BMW favors the SAV acronym for their X3 and X5 sport-utes. Who can argue with the Sports Activity Vehicle reference since the X3 is based off the sporty 3-series and the X5 is based off the sleek 5-series.
While the X3's pricetag is a bit higher than its competitors in this class, the X3 is undoubtedly one of the more fun vehicles to drive in this segment.
For 2006, BMW trimmed the lineup and no longer offers the base 2.5i model. The X3 is offered only in 3.0i trim.
I love the X3's outward appearance. It features an unmistakable BMW physique but with modern gestures like newly interpreted, classic "Hofmeister kink" in the rear side windows and the newly designed double kidney grille.
New for 2006 are body color front and rear bumpers, chrome vertical grille slats and beltline trim along the side windows.
Under X3's hood is an impressive 225-horsepower, 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder engine. The inline six is so smooth and quiet, yet it delivers a pleasing exhaust note when the throttle is pressed.
Power is good, but not exceptional. Don't expect the X3 to push you back in your seat. Mated to X3's engine is a standard 6-speed manual gearbox or optional 5-speed automatic with manual shift mode.
My tester came equipped with the 5-speed automatic. The automatic delivered very smooth, effortless shifts. For those that like a firmer shift or want to shift manually, the automatic comes with BMW's Steptronic, which offers sport and manual modes.
A special highlight of BMW's X3 is the all-wheel drive system, known as xDrive. xDrive allows infinitely adjustable and fully variable distribution of torque front-to-rear. The system immediately recognizes any need for a change in power distribution and responds very quickly when driving on road, often before the wheels begin to lose their grip.
As a result, the X3 is able to feed optimum drive forces to the respective axle at any time when cornering, significantly minimizing both understeer and oversteer in the process.
There's very little body roll in corners, however that does come at the expense of comfort. Due to its firm suspension tuning, X3 is quite stiff compared to other SUVs.
The X3 has good stopping power and that should come as no surprise with ventilated disc brakes at all four wheels.
Slipping inside the X3, we were greeted by optional leather upholstery (as part of the Premium Package - $1,800). I also liked the standard wood trim found on the door pulls and center console.
Rear seat passengers won't like the high driveshaft hump that separates the floor area when you seat three across. The hump forces the rear middle seat passenger to share foot space with each of the other rear seat passengers.
Another dislike was the optional pop-up style navigational system. Because of its location at the top of the dash, it was difficult to see during the day. It's also not user friendly. I'd have liked it better if it were mounted lower and featured touch-screen controls.
One of my favorite features on our X3 tester was the huge dual-panel Panorama Moonroof, which comes standard. Thanks to the expansive roof glass, passengers won't feel so claustrophobic inside X3
I should also note that the X3 comes loaded with many impressive safety features, too. Pricing for the BMW X3 starts at $36,800.
Those looking for a truly sporty sport-ute will likely enjoy the X3's attributes. The X3 is a bit pricey but it's incredibly fun to drive.
2006 BMW X3 3.0i
Engine: 3.0-liter (225 hp) I6
Transmission: 5-speed automatic
Drive Type: AWD
Fuel Economy: 16 city/23 highway
Base Price: $36,800
As Tested: $44,270 (including $695 for destination)
Website: http://www.bmw.com