Topic: Test Drive: 2013 BMW X3 xDrive28i

[Autos_Editor]

The BMW X3 has matured into a very practical vehicle, but Tom finds it still offers outstanding handling for this class.

Read More...

[mixmanmash]

Creaks and rattles.  Just wait another 90,000 kms for the engine to start knocking... 

Looks like BMW has some work to do in the initial quality department, not to mention reliability.

[Ace]

Why even bother listing the gov't fuel consumption numbers?? They aren't even close to reality I call it false advertising

[tazcubed]

The BMW X3 has matured into a very practical vehicle, but Tom finds it still offers outstanding handling for this class.

Read More...

Truth be said, I'm more of a fan of the iDrive than the touch screens for a very simple reason: once you get used to it, it's more intuitive and accurate to use while driving (for most functions). Nor do you end up smudging the screen. Voice commands are still hit or miss, particularly with getting navigation to work (in several cars I've used it in), so while driving I think iDrive is better - and one is less likely to need to take one's eyes off the road to make adjustments.

So far as the rest of the vehicle, well, time will tell - BMWs durability has been lacking in the past 6-8 years.

[carcrazed]

I like the looks for the X3s, but the new GLKs look pretty darn good these days.  I'd take the GLK350 over X3 for its V6 engine.

When the revised X3 came out, the salesperson assured me that the turbo 4 of the X1 won't get in the X3, he was wrong. 

[greengs]

Why even bother listing the gov't fuel consumption numbers?? They aren't even close to reality I call it false advertising

Says a Kia owner  Sorry couldn't resist.  Unlike Kia, BMW hasn't been busted cheating yet, but you're right the Canadian fuel ratings are a joke.  If you want something realistic take a look at USA EPA ratings.

[OliverD]

I like the looks for the X3s, but the new GLKs look pretty darn good these days.  I'd take the GLK350 over X3 for its V6 engine.

Or the GLK250 for its diesel engine.

[Ace]

Why even bother listing the gov't fuel consumption numbers?? They aren't even close to reality I call it false advertising

Says a Kia owner  Sorry couldn't resist.  Unlike Kia, BMW hasn't been busted cheating yet, but you're right the Canadian fuel ratings are a joke.  If you want something realistic take a look at USA EPA ratings.

Yeah,Kia is throwing me a bone and I think they are giving me a debit card for $80 for the error. Better than nothing I guess.
By the way, I stopped believing Ottawa's numbers a long time ago.

[nlm]

550L cargo !?! That's not a lot at all. It suppose it compares with the 500L in the GLK but is even smaller than the Tiguan at 673L. Hard to believe its the size of the original X5; is there more interior room devoted to passenger space?

[sailor723]

550L cargo !?! That's not a lot at all. It suppose it compares with the 500L in the GLK but is even smaller than the Tiguan at 673L. Hard to believe its the size of the original X5; is there more interior room devoted to passenger space?

Not all cargo numbers come from the same source or are calculated in the same way.  I've found it pays to use a single site for that data if you want to compare different models. Edmunds.com or Consumers Reports are useful for this. 

FWIW  Edmunds gives the following as cargo capacity behind the rear seat

X3          27.6
Tiguan    23.8
GLK        23.3

[sailor723]

550L cargo !?! That's not a lot at all. It suppose it compares with the 500L in the GLK but is even smaller than the Tiguan at 673L. Hard to believe its the size of the original X5; is there more interior room devoted to passenger space?

Not all cargo numbers come from the same source or are calculated in the same way.  I've found it pays to use a single site for that data if you want to compare different models. Edmunds.com or Consumers Reports are useful for this. 

FWIW  Edmunds gives the following as cargo capacity behind the rear seat

X3          27.6
Tiguan    23.8
GLK        23.3

Just to confuse things further CR gives a figure of  33 cubic feet for the X3 while the 550 Litre number shown in this review converts to only 19.4

[SMMN]

My wife's 2012 CRV is tight as drum - not a creak or rattle after 10000K - I was leaning to look at the BMW when her lease is up but I am beginning to wonder why - especially if you have to spend $50,000 + to get real leather and then you still have rattles.

I think this is becoming an issue for the likes of BMW and the others - the price to value proposition is growing as the "lesser" makes close the gap on quality, features and general driveability. Sure BMW and the others may always have an edge on handling and pestige but is that worth $20,000.00 or more - hard to say.

[Ex-airbalancer]

You have 10,000,000 on a 2012 
Or is that 10,000 km 

[Wildsau]

My wife's 2012 CRV is tight as drum - not a creak or rattle after 10000K - I was leaning to look at the BMW when her lease is up but I am beginning to wonder why - especially if you have to spend $50,000 + to get real leather and then you still have rattles.

I think this is becoming an issue for the likes of BMW and the others - the price to value proposition is growing as the "lesser" makes close the gap on quality, features and general driveability. Sure BMW and the others may always have an edge on handling and pestige but is that worth $20,000.00 or more - hard to say.

Great point. I definitely agree with your last sentence. BMW, Audi and other premium brands do a bang-up job in crafting fantastic driving machines, exquisite interiors and a feeling of quality. But when the reliability isn't there, and things aren't screwed together properly from the beginning, I also question the value of the premium I'm paying for.

[Ex-airbalancer]

My wife's 2012 CRV is tight as drum - not a creak or rattle after 10000K - I was leaning to look at the BMW when her lease is up but I am beginning to wonder why - especially if you have to spend $50,000 + to get real leather and then you still have rattles.

I think this is becoming an issue for the likes of BMW and the others - the price to value proposition is growing as the "lesser" makes close the gap on quality, features and general driveability. Sure BMW and the others may always have an edge on handling and pestige but is that worth $20,000.00 or more - hard to say.

Great point. I definitely agree with your last sentence. BMW, Audi and other premium brands do a bang-up job in crafting fantastic driving machines, exquisite interiors and a feeling of quality. But when the reliability isn't there, and things aren't screwed together properly from the beginning, I also question the value of the premium I'm paying for.

When did a reviewer ever buy  a new car

[Sir Osis of Liver]

When did a reviewer ever buy  a new car

 

[Wildsau]

My wife's 2012 CRV is tight as drum - not a creak or rattle after 10000K - I was leaning to look at the BMW when her lease is up but I am beginning to wonder why - especially if you have to spend $50,000 + to get real leather and then you still have rattles.

I think this is becoming an issue for the likes of BMW and the others - the price to value proposition is growing as the "lesser" makes close the gap on quality, features and general driveability. Sure BMW and the others may always have an edge on handling and pestige but is that worth $20,000.00 or more - hard to say.

Great point. I definitely agree with your last sentence. BMW, Audi and other premium brands do a bang-up job in crafting fantastic driving machines, exquisite interiors and a feeling of quality. But when the reliability isn't there, and things aren't screwed together properly from the beginning, I also question the value of the premium I'm paying for.

When did a reviewer ever buy  a new car

Can't speak for any other reviewers, of course, but for me, it was four years ago and six years ago - a Honda Odyssey and an Audi S4 Avant respectively - both new.

[SaskSpecV]

Can't speak for any other reviewers, of course, but for me, it was four years ago and six years ago - a Honda Odyssey and an Audi S4 Avant respectively - both new.

What colour?  You still have it?  My co-worker bought a used 2007(ish) white S4 wagon from Edmonton about 2 years ago...she loves it!  Maybe it was yours??  She calls it her mid-life-crisis-mommy-mobile...unfortunately it's an auto

[Wildsau]

Can't speak for any other reviewers, of course, but for me, it was four years ago and six years ago - a Honda Odyssey and an Audi S4 Avant respectively - both new.

What colour?  You still have it?  My co-worker bought a used 2007(ish) white S4 wagon from Edmonton about 2 years ago...she loves it!  Maybe it was yours??  She calls it her mid-life-crisis-mommy-mobile...unfortunately it's an auto

It was dolphin grey and an auto as well. Unfortunately, I don't have it any more. As a matter of fact, I traded it straight across for the new Odyssey. Our third kid arrived and that was that.

I loved it too - normally I have no problem with autos, but the one in the S4 was way too economically-minded, always heading for higher gears unless you had it in Sport mode. Terrifying mileage with the V8 too, but I knew that getting into it. It sounded amazing - always turned heads with that rumble.

Hope she's able to enjoy it for a long time - I sure miss mine.

[Solstice2006]

550L cargo !?! That's not a lot at all. It suppose it compares with the 500L in the GLK but is even smaller than the Tiguan at 673L. Hard to believe its the size of the original X5; is there more interior room devoted to passenger space?

Not all cargo numbers come from the same source or are calculated in the same way.  I've found it pays to use a single site for that data if you want to compare different models. Edmunds.com or Consumers Reports are useful for this. 

FWIW  Edmunds gives the following as cargo capacity behind the rear seat

X3          27.6
Tiguan    23.8
GLK        23.3

    

Mazda has a strange way of calculating cargo space, my Mazda5 for example shows 24 cubic feet with the 3rd row down, but it's closer to 44 cubic feet as per Edmunds, which is more than the Highlander (at 42 cubic feet) with the 3rd row down.