2010 BMW X3

• Overall
• Prices
• Performance
• Exterior
• Interior
• Safety
• Reliability
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Performance - What the Auto Press Says

The majority of test drivers are very pleased with the BMW X3's performance, which offers plenty of power and especially sporty handling for an SUV.

• "The steering is simply the best, the engine is joyous to use, the suspension is nimble and the brakes are effective." -- Edmunds 
• "Like BMW's cars, the X3 offers top-notch road manners. Some may find the steering wheel too difficult to turn, but its heavy rotations render spot-on directional control." -- Cars.com
• "Among the sportiest SUVs of any size. Body lean is well controlled, and responsiveness is car-like in any driving condition. Steering feel is generally good, but some testers complain that effort is too heavy at low speeds. A tight turning radius helps in close quarters. Strong brakes have good pedal feel." -- Consumer Guide

Acceleration and Power

Critics feel the engine in the BMW X3 offers plenty of power. It comes with a 3.0-liter 260-horsepower inline six-cylinder engine and is paired with either a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic (a no-cost option).

The EPA has not yet rated the 2010 model, but 2009 automatic models are rated at 17/24 mpg city/highway, while manual models are rated at 16/23 mpg. These figures are about average for the class, but a few SUVs offer higher fuel economy at even lower prices. The Audi Q5 starts at about $2,000 less and gets an 18/23 mpg rating and offers similarly sporty handling. The Acura RDX is also worth consideration since it costs about $4,000 less and boasts an even better 19/24 mpg rating.

• "It has crisp initial throttle response and acceleration that builds and builds the deeper you plant your foot." -- Car and Driver
• "The X3 power plant delivers spirited power over the majority of its rpm range, while the transmission's gearchanges seem positively caffeinated in their eagerness. It's a bright, responsive pairing." -- Edmunds
• "We drove only the 3.0i, which, with either transmission, had punch aplenty for merging onto the Costa del Sol's autovias and chasing goats through narrow mountain switchbacks." -- Automobile Magazine
• "The standard manual transmission is one of the best stick shifts on the market, moving between ratios with a well-weighted accuracy. But BMW USA's prediction that more than 95 percent of buyers will opt for the smooth-shifting six-speed autobox sounds on the money to us." -- AutoWeek
• "X3 has strong acceleration from a stop and during highway passing and merging; BMW's claim of 7.9 seconds 0-60 mph feels right. However, nonlinear throttle response aggravates smooth driving, as does the transmission's jerky upshifts and delayed downshifts. Its manual override does help, though. No manual-transmission X3 models have been made available for testing." -- Consumer Guide

Handling and Braking

Test drivers find the X3 to be an extremely competent vehicle on the road -- sporty and with a firm ride. The optional Sport Package ($2,300) comes with a sport suspension and an aerodynamic kit. Servotronic steering, a $250 option, makes steering easier in low-speed maneuvers and in parking lots.

• "The optional Servotronic steering is flat-out wonderful. It's speed-sensitive, adding more assist at low speeds, and invisibly altering the steering ratio, so the car turns more with less steering input. Parallel-parking is a breeze, as are quick, mid-block U-turns." -- Automotive.com
• "Its suspension is tuned to tackle long stretches at speed or twists and turns with pinpoint precision and agility." -- Chicago Tribune
• "The ride is sporty and firm with the base suspension, but bumps are absorbed without undue harshness or unwanted body motions." -- Consumer Guide

All-Wheel Drive

The 2010 X3 features a standard xDrive all-wheel drive (AWD) system, which electronically varies traction control to optimize grip. It's an excellent system for on-road foul weather or modest off-road excursions. The only other SUV in its class that offers this feature standard is the Audi Q5. 

• "With limited ground clearance and all-season tires, the X3 has few off-road aspirations but one of the best all-weather all-wheel-drive systems on the market." -- Kelley Blue Book
• "Beyond the pure performance numbers -- where the X3 simply runs away from the [Land Rover] LR2 -- the BMW is a much more engaging vehicle to drive every day, and it also dispatches all but the roughest terrain with surprising agility." -- Edmunds
• "BMW insists that the X3 AWD system is meant for on- or off-road use but, without a low setting, we'd probably skip any Baja adventure." -- Chicago Tribune