| Vehicle | |
|---|---|
| Model year | 2011 |
| Make | BMW |
| Model | X3 |
| Style | xDrive35i 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A) |
| Base MSRP | $41,925 |
| Options on test vehicle | Titanium Silver Metallic ($550); Premium Package ($3,450 -- includes universal garage door opener; dual-pane power glass panel moonroof with tilt and slide functions, wind deflector and power sunshade; auto-dimming interior rearview mirror; auto-dimming and power-folding exterior mirrors; four-way front seat power lumbar support; interior light package; storage package; Nevada leather upholstery); Technology Package ($3,200 -- includes rearview camera with top-view feature; Park Distance Control [PDC] for front and rear bumpers; hard-drive-based navigation system with real-time traffic information and voice activation; online information services and Bluetooth audio functionality); Dynamic Handling Package ($1,400 -- includes dynamic damper control variable-rate electromagnetic shock absorbers; Performance Control; variable sport [variable ratio] steering; Driving Dynamics Control selector); Head-Up Display ($1,300); Sport Activity Package ($1,250 -- includes Sport automatic transmission; sport steering wheel with shift paddles; roof rails in aluminum satin; X-Line exterior trim package; eight-way power-adjustable front sport seats with two-way manually adjustable thigh support); Cold Weather Package ($1,150 -- includes heated steering wheel; 40/20/40-split rear seat backrest; heated front seats; heated rear seats; retractable headlight washers); Convenience Package ($1,150 -- includes power tailgate, comfort access keyless entry; cargo net; rear manual side window shades); Smartphone Integration ($150). |
| As-tested MSRP | $55,525 |
| Drivetrain | |
|---|---|
| Drive type | Longitudinal, Front-engine, All-wheel Drive |
| Engine type | Turbocharged, direct-injected, inline-6 with auto-stop/start |
| Displacement (cc/cu-in) | 2,979cc (182 cu-in) |
| Block/head material | Aluminum/aluminum |
| Valvetrain | DOHC, four valves per cylinder, variable intake-valve timing and lift |
| Compression ratio (x:1) | 10.2 |
| Redline (rpm) | 7,000 |
| Horsepower (hp @ rpm) | 300 @ 5,800 |
| Torque (lb-ft @ rpm) | 300 @ 1,200 |
| Fuel type | Premium unleaded (required) |
| Transmission type | Eight-speed automatic with console shifter and column-mounted paddles with sport/competition modes |
| Transmission and axle ratios (x:1) | I = 4.714; II = 3.143; III = 2.106; IV = 1.667; V = 1.285; VI = 1.00; VII = 0.839; VIII = 0.667 |
| Chassis | |
|---|---|
| Suspension, front | Independent MacPherson struts, coil springs, driver-adjustable 3-mode variable dampers, stabilizer bar |
| Suspension, rear | Independent multilink, coil springs, driver-adjustable 3-mode variable dampers, stabilizer bar |
| Steering type | Speed-proportional power steering |
| Steering ratio (x:1) | 19.5 |
| Tire brand | Pirelli |
| Tire model | P Zero |
| Tire type | Summer performance front and rear |
| Tire size, front | P245/50R18 |
| Tire size, rear | P245/50R18 |
| Wheel size | 18-by-8 inches front and rear |
| Wheel material | Cast aluminum |
| Brakes, front | 12.8-inch one-piece ventilated cast-iron discs with single-piston sliding calipers |
| Brakes, rear | 12.6-inch one-piece ventilated cast-iron discs with single-piston sliding calipers |
| Track Test Results | |
|---|---|
| Acceleration, 0-30 mph (sec.) | 2.0 |
| 0-45 mph (sec.) | 3.5 |
| 0-60 mph (sec.) | 5.6 |
| 0-75 mph (sec.) | 8.5 |
| 1/4-mile (sec. @ mph) | 14.1 @ 95.3 |
| 0-60 with 1 foot of rollout (sec.) | 5.4 |
| Braking, 30-0 mph (ft.) | 29 |
| 60-0 mph (ft.) | 115 |
| Slalom, 6 x 100 ft. (mph) | 66.0 |
| Skid pad, 200-ft. diameter (lateral g) | 0.86 |
| Sound level @ idle (dB) | 43.3 |
| @ Full throttle (dB) | 79.4 |
| @ 70 mph cruise (dB) | 64.8 |
| Test Driver Ratings & Comments | |
|---|---|
| Acceleration comments | This new single-turbo inline-6 has impressive power right off the line, especially considering it's rated at 300 hp and weighs almost 4,200 pounds. The AWD helps it launch very hard, much quicker than the last-gen X3 we previously tested that was only down by 40 hp. But although our quickest 0-60 came on the fourth run, our best quarter-mile came on the second run, getting consistently slower thereafter. Speed dropped by about 4 mph on the last run, pointing to heat soak. |
| Braking comments | Pedal has a firm feel and the X3 barely squirms around at all. It's certainly aided by the Euro-spec summer tires. All five stops were right around 116 feet. The only odd thing was that the hazard light came on with every stop. |
| Handling comments | Skid pad: Plenty of grip from the X3's Euro-spec summer tires. It's difficult to get back on the power smoothly because of an annoyingly abrupt throttle delivery. Slalom: Even with stability control fully deactivated, you can feel electronic aids at work here, making for a disconnected feeling compounded by electric power steering, which has quicker-than-expected initial turn-in. It seems as if it senses you're about to roll, then stability control cuts in. But other times, it will alow for lurid power-on oversteer-slides such as around the last cone. I appreciate the fact that 100 percent of the power can be sent to the rear wheels. |
| Testing Conditions | |
|---|---|
| Elevation (ft.) | 1,121 |
| Temperature (°F) | 59.5 |
| Relative humidity (%) | 16.3 |
| Wind (mph, direction) | 2.8 |
| Fuel Consumption | |
|---|---|
| EPA fuel economy (mpg) | 19 city/26 highway |
| Edmunds observed (mpg) | 19.5 |
| Fuel tank capacity (U.S. gal.) | 17.7 |
| Dimensions & Capacities | |
|---|---|
| Curb weight, mfr. claim (lbs.) | 4,222 |
| Curb weight, as tested (lbs.) | 4,184 |
| Weight distribution, as tested, f/r (%) | 51.2/48.8 |
| Length (in.) | 183.0 |
| Width (in.) | 74.1 |
| Height (in.) | 65.4 |
| Wheelbase (in.) | 110.5 |
| Track, front (in.) | 63.6 |
| Track, rear (in.) | 64.3 |
| Turning circle (ft.) | 39.0 |
| Legroom, front (in.) | 39.9 |
| Legroom, rear (in.) | 36.8 |
| Headroom, front (in.) | 40.7 |
| Headroom, rear (in.) | 39.1 |
| Shoulder room, front (in.) | 57.3 |
| Shoulder room, rear (in.) | 56.0 |
| Seating capacity | 5 |
| Cargo volume (cu-ft) | 27.6 |
| Warranty | |
|---|---|
| Bumper-to-bumper | 4 years/50,000 miles |
| Powertrain | 4 years/50,000 miles |
| Corrosion | 12 years/Unlimited miles |
| Roadside assistance | 4 years/Unlimited miles |
| Free scheduled maintenance | 4 years/50,000 miles |
| Safety | |
|---|---|
| Front airbags | Standard |
| Side airbags | Dual front |
| Head airbags | Front and rear |
| Antilock brakes | Four-wheel ABS |
| Electronic brake enhancements | Braking assist, electronic brakeforce distribution |
| Traction control | Traction control |
| Stability control | Stability control |
| Tire-pressure monitoring system | Tire-pressure monitoring |
| NHTSA crash test, driver | Not tested |
| NHTSA crash test, passenger | Not tested |
| NHTSA crash test, side front | Not tested |
| NHTSA crash test, side rear | Not tested |
| NHTSA rollover resistance | Not tested |
| IIHS offset | Not tested |
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