Best Car Models & All About Cars: 2012 BMW X3

2012 BMW X3 Front View

The BMW X3 could be a tiny crossover vehicle that gives customary all-wheel-drive along with a smart blend of luxury and performance. Currently in its second generation, the X3 gains a strong and efficient turbocharged four-cylinder as the bottom engine for the latest model year.

The newest generation X3 gains three.three inches in overall length, with an additional .half-dozen inches to the wheelbase, along with an extra one.1 inches of width and one.4 inches of height. Depending on the model, the new X3 still manages to shed about fifty lbs. Thanks to the larger outer shell, passengers can gain zero.eight inches of legroom in the back row, together with another 2.8 cubic feet of cupboard space in the rear hatch area.

The exterior of the new model remains recognizable as an X3, albeit with a decidedly additional modern look. Nothing radical here, however the X3 currently shares the same basic design language as seen on BMW’s new 5- and 7-Series models.

The outgoing X3 has been criticized for a sub-par interior, but BMW has addressed that issue for the new generation SUV, using a variety of high-end materials.

North American-specification X3s now feature two totally different engines: a turbocharged four-cylinder in the base model, and the turbocharged six expected in the prime model. The X3 xDrive28i replaces a 240-horsepower naturally-aspirated six with a new 2.zero-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that produces the same 240 horsepower, however gains thirty-nine lb-ft of torque - to a peak of 260, from one,250 all the method to four,800 rpm. Fuel economy is up from nineteen mpg in the town and 25 mpg on the highway for the recent engine to twenty one/28 mpg.

BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system remains normal, as will an eight-speed automatic transmission. Despite the arrival of a new engine, the entry-level X3 retains its xDrive28i nomenclature.

The xDrive35i adds a turbocharged 3.zero-liter straight six rated at 306 horsepower and 294 lb-ft of torque, transforming the X3 into a serious performer. The sprint from zero-62 takes simply 5.7 seconds, with the xDrive35i topping out at 152mph. The xDrive35i is rated at nineteen mpg in town and twenty six mpg on the highway.

Also new, BMW currently offers an M Sport version of the new X3. The package comes complete with a swap to 19-inch wheels, a sport-tuned suspension, an M Sport leather steering wheel and the full exterior M Sports aggressively-styled body kit.

Other minor changes for the latest model year include the facility liftgate becoming commonplace on all models, the Driver Assistance Package currently includes lane departure warning and therefore the M Sport Package includes 19-in. wheels even on the xDrive28i.

Other final touches embody a reworked interior that embrace new sport-minded seats with uniquely matched headliner and matching upholstery, M Sports gear selector and variable steering.

Although not customary, M Sports-equipped X3's can also have an available exclusive color: Carbon Black Metallic.

2012 BMW X3