are nice, and the vehicle doesn't reveal any excess weight. I have the impression that I'm looking at a 3-Series wagon that put on its winter boots.
The family resemblance carries on in the cockpit. The sober dashboard benefits from wood trim, and the mix of colors on the seats and door panels looks pretty good. However, there are too many look-alike buttons on the dash, which makes them complicated to use while driving.
I like the beige leather, but the beige floor mats get dirty very quickly. The door sills are high, so you often stumble on them with you get in and out of the vehicle.
The Comfort package adds multi-adjustable seats that are articulated in the middle of the seatbacks, which fits a greater number of humans of all shapes and sizes. I love them, even if they cost an extra $2,400. The package also offers rear outboard heated seats, which will please your carpooling buddies on cold winter mornings. The middle seat of the rear bench isn't very comfortable, though.
The surprisingly capable xDrive
It's the third time that I drive during snowstorms in BMW vehicle equipped with the xDrive all-wheel drive system. The road is slippery? No problem; mash the gas pedal in the X3, and the truck blasts off as if it planted its claws in the ground before pouncing. BMW did install excellent (and expensive-looking) winter tires on this test truck, however.
The X3 is mainly driven by the rear wheels, but when wheelslip is detected, xDrive distributes more torque to the wheels that currently have the best traction. The whole process goes unnoticed by the driver, except that we're easily moving along while other cars are slip and sliding all over the place. We then realize that xDrive is on duty, and there is also a small light that flashes in the instrument panel to warn you that it's currently at work.
No doubt, the X3 is a BMW. With its sculpted flanks, its flared fenders and its menacing quadruple headlights, it can't be mistaken for an SUV of another brand. The optional 18-inch wheels are nice, and the vehicle doesn't reveal any excess weight. I have the impression that I'm looking at a 3-Series wagon that put on its winter boots.
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| X3 (left) and X5 (right). |
The family resemblance carries on in the cockpit. The sober dashboard benefits from wood trim, and the mix of colors on the seats and door panels looks pretty good. However, there are too many look-alike buttons on the dash, which makes them complicated to use while driving.
I like the beige leather, but the beige floor mats get dirty very quickly. The door sills are high, so you often stumble on them with you get in and out of the vehicle.
The Comfort package adds multi-adjustable seats that are articulated in the middle of the seatbacks, which fits a greater number of humans of all shapes and sizes. I love them, even if they cost an extra $2,400. The package also offers rear outboard heated seats, which will please your carpooling buddies on cold winter mornings. The middle seat of the rear bench isn't very comfortable, though.
The surprisingly capable xDrive
It's the third time that I drive during snowstorms in BMW vehicle equipped with the xDrive all-wheel drive system. The road is slippery? No problem; mash the gas pedal in the X3, and the truck blasts off as if it planted its claws in the ground before pouncing. BMW did install excellent (and expensive-looking) winter tires on this test truck, however.
The X3 is mainly driven by the rear wheels, but when wheelslip is detected, xDrive distributes more torque to the wheels that currently have the best traction. The whole process goes unnoticed by the driver, except that we're easily moving along while other cars are slip and sliding all over the place. We then realize that xDrive is on duty, and there is also a small light that flashes in the instrument panel to warn you that it's currently at work.
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| The xDrive is very effective. |