2016 BMW X3: Small and Mighty

The X3 from BMW is one of the smallest and most endearing luxury SUVs on the market.  The X3 is the mobile office you want to have to stay connected with business while on the go.  This SUV comes with the ability to check email, texts, calendar events and other office functions while on the go through the ConnectedDrive system from BMW.  This little beauty is also full of driving excitement that makes it easier for you to have a great time on or off the road, especially when you add the xDrive technology which is the awesome AWD system from BMW.

The X3 is one of the SUVs on the road that accents the “sport” part of the name while giving you a plethora of awesome features to fully enjoy.  This is actually done without giving up the “utility” as it has plenty of cargo area and a roof rack to make it a fun SUV to take into the wilderness and have a great time.  The expanded Bluetooth functionality gives two connections that expand the connectivity you need in order to get everything the X3 has to offer for your most engaged drive.

What’s really cool about the X3 is the fact it comes at prices that are more than competitive with other SUVs on the road today.  The X3 starts out in the sDrive28i shows up at $39,500 with about a $2,000 increase to have the xDrive added to the package.  If you prefer diesel, the xDrive28d starts not a lot higher at $43,000.  At the top end the xDrive 35i stats around $47,300 but adding some of the additional features can bring the X3 up close to $60,000 which makes for an SUV that has a great price range so you can have the X3 that will do everything you need it to do.

In order to understand what you get for the prices listed, let’s look at the standard equipment first.  The base X3 has the Mobile Office already installed on all models.  The rest of the menu of standard features includes automatic climate controls, eight-way power adjustable front seats, burled walnut trim, a power tailgate, rain sensing windshield wipers, a 12-speaker 205-watt audio system with HD Radio and an auxiliary input.  The xDrive28i adds the AWD with the xDrive 28d adding the diesel engine.  The xDrive 35i brings in the six-cylinder engine, xenon headlights and the panoramic moonroof.  All models will benefit from four years and 50,000 miles of complimentary maintenance that helps give your X3 the best start.

Of course to reach closer to the $60,000 price tag and take the vehicle to the equipment menu it needs to be the optional equipment helps give you everything you want.  The Technology Package adds a head up display, real-time traffic info, a navigation system and BMW apps.  the Driver Assistance Plus package brings in blind-spot monitoring, side and top-view cameras along with many other driver assistance items that help bring this SUV to the version you desire to give you the most well-equipped X3 possible.

Discussing the power plants for the X3, you can see there are three engines available to give this SUV the power needed.  All three engines benefit from being attached to a fantastic eight-speed automatic transmission and the smart start/stop feature which helps to safe fuel.

The base model comes in with a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine that comes in with 240 horsepower and 260 lb.-ft. of torque.  This setup comes in with a fuel mileage of 21 city/28 hwy mpg which allows you to have a vehicle that can take you farther on a tank of gas than many other SUVs.

The real gas saver for this lineup is the 2.0-liter turbocharged diesel inline four-cylinder engine that gives up 180 horsepower and 280 lb.-ft. of torque.  The awesome and powerful engine provides you with 27 city/34 hwy mpg of fuel mileage along with the added low end power to be one of the best off-road small luxury SUVs on the market today.

Finally, when you want more horsepower and speed the 3.0-liter turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine is the choice to make.  This set up gives you 300 horsepower and 300 lb.-ft. of torque along with the ability to reach sixty mph in less than five seconds.  the fuel mileage for this excellent X3 comes in at 19 city/26 hwy mpg which is still reasonable in a sporty and powerful model.

On the inside the X3 is one of the nicest in any lineup.  With plenty of luxury items and a great deal of space this cabin makes for a fantastic place to conduct business or head out for a pleasure drive.  The heated front seats and leather can give a comfortable and pampering ride.  The control panel is easily understood and enjoyable while the legroom and cargo space is surprisingly generous in order to give you the ride that you want from inside the vehicle.

On the outside the athletic look and gorgeous lines of the X3 give it a luxurious but brash appearance.  The new look makes it feel more like a 3 Series sedan than an SUV which is great since the 3 Series is one of the most popular platforms from BMW ever created.  The additions to the outside include the xLine brushed aluminum along with the larger wheels for the M Sport which also has a better aerodynamic package.

You want to drive the BMW X3 and it wants to be driven.  As a BMW vehicle the X3 offers a fantastic suspension and direct and dynamic steering system.  These make for one of the most engaged driving feelings in a SUV that is quiet, comfortable, full of great features and sporty.  When you choose the diesel powered X3 you have a vehicle that makes it easy to enjoy driving down any road on heading out to the great outdoors for some awesome adventure.  Having this SUV by your side will have you wanting to get up early and see the sun rise before work or enjoying the long way home once the work day has ended.  This is the perfect vehicle to give you a great feeling at the end of any day, which makes you want to enjoy some of the most fun possible on or off the road and share this experience with your family and friends.