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.