![]() ![]() But if you want one with a performance-oriented personality, the 2012 BMW X3 is a great choice. Each offers a slightly different take on what the ideal luxury crossover should be. The Audi Q5 provides a smoother ride, while the Volvo XC60 is more family-friendly. The Mercedes-Benz GLK350 is less athletic but feels more solid. The Infiniti EX35, for instance, offers similar power and agility for considerably less money. Overall, the 2012 BMW X3 is a major player in the small luxury crossover SUV game. When you need "right now" response it can drop directly from 8th to 2nd gear in one shot, bypassing the gears in between. ![]() The X3's eight-speed transmission also deserves special mention for its quick ability to optimize performance. The entry-level X3 xDrive28i (xDrive is essentially BMW speak for all-wheel drive) provides a fairly spirited drive, while the X3 xDrive35i provides a very spirited drive thanks to its turbocharged, 300-horsepower six-cylinder engine. The 2012 BMW X3 is available with two engines, both of which suffer from BMW's silly naming conventions. Of course, being a crossover SUV, the X3 also provides the expected traits of all-wheel drive and respectable cargo capacity. The interior is as well, with high-quality materials and solid construction. There's even the option of a Dynamic Handling package that also changes the suspension damping, throttle action, transmission shift schedule and stability control calibration to suit the driver's mood and/or road conditions. The superior results carry on into this year, and the 2012 BMW X3 is certainly better for it.Īlthough this second-generation X3 still provides sport sedan-like composure in the corners, its suspension is compliant enough to take the rough edges off the road. So BMW, looking to make amends, fully redesigned the X3 last year. ![]() There was, as the saying goes, some room for improvement. But although it had BMW's trademark athleticism, that first X3 suffered from some subpar interior materials, an overly stiff ride and a high price tag. When it debuted nearly a decade ago, the company's first compact SUV was obviously inspired by its established and respected X5 sibling. BMW doesn't always get it right the first time. ![]()
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