MSRP: $38,600
Invoice: $35,510

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2008 BMW X3

2008 BMW X3 Model Overview

2008 BMW X3

Bringing Up Baby

The BMW X3 has grown into a competent compact sport utility vehicle that is equally happy cruising on the highway and carving up corners.

by Michael Bettencourt, ForbesAutos.com

2008 BMW X3
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When the BMW X3 first launched in 2004, it was roundly criticized for being too sporty. This was an unusual complaint coming from performance-addicted auto journalists, who typically find anything short of a Ferrari to be a bit soft. But that first-generation X3 punished drivers on imperfect roads to the extent that its cornering prowess wasn't worth the trade-off.

It was clear that BMW worked hard to make the X3 react like the sublime-handling 3 Series, to which it is closely related. But the X3’s higher center of gravity and added weight kept it from matching the sport sedan’s athletic moves.

The latest BMW X3 seems to accept the fact that it can't quite match the 3 Series experience, and as such rides on a far more refined suspension than that of its predecessor. It also benefits from recent styling tweaks inside and out. Perhaps best of all, its sharp handling is dulled only slightly in the name of comfort.

While the previous BMW X3 came in several flavors powered by engines of varying potency, the lesser models, dubbed the 2.5i and 3.0i, have been scrapped. The current model is only available as the X3 3.0si, which was formerly the most performance-oriented version.

Pricing on the BMW X3 starts at $38,000.

  Published on 2008-05-30

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