2012 BMW X3 SUV Review & Ratings

The new 2012 X3 has received a complete redesign from its makers, which most would say couldn't come soon enough. Changes to the interior, as well as changes under the hood are easily evident when first getting into the vehicle and driving it. It is still rather much the old X3 on the exterior, albeit with a more modernized look to it. Along with its improvements over last year's version, the new 2012 X3 can also boast being cheaper, even with the addition of a turbocharged V6 engine. The new X3 is larger than last year's model, but it still manages to shave 50 pounds off. The larger SUV facilitates larger cabin room as well, with passengers being gifted with an increased amount of foot room, and as we know in SUVs, every bit of space counts. The interior of the car sees improvement with regards to the quality of build materials, after coming under a lot of criticism. This crossover from BMW is likely to compete very competently with other similar SUVs in the market, which includes the Volvo XC60 and the Audi Q5.

BMW has differentiated the X3 according to the preferred specifications in European and North American markets. In Europe, the X3 has two trims, named the X3 'xDrive20d' and the 'xDrive35i' the latter of which is common to both markets. In North America, the SUV launched with two trim options, namely the 'xDrive 28i' and the 'xDrive35i'. Along with offering these packages, BMW should also be featuring an 'M sport' variant in the X3 line. What all of these models have in common are that they each house BMW's eight-speed automatic transmission system, with the V6 version of the SUV having automatic stop-start functionality. Now let's talk speed: the xDrive20d features a 184 horsepower engine. Although this trim only has V4 engine, it accelerates quite decently, with a 0-60mph in 8.5 seconds. The next trim on the list is the xDrive28i, which has a 240 horsepower engine, at a low price of $37,625, which isn't too bad for its class.