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2005 BMW X3
Date Published: 3/27/08

2005 BMW X3
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MSRP:
$30,300 - 36,300

Invoice:
$27,755 - 33,215

Class:
Compact Sport-utility Vehicle
2005 BMW X3
Expert Rating Summary
Category 2.5i, auto. Rating (See All
Ratings)
Compact Sport-utility Vehicle Average Rating
Acceleration 5 4.3
Fuel Economy 5 4.8
Ride Quality 5 4.5
Steering/Handling/Braking 6 4.7
Quietness 6 4
Controls 6 5.5
Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front) 7 5.7
Room/Comfort (rear) 5 4.5
Cargo Room 7 6.7
Value within Class 5 6
Total Score: 57 50.7
Ratings: Maximum 10 points per category
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2005 BMW X3 Review
X3 is somewhat smaller than most like-priced SUVs. It slots below BMW's larger, costlier X5, but has near-identical passenger space, more cargo volume, and is some 600 lb lighter. Like X5, the X3 seats five, has a liftgate with fixed glass, and includes BMW's xDrive all-wheel drive. Inline 6-cyl engines power two models: a 184-hp 2.5i and a 225-hp 3.0i. Both offer 6-speed manual transmission or optional 5-speed automatic with manual shift gate. Despite eight inches of ground clearance, X3 is intended only for light-duty off-roading. The AWD lacks low-range gearing, but includes a hill descent control that automatically limits speed down steep grades. ABS and antiskid/traction control are standard. So are front side airbags and head-protecting tubular side airbags; rear torso side airbags are optional. Standard wheels are 17-inchers, but 18s are available in a Sport Package that also includes firmer suspension and sport front seats. The 3.0 also offers the 18s with "summer" performance tires. Leather upholstery is available for both models, as are dual sunroofs with a sliding front panel and rear glass skylight. Other options include navigation system, steering-linked xenon headlamps, and front/rear obstacle detection.

Competition
Consumer Guide® Automotive places each vehicle into one of 17 classes based on size, price, and market position. Among utility vehicles, Compact SUVs are the least costly and offer the best fuel economy. Most utilize a car-type chassis and are not designed for heavy-duty, off-road use. Nearly all are five-passenger vehicles.

Our Best Buys include the Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Mazda Tribute, and the Mercury Mariner. Our Recommended picks are the Honda Element, Hyundai Tucson, Jeep Liberty, and Subaru Forester.
News
A recent British report says a redesigned X3 isn't due for another 5 years and will be built not in Europe but in the U.S. The new production site signals that the "Mark II" will be a junior X5 in makeup as well as market position, sharing a new flexible platform (which BMW calls "L4") with the redesigned X5 that should issue from the same South Carolina plant in late '06. Power for the next X3s should come from one or more of the new high-tech 6-cyl engines used in BMW's latest 3- and 5-Series cars. V8 and turbo-6 models are strong prospects, perhaps arriving before the redesign as a way to maintain buyer interest in the current design. A diesel may also loom in X3's future. BMW says it will soon offer diesel power for the first time in the U.S., and strongly hints that the X3 and/or X5 will get the nod. Based on company statements, we think one or both of the "oil-burner" SUVs could arrive as early as the '07 model year.
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