Category: Small 4x4s 
Price Range: £27,870 to £39,170
Remarkable roadholding and handling, smooth engine, covetable looks, surprising off-road ability.
Inappropriately cheap-looking fittings, unacceptable ride comfort, overpriced.
Intriguing entrant to the ranks of soft-roaders, but BMW is stretching its premium credentials a little too far here.
Driver, front passenger, front side and head curtain airbags are all standard, with rear side airbags optional. The front airbags alter their inflation to suit impact severity, and also sense if the occupant is leaning to one side instead of sitting straight back in the seat. A tyre pressure indicator is standard, which monitors pressures by comparing the wheel speeds via the ABS sensors and warns if there's a problem. An outside temperature monitor warns of ice on the road.
The remote central locking keys can be personalised for different users, including whether or not the headlights switch on after the X3 is locked as a 'follow-me-home' function. Automatic headlights are standard; the function is selectable.
Latest Readers' Drives About the BMW X3
wrote on 25 11 2007