The original BMW X3 basically invented the upscale sporty compact SUV. Let's see how it does the second time around.

BMW built its brand by building the ultimate driving machines, and even though it's an SUV, the X3 actually does a pretty good job living up to that slogan. Its agile handling is very responsive, steering provides welcome feedback to the driver, even more responsive than some BMW sedans we've recently tested over the years.

BMW has improved the X3 and in this generation, the ride is still firm but motions are short and quick, but it still provides decent isolation. It's mostly quiet inside the cabin, but some road and wind noise still creeps in. There isn't much noise at all from the silky smooth inline six-cylinder engine.

Performance is strong, but the X3 can't feel somewhat unresponsive at a launch such as pulling away from a stop. The 8-speed automatic enhances both performance and fuel economy mileage, which is impressive; it's even on par with some small four-cylinder SUVs. If you want more power, you can get a turbocharged six-cylinder engine.

Visibility is very good at the front and sides with a large front windshield, well-shaped windshield pillars, and large side windows. However, visibility is tougher through the back, though with small three-quarter rear windows and a high rear window sill. You'd think that a backup camera would be standard at this price; it isn't.

The businesslike interior is well finished with big panels of wood trim and a padded dashboard. Unfortunately, some of the controls are more complicated than they need to be. Take the electronic shifter, you push forward from Park into reverse, and Park is actually a button on top of the shifter. Then there's BMW's multifunction control system, which has gotten easier over the years.

The climate control has hard keys as do some basic radio functions, but some functions like manual radio tuning can require going through several on-screen menu pages. The front seats are firm and supportive; some thought they were a little too firm. Access is easy through big doors front and rear, and the rear seat is reasonably roomy for two or three.

Unfortunately, the seat cushion is too low and flat for much thigh support. There's decent cargo space, and the rear seat can fold in three parts maximizing cargo and passenger loading. The X3 doesn't come cheap; even our modestly equipped test car cost forty-three thousand dollars. But it does a lot well for that price; it's enjoyable to drive, nicely finished inside, and surprisingly feels efficient.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enthe original bmw x3 basically invented the upscale sporty compact SUV let's see how it does the second time around BMW built its brand by building the ultimate driving machines and even though it's an SUV the x3 actually does a pretty good job living up to that slogan its agile handling is very responsive steering provides welcome feedback to the driver even more responsive than some BMW sedans we've recently tested over the years BMW has improved the x3 and in this generation the ride is still firm but motions are short and quick but it still provides decent isolation it's mostly quiet inside the cabin but some road and wind noise still creeps in there isn't much noise at all from the silky smooth inline six-cylinder engine performance is strong but the x3 can't feel somewhat unresponsive at a launch such as pulling away from a stop the 8-speed automatic enhances both performance and fuel economy mileage is impressive it's even on par with some small four-cylinder SUVs and if you want more power you can get a turbocharged 6-cylinder engine visibility is very good at the front and sides with a large front windshield well-shaped windshield pillars and large side windows visibility is tougher through the back though with small 3/4 rear windows and a high rear window sill and you'd think that a backup camera would be standard at this price it isn't the extras businesslike interior is well finished with big panels of wood trim and a padded dashboard unfortunately some of the controls are more complicated than they need to be take the electronic shifter you push forward from Park into reverse and Park is actually a button on top of the shifter and then there's I drive BMWs multifunction control system it actually has gotten easier over the years the climate control has hard keys as do some basic radio functions but some functions like manual radio tuning can require going through several on-screen menu pages the front seats are firm and supportive some thought they were a little too firm access is easy through big doors front and rear and the rear seat is reasonably roomy for two or three unfortunately the seat cushion is too low and flat for much thigh support there's decent cargo space and back the rear seat can fold in three parts maximizing cargo and passenger loading the x3 doesn't come cheap even our modestly equipped test car cost forty three thousand dollars but it does a lot well for that price it's enjoyable to drive nicely finished inside and surprisingly feel efficientthe original bmw x3 basically invented the upscale sporty compact SUV let's see how it does the second time around BMW built its brand by building the ultimate driving machines and even though it's an SUV the x3 actually does a pretty good job living up to that slogan its agile handling is very responsive steering provides welcome feedback to the driver even more responsive than some BMW sedans we've recently tested over the years BMW has improved the x3 and in this generation the ride is still firm but motions are short and quick but it still provides decent isolation it's mostly quiet inside the cabin but some road and wind noise still creeps in there isn't much noise at all from the silky smooth inline six-cylinder engine performance is strong but the x3 can't feel somewhat unresponsive at a launch such as pulling away from a stop the 8-speed automatic enhances both performance and fuel economy mileage is impressive it's even on par with some small four-cylinder SUVs and if you want more power you can get a turbocharged 6-cylinder engine visibility is very good at the front and sides with a large front windshield well-shaped windshield pillars and large side windows visibility is tougher through the back though with small 3/4 rear windows and a high rear window sill and you'd think that a backup camera would be standard at this price it isn't the extras businesslike interior is well finished with big panels of wood trim and a padded dashboard unfortunately some of the controls are more complicated than they need to be take the electronic shifter you push forward from Park into reverse and Park is actually a button on top of the shifter and then there's I drive BMWs multifunction control system it actually has gotten easier over the years the climate control has hard keys as do some basic radio functions but some functions like manual radio tuning can require going through several on-screen menu pages the front seats are firm and supportive some thought they were a little too firm access is easy through big doors front and rear and the rear seat is reasonably roomy for two or three unfortunately the seat cushion is too low and flat for much thigh support there's decent cargo space and back the rear seat can fold in three parts maximizing cargo and passenger loading the x3 doesn't come cheap even our modestly equipped test car cost forty three thousand dollars but it does a lot well for that price it's enjoyable to drive nicely finished inside and surprisingly feel efficient\n"