![]() For no fathomable reason, the rear view camera stays on when you then drive forward. The gearshift, for example, is counter-intuitive, and is moved backwards to go forwards, and vice versa-unlike most cars, it doesn't really move and fit into a slot for the appropriate gear. The main issue I've had with this car is learning its vast number of controls, some of which are in strange places (such as at the end of the directional signal stalk) and are not clearly marked. The 2020 X3’s new standard features are welcome, but if you’re considering an X3, we’d recommend taking a look at BMW’s less expensive X1, too. The BMW X3 rides well and has a refined base four-cylinder engine, but it suffers from numb steering and modest cargo room. Options include a heated steering wheel, heated front seats, a panoramic moonroof, wireless device charging, a Wi-Fi hot spot, a Harman Kardon premium stereo, a head-up display and a 360-degree camera system. Apple CarPlay smartphone connectivity makes using iPhone apps easier and safer. Standard active safety features include forward collision warning with daytime pedestrian detection and low-speed automatic emergency braking. What Features in the 2020 BMW X3 Are Most Important? A new high-performance X3 M also joins the lineup. LED headlights with cornering lights, navigation and a digital instrument cluster are now standard. X3 competitors include the Volvo XC60, Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class and Audi Q5. Both engines work with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It’s offered with rear- or all-wheel drive, and power comes from a standard 248-horsepower, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine or an available 382-hp, turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six. BMW doesn't include any manual differential locking or other control over its all-wheel-drive system, so I just had to trust it was doing its thing.The BMW X3 is a five-seat compact luxury SUV. I can't say I felt the all-wheel-drive system at work when I rolled out onto the beach for a surf-side photo session, but the X3 handled the soft stuff well enough, its wide tires making for good traction. A wider sidewall would help here, but BMW leans towards a more sport-oriented tire. Taking a cloverleaf at speed, I could feel the X3's excellent balance, a hallmark of BMW cars for many years.Īnd while the suspension proved pliant over the long haul, letting me spend hours in the seat without a lot of muscle ache, the Goodyear Eagle rubber on the 19-inch rims delivered a jarring crunch going over a pothole. However, at low speeds I could feel the electric motor boost on the steering, giving it a slightly rough edge, which could have been better masked. On the freeway, the X3 rode comfortably, its well-tuned steering feeling responsive without being twitchy. However, the X3 rates 21 mpg city and 28 mpg highway in EPA testing, so I came in about average for its range. I was disappointed to only clock an average fuel economy of 23.5 mpg, especially after all the freeway driving. Over hundreds of miles on the freeway, it comfortably maintained ample speed, while offering enough power overhead for me to zip around slower drivers and try to keep ahead of the tractor-trailer rigs before one attempted to pass another. That engine gave the X3 enough boost for me to get a jump on traffic when the lights turned green. ![]() ![]() Its idle-stop feature shut down the engine at stop lights, saving some gas in the city, and restarted quickly enough for all but the most impatient drivers. The X3's 2-liter turbocharged engine, turning all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission, manages 240 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque.
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