BMW X3 test drive/review
 

So I got an invitation from the local dealer to test drive the new X3.

Me and my gf went and checked out a few. I ended up test driving a black 3.0i with steptronic and panoramic sunroof.

First from a design stand point I actually don't mind the X3. But I also liked the X5 when it first came out.

There are a few things that I would change but nothing drastic.

The car was very similar to an E46 3 series (like our 330i). Similar steering wheel (non sports 4 spoke wheel) and the controls were virtually the same.

The sunroof was pretty neat, it slide back very far and the cover is also powered. Which makes sense since you could not reach it from the drivers seat to close it my hand.

For the test drive I took it along the back roads. A few of the guys here know the road, Santa Rosa, which is the back road way to get to my house from I580.

There was some construction being done on the road and I purposely chose that road to see how well the bumps were absorbed. The X3 did pretty well. I was going about 40mph and none of the bumps were jarring or harsh.

The engine and the tranny is a direct lift from the X5 3.0i model so no surprises there. I felt it was a bit quieter than the 330i, but the 330i needs new tires (more tire noise). The engine revs to 6000rpm smoothly and the tranny downshift quickly (even in non sports mode).

As for the suspension, for what it is, AWD vehicle with several hundred more pounds of weight and the CG a few inches higher than the standard 330i, the car does very well. Again nothing surprising. The X5 handles just as well as the E39 wagon.

A minor annoyance was the gauge cluster. It seems BMW has been reducing the size of the gauges over the past 2 decades. It would be nice if they made the speedo and the tach bigger again. Oh well.

The only thing surprised me a bit was that the AC never felt ice cold. It was cool but not ice cold. In the 330i with the temp set to 68F the AC feels ice cold. In the X3, it wasn't as cold. My gf noticed the same.

Would I buy this car? not right now. I would wait until the new 3.0 engine with more torque and hp is put in the car. Which will probably happen in about 2 years.

I didn't take any pics so here some file photos from Edmunds.com

http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/1...1/028469-E.jpg

http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/1...1/028477-E.jpg

http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/1...1/030240-E.jpg

this last pic shows the color I would get if I ever buy one. It's looks light blue in overcast conditions, but silver when the sun is out. Acura TSX has a similar color.

Car and Driver tore that thing apart. Made it seem like a piece of crap :dunno:


I know I know, don't believe everything you read.

I don't care for the styling nor the interior plastics they chose, but aesthetics aside it seems like a good vehicle.

Honestly from talking to my friends, the Infiniti FX35 handles better than the X5... But the X5 is pretty old now and on it's way out soon.

I have yet to test drive the FX35 or 45 so I don't really know. The interior on the 3.0i wasn't too bad. Similar to what you would find in a 330i without leather or premium package.

If I was in the market for an SUV, I'd get one.

what the hell does that have to do with C&D giving a bad review to the X3? :p

The interior plastices in the X3 was pretty good IMHO. At least as good as what's in the 330i.

I predict BMW will sell more X3 than Z4...

I was commenting on the handling and that some people who has driven both felt it wasn't as a good a handling car as the FX.

As for the C&D review, they said the same thing about the X5. They usually love BMW but they really hate the BMW SAVs. :dunno:

I just can't stand the back lights of the X3. Looks like the lincoln SUVs.

:confused: I thought their review of the X5 4.4i and 4.6is were very favorable, although they complained that both models rode poorly (the 4.4i review I remember was equipped with the sports package)