Buyers have plenty of other choices when it comes to car based SUVs in the $30,000 to $40,000 thousand dollar 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.