2006 BMW X3 Compact Sport Utility Vehicle
2006 BMW X3 Compact Sport Utility Vehicle
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Feels like a sports car
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I've never driven an SUV that feels as precise as this one, including the super-expensive Porsche Cayenne. Everything about it is designed for chronograph-like precision, from the taut suspension to the perfectly tuned steering and brakes.
Even the temperature controls seemed to be designed by an obsessive-compulsive engineer. Instead of setting the temperature for, say, 72 degrees, the digital readout calls it 72.0 degrees, inferring that the air temperature could not be more than a tenth of a degree from where you set it. The whole vehicle echoes that philosophy of nitpicking.
Only one engine is available: A 3.0-liter inline six, which is a great powerplant. It quickly pulled the X3 to 95 miles per hour on an uphill entrance ramp to Interstate 30, and it was so smooth and refined that I didn't have a clue how fast I was driving until I looked down at the speedometer, half horrified and half smiling.
Inside, the X3 is as nice as you'd expect a BMW to be, but there's not much legroom in the back. Interior quality is mediocre for the price, and any Lexus or Audi could run circles around it in terms of fit and finish. The materials look and feel luxurious, though, especially the soft leather and warm wood trim.
With a starting price of $36,800, the X3 is stuffed full of standard equipment. It comes with automatic climate control with an air filter, eight-way power adjustable front seats, a huge glass sunroof that retracts all the way to the back seat, rain-sensing windshield wipers, a great stereo with a connection for your MP3 player, and cool headlights that automatically follow your steering wheel left and right when you turn corners at night. It's not a cheap SUV, but it gives you a heck of a lot of goodies for the money.
It also ranks far lower on the stupidity scale than its big brother, the X5, because it's not really an SUV. It's more like a big station wagon, which means it actually drives like a BMW should.
Pros: It actually drives like a BMW should. Everything about it feels precise and designed for driving feedback. Its engine, steering, suspension and brakes are all among the best available in an SUV.
Cons: The back seat doesn't have much legroom, and the interior fit and finish don't match the lofty standards of Audi and Lexus.
Ratings (1-10)
- Style: 9
- Performance: 10
- Price: 8
- Handling: 10
- Ride: 10
- Comfort: 10
- Quality: 8
- Overall: 9
More Data
Where Built: Austria
Major Options: Premium Package, Sport Package, and Cold Weather Package. Servotronic vehicle-speed-sensitive steering assist, V-rated performance tires, Xenon Adaptive headlights w/ auto-leveling, Park Distance Control, front & rear, Heated steering wheel, 3-stage, thermostatically controlled heated front seats, BMW On-board Navigation System, Leather upholstery, Premium audio system with upgraded audio, Preparation for Sirius Satellite Radio, Privacy glass, Retractable cargo net, Rear side-impact airbags.
Seating: 5
Number of Rows: 2
Length in Inches: 179.7
Warrantees: 4 years/50,000 miles Bumper-to-Bumper, 6 years/60,000 miles Powertrain, 12 year/unlimited miles Corrosion Protection, 5 years/60,000 miles Free Roadside Assistance.
Weight in Pounds: 4023 - 4067
Cargo Capacity in Pounds: Not Available
Gross Maximum Vehicle Weight in Pounds: 5049 - 5104
Towing Capacity in Pounds: 3500
Gas Tank Capacity in Gallons: 17.7
Destination Charge: $695
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