2008 BMW X3 SAV Mini-Review
BMW X3 SAV
In a world where the SUV has become a symbol of excess and poor fuel economy you would think the market for such vehicles would have virtually disappeared by now. But in the BMW X3 there may be life after death for those who still want a smaller, more “politically correct” SUV that hopefully won’t make too many compromises. Unlike the larger X5 the X3 draws most of it’s styling and mechanicals from the 3-Series sedan (previous generation) which makes for a far more car-like interpretation of the SUV. BMW makes this clear by calling the X3 a Sport Activity Vehicle (SAV) in an effort to an effort to differentiate the brand. Nomenclature aside, the reduction in size and the more European feel to the X3 make this BMW a slightly more attractive option when compared to the competition from Audi, Lexus and Infinity. Overall I liked the X3 for what it was but it was not without fault and I found that most of the appeal could be found in the SUV-like utility combined with the smaller form factor. While I can’t say I totally recommend the X3 (read on for details on why) I can say that it does offer an intriguing mix that will undoubtably appeal to more cost-conscious buyers looking to still satisfy that SUV fix.
From the first time I saw the X3 I never really liked the styling. Not that the X3 is an ugly SUV (or is that SAV…) in the same hit-every-branch-on-the-way-down as the Porsche Cayenne or the Pontiac Aztec but it sure is not going to win any automobile beauty contests. From a more functional point of view the styling clearly shows where BMW has taken a more practical and conservative approach by simply scaling up the previous 3-Series dimensions on slightly while raising the roofline enough to provide almost as much interior space as the previous generation X5. Bottom line with the styling is you either hate it or you simply find it “ok” and with the addition of running boards and an optional wheel and tire package the test X3 I had the opportunity to drive over this past weekend at least did that much for me.
One you slide into the drivers seat the X3 begins to go from ugly duckling to something bit more interesting. The interior design thankfully bears little in common with the exterior and BMW seems to have taken great pains to give the X3 a nice upscale feel to both the materials and the overall craftsmanship. Fit and finish was very good with far less of the cheap plastic that seems to have invaded even luxury cars these days. Another bonus was control placement which was spot on and the only exception being the power window controls which always seemed to be too close, requiring a more deliberate action rather than being instantly accessible. Clever options such as the panoramic sunroof and sunshade show the BMW is thinking and the easy to use flat rear cargo area show they have learned from past fumbles. Overall the interior felt roomy but still more cosy than the X5 (in a good way) and I found it easy and comfortable to drive longer distances at highway speeds then I expected.
Like all BMWs the X3 has more than enough horsepower to get the spirited driver into trouble rather quickly. Power is provided by a tried and true 3.0 liter inline six that has been tuned to produce 260 HP which is 30 more horses than the standard 328i 3-Series sedan but still lacking when compared to the insanely powerful engine in the 335i (300HP!). Power envy aside, the engine in the X3 produces more than enough power to satisfy most folks and I found that by using the sport-mode of the 6-speed automatic I was able to zip up to highway speeds at near sport sedan enjoyment level. Milage was very good for a vehicle of this size with my mostly highway average coming in at 26.1 mpg and at times peaked around 28 mpg. Of course if you drive it like you stole it then milage quickly drops to less than 20 mpg.
After driving the X3 for the better part of a day I really wanted to say that it grew on me but several issues kept making me reconsider. First off, the hatch in the rear is junk, especially compared to the very useful split tailgate-style hatch in the X5. Closing the darn thing is a clumsy exercise that I never seemed to get the hang of even after several tries. I also found that both getting in and out of the X3 to be a bit awkward (due in part to the running boards, but I would still get them just for the looks…) since it is really not much higher off the ground than the 3-Series sedan. Although the X3 performed very well on the highway, proving to be as quiet and comfortable as you would expect a 40k+ vehicle to be, on uneven back roads the story was very different. I found the suspension to be quite choppy and the constant bouncing around seemed to make passengers nauseous if the majority of the driving was on back roads. Not so much a complaint but an observation; BMW has neglected to bring some of the newer 3-Series amenities to the X3, particularly absent was the new push-button start and the more advanced dash electronics. One observer noted that it seemed like the X3 had more in common with the previous generation 3-Series than the current one and I found myself in agreement with that assessment as well.
In conclusion I would agree that the BMW X3 does manage to achieve what it sets out to do, provide a small SUV for those who need (or want) something larger than a 3-Series wagon but don’t want to give up the extra cash for either the 5-Series wagon or the X3′s larger sibling the X5. Unfortunately the X3 is mostly a vehicle of compromises; not as roomy as the X5 but not as small as the 3-Series wagon, better gas milage than the larger X5 but not as good as the 328i sedan (or wagon). Can I recommend the X3? That depends, if you just can’t live with a wagon or you hate the new X5 (or the higher price tag) then the X3 might be the one for you but those looking for less of a compromise and can live with 2-3 less miles per gallon the X5 just makes more sense.
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