2012 & 2011 BMW SUV Reviews & Ratings

German luxury auto manufacturer BMW (translated from its longer title, Bayerische Motoren Werke, to Bavarian Motor Works in English) is known for creating well-made vehicles with top-end performance. One of these vehicle types is the SAV (Sports Activity Vehicle). While other auto companies call their vehicles of this type SUVs (Sports Utility Vehicles), BMW substitutes the "A" because it makes predominantly crossover vehicles. BMW currently sells three different SAV variants (four if you count the ActiveHybrid X6 as its own distinct category) for the 2012 model year. For much of its history, BMW did not offer SUV vehicles. It wasn't until 1999 that the company released the BMW X5. The X5 received such a positive reaction that BMW decided to also release a smaller SUV (SAV) to compete with other SUVs already on the market. This is how the X3 was born in 2003. The X6 followed three years later in 2008, as a more performance-based model. The BMW ActiveHybrid X6 is the newest SUV (SAV) model; it premiered in 2009. It's also the most powerful hybrid vehicle on the market. It is not, however, sold in the UK.

The BMW X3 SUV comes with a base 3.0-liter L6 engine that creates 240 horsepower and gets about 19 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway. The X3 is available in two trims: the xDrive28i and the turbocharged xDrive35i and is BMW's smallest SAV offering. The entry 28i comes in around $37,100 and competes with the Infiniti EX35 and the Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class. The 35i SUV has a price of about $42,700 and competes with such vehicles as the Acura MDX and the Volkswagen Touareg 2.

The 2012 BMW X6 comes in three trim styles, including an iconic M model, the xDrive50i, and the xDrive35i SUV models. The X6 is a popular mid-size SUV that's essentially a refined and stylized X5. It has a price range of $59,600 - $90,300. The 35i entry model gets 16 mpg city/23 mpg highway and competes with the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Lexus GX460. The BMW ActiveHybrid 6 is based on the BMW 6-Series and comes in one trim. It has a 4.4-liter engine with 480 horsepower and a base price slightly under $90k. It gets 17 mpg in the city and 19 mpg on the highway. It first premiered in 2009 and is the world's most powerful hybrid. It offers three driving options: all-electric mode, all-combustion mode, or a mode combined of the two. It competes with such vehicles as the Porsche Cayenne and the Volkswagen Touraeg 2, both of which are hybrid-powered SUVs.

Last but certainly not least is the 2012 BMW X5 SUV (SAV) line, which has a price range between $47,500 - $87,250 and which comes in four trims/models: the xDrive 35i, the xDrive35d, the xDrive50i, and an M model variant. The biggest price jump is from the entry-level 35i at $47,500 to the M's $87,250. The X5 was BMW's first entrance into the SUV market and its characteristic design has stood the test of time since its arrival in 1999, though it did receive significant updates in 2011. The entry-level X5 competes with the Porsche Cayenne and the Land Rover LR4.