Edmunds' InsideLine has published their full review of the new 2011 X3 xDrive35i, equipped with the N55 3.0L turbocharged engine that is becoming ubiquitous across the BMW lineup.
InsideLine starts of their article with these words:
"Stop, wait, shudder, silent, check.
Stop, wait, shudder, silent, check.
Repeat. Repeat. Repeat."
Certainly scary to read in a
NEW car review. When I saw that I thought I was in for one piss poor review. It turns out what they cleverly highlighted was a feature in the new X3 that will be missing from US spec cars (but maybee shouldn't be), namely start-stop technology.
Regardless, InsideLine didn't seem as happy with the X3, as they usually love BMWs. Reading the article, I wonder if their distasteful Beverly Hills surroundings had anything to do with their opinions on the car? In the end, they did comment on the objective positives of the X3, but left the article on this note:
"Just don't expect it to be the Ultimate Driving Machine. After all, BMWs are about Joy now, and Joy isn't about responsive driving dynamics or throttle response. Joy, it turns out, is about isolation and comfort and in that, the 2011 BMW X3 excels."
Not flattering words at all, but I have yet to drive the X3 myself to comment, but from reading what owners have been saying on the forums I really find it hard to believe the X3 isn't anything but awesome.
To each his own.
Source/Full Article:
Edmunds' InsideLine