New Car Review of the 2006 BMW X3 Compact Sport Utility Vehicle
Although I've never owned a BMW, I always feel right at home when I drive one.
I'll step inside one of these brand-new German cars -- even some that are so expensive they're intimidating -- and suddenly feel like I'm driving a car I've owned for 10 years. It fits me like a pair of well-worn leather shoes.
Base MSRP: $36,800
Base Invoice: $33,670
MSRP As Tested: $38,600
Versions: 3.0i.
Vehicle Category: Compact Sport Utility Vehicle
Engine Location: Front Engine
Drive Wheels: All-Wheel Drive
Standard Engine As Tested: 3.0-liter, Dual Overhead Cam, 24- valves, I-6, 229 – horsepower at 5900 rpm and 214 lb-ft torque at 3500 rpm.
Transmission: 6-Speed manual, 5-Speed automatic.
Fuel Economy (city/hwy): 17/25, 16/23.
Standard Safety Features: Dual-airbag Supplementary Restraint System with 2-stage Smart Airbags, Front-seat side-impact airbags, ">Antilock 4-wheel disc brakes, Brake assist, Antiskid system, Hill descent control, Tire-pressure monitor, Daytime running lights Automatic front safety-belt tensioners & force limiters, Automatic-locking retractors (ALR) on all passenger safety belts (for installation of child restraint seats), LATCH attachments for attachment of child restraint seats, Interlocking door anchoring system for side impacts, Front- & rear-seat Head Protection System, Battery Safety Terminal, Automatic fuel-pump shutoff upon severe accident impact, Intelligent Safety & Information System (ISIS) for deployment of safety systems, BMW Assist Safety Services including automatic collision notification, SOS button, enhanced Roadside, Central locking system with double-lock anti-theft feature, selective unlocking & interior locking switch, Coded Driveaway Protection, Pre-wiring for alarm system.
Competition: Acura MDX, Cadillac SRX, Infiniti FX45, Lexus RX, Lincoln Aviator, Mazda CX-7, Porsche Cayenne, Volvo XC90.
I can only think of one reason for feeling so comfortable in a car that I drive so rarely, and that's because BMWs perform remarkably like the nimble, ultra-responsive sports cars I've owned through the years. My personal taste is for cars that connect the driver directly to the road, offering intense sensory feedback so I know precisely what the car is doing at any given moment. That's what a BMW does, so I'm in my element.
In fact, the only exception to my "Law of BMW Comfort" came when I drove the X5, BMW's big SUV. It was incredible for an SUV, but that was the whole problem. It still felt like an SUV.
It also ranked fairly high on the stupidity scale because -- let's be honest -- does anybody really need a BMW SUV? It's almost like driving a Ferrari golf cart or cutting your grass with a Mercedes-Benz luxury lawn mower. What's the point?
That's why I didn't have high hopes for BMW's smaller SUV, the X3. Perhaps I should have.
From the moment I turned the key, the X3 gave me the exact same right-at-home feeling that I get from BMW's sports sedans, so I instantly pretended I was Hans Stuck on the Nurburgring. I would look for fun, double-apex corners on exit ramps and pay close attention to braking points when scooting around town.
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
Warranties: 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
