Step inside the X3 and you've got yourself a traditional Beemer set-up. Looking very much like the dash and middle console of the 3 Series, the X3 is functional and well-made, just as you'd expect from the Bavarian maker. Fit and finish is top-notch, and the moonroof that stretches over the rear seats makes the X3 feel roomier. Woodgrain inserts on my tester brought a certain something to the look that definitely propelled it into a more luxurious level.
Equipped with BMW's iDrive system, the X3 is as technologically savvy as they come. With an 8.8” display in the dash, the X3's onboard computer is easy to use and easy to see. Bluetooth connectivity and USB audio integration makes for an entertaining ride as well.
Space in the X3 is good, but not great. The trunk has a nice wide opening that makes for great loading and unloading of most cargo. The back seat is also ergonomically pleasing and not horribly small, but an adult passenger in the middle better hope he/she is rather good friends with those on either side, because it is a little snug. It's also unfortunate that the rear seats do not fold flat and are left at a slight angle, which could make carting larger cargo a bit more difficult.
Where BMW does excel when it comes to interior space is storage components. They successfully integrated a number of storage sleeves and pockets to hold all your bottles of water, road maps and (who are we kidding?) discarded mail and Tim Horton's wrappers. The rear passengers also benefit from storage nooks and crannies and even a pull-down armrest in the middle if the third passenger decides he/she doesn't want to cuddle that day.
As is also very BMW-esque, everything is driver-oriented. So, anything located in the middle console is subtly turned towards the driver. This might not seem like much, and is perhaps more of a sell tactic than an actual functional feature, but I'm here to tell you that it really is a functional feature and something I appreciate a great deal from BMW. Too many cars nowadays are so focused on the design and/or cramming everything they can into the dash that they forget who's in charge: the driver. So, kudos to BMW for always keeping that in mind.
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| Looking very much like the dash and middle console of the 3 Series, the X3 is functional and well-made. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour/Auto123.com) |
Equipped with BMW's iDrive system, the X3 is as technologically savvy as they come. With an 8.8” display in the dash, the X3's onboard computer is easy to use and easy to see. Bluetooth connectivity and USB audio integration makes for an entertaining ride as well.
Space in the X3 is good, but not great. The trunk has a nice wide opening that makes for great loading and unloading of most cargo. The back seat is also ergonomically pleasing and not horribly small, but an adult passenger in the middle better hope he/she is rather good friends with those on either side, because it is a little snug. It's also unfortunate that the rear seats do not fold flat and are left at a slight angle, which could make carting larger cargo a bit more difficult.
Where BMW does excel when it comes to interior space is storage components. They successfully integrated a number of storage sleeves and pockets to hold all your bottles of water, road maps and (who are we kidding?) discarded mail and Tim Horton's wrappers. The rear passengers also benefit from storage nooks and crannies and even a pull-down armrest in the middle if the third passenger decides he/she doesn't want to cuddle that day.
As is also very BMW-esque, everything is driver-oriented. So, anything located in the middle console is subtly turned towards the driver. This might not seem like much, and is perhaps more of a sell tactic than an actual functional feature, but I'm here to tell you that it really is a functional feature and something I appreciate a great deal from BMW. Too many cars nowadays are so focused on the design and/or cramming everything they can into the dash that they forget who's in charge: the driver. So, kudos to BMW for always keeping that in mind.
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| The back seat is also ergonomically pleasing and not horribly small, but an adult passenger in the middle better hope he/she is rather good friends with those on either side, because it is a little snug. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour/Auto123.com) |