Advertisement
Find a Car
Go!

Compared: Audi Q5 Vs. BMW X3 Vs. Mercedes-Benz GLK Page 3

By Marty Padgett
Marty Padgett Marty Padgett
Editorial Director BIO
Marty Padgett is High Gear Media's Editorial Director, overseeing the words that skim across High Gear Media's portfolio of automotive destinations... More

LATEST ARTICLE
30 Days Of 2013 Ram 1500: Heading West
Our 30-Day 2013 Ram 1500 has made its way safely to our Little Rock bureau. If you're following our... Read More
  • #5LEADERBOARD RANK
  • 5167ARTICLES CONTRIBUTED
  • 111COMMENTS POSTED

11 60,688 views Jun 12, 2009
Follow Marty

2009 BMW X3-Series 30i

2009 BMW X3-Series 30i

Enlarge Photo

2009 BMW X3

The basics: 3.0-liter in-line six with 260 horsepower; six-speed manual or automatic; all-wheel drive standard

Price: $39,700


Fuel economy: 16/23 mpg

Rating: 8.2 out of 10

The revamped BMW X3 is substantially improved, and editors have noted how the settled-down ride and upgraded cabin make the X3 feel more luxurious than prior versions. Strong acceleration, a smartly styled cabin, standard all-wheel drive and the availability of a manual transmission are all pluses for the X3.

Negatives for the 2009 BMW X3 include a tight back seat, choppy styling outside, and handling that comes close to but doesn't match the enviable responses of BMW’s cars. Fuel economy is lower than the Audi Q5's as well.

Our Bottom Line? The 2009 BMW X3 is a more rugged alternative to a sport wagon, but it's not as much fun to drive.



Tags:
Posted in:
 
Contribute
Send us a tip Comment Contact the editor
Follow Us

 

Have an opinion?

  • Posting indicates you have read this site's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
  • Notify me when there are more comments
Comments (11)

  1. Bryan Posted: 9/10/2009 11:44pm PDT

    Q5 definitely wins this, and I'm a big BMW fan. I could never get over the X3's minivan and too high queues. The Q5 would be a no brainer if it were fuel efficient, where's my diesel, slowpokes?
    That said, the Chevy Equinox (and planned GMC equivalent), seem to nail this segment pretty well. You'd do well to eventually put it on the same page as these big boys just to see what would happen. At the minimum, you could claim patriotism ;)
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  2. BMW X3 AVOID Posted: 9/19/2009 11:01pm PDT

    Posted this in the wrong forum under the 3-Series. Posting here for the pleasure of people who DID NOT buy the X3 or any BMW this year. Hooray for you guys.
    ===> I feel like a complete idiot. Just got into a brand new 2009 X3. What a disaster. The jerky transmission is one thing (latest s/w fix btw) and may bloom into a bigger and more dangerous disaster in the future but the ride of the BMW X3 is unacceptable.
    It rolls, sways, rocks, undulates...whatever you want to call it until it creates nausea. This is a first for a car I believe...drive it without seasickness pills and you will consider upchucking your lunch.
    After sitting in the shop, the upshot is: it is NORMAL. NORMAL? This is what BMW calls NORMAL?
    A car that is so unstable that is actually launches things into the ceiling because it cannot keep it together on a paved road? NORMAL?
    So, the car loses 20% of its 'value' in 1 month and I feel like an idiot for believing that BMW can still make a great car.
    After decades of BMW ownership, this **** car is the limit of endurance. I will never buy another BMW again but I will share my nightmare with as many people as I can.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  3. Mikey Posted: 1/27/2010 11:32am PST

    Drive the Mercedes first, guys, then write reviews...
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  4. Stanley Posted: 2/11/2010 12:32am PST

    Agree with Mike, you need to drive the GLK 350 first before poting out reviews. I seriously thought that this was going to be an indepth review as i was surfing through the pages.. guess i was wrong.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  5. Carl Posted: 2/15/2010 1:19pm PST

    Marty, I doubt that you are much of an "expert" after reading your review. You're just incapable of presenting your point with arguments, and you're embarrassing yourself. Like other people said, drive it first, boy, the write! Or just go to Mc Donald's to sell cheeseburgers! :(
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  6. Q5 crazy Posted: 12/1/2010 3:49am PST

    The Audi Q5 tames down BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLK as far as looks are concerned.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  7. John Posted: 4/19/2011 10:02am PDT

    I did test drive GLK and 2011 X3, and I owned RDX for 3 years. Audi Q5 is clearly winner because of its handling and performance, and gas milage (guess you don't care because it's a 40k+ car). I bought the Q5 and so far very satisfied, milage is incredible for the T2.0, full tank gets you 450 miles on highway. And the power is indeed sufficient, torque is way bigger than the X3. GLK is the weakest among the 3, underpowered, and much smaller inside.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  8. John Posted: 4/19/2011 10:03am PDT

    I did test drive GLK and 2011 X3, and I owned RDX for 3 years. Audi Q5 is clearly winner because of its handling and performance, and gas milage (guess you don't care because it's a 40k+ car). I bought the Q5 and so far very satisfied, milage is incredible for the T2.0, full tank gets you 450 miles on highway. And the power is indeed sufficient, torque is way bigger than the X3. GLK is the weakest among the 3, underpowered, and much smaller inside.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  9. andianthony avatar andianthony Posted: 7/27/2011 4:24am PDT

    I purchased 2011 BMW X3 in March. It has been one headache after the next, computer problems, key problems. But, the most irritating is the drive, salesman holds fast that there is nothing wrong..however the acceleration lags, jumps, skips. I don't dare pull into traffic hard on pedal because it does not jump, rather engine roars then huge jump.
    Anyone out there hear of similar problems with 2011 X3 BMW?
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

     

  10. carman-v111 avatar pat kelley Posted: 8/12/2011 6:14am PDT

    My wife has BMW X 3 WORSE CAR FOR THE MONEY OF ANY CAR SOLD . THEY ARENT MADE OF GOLD ! WE PAID CASH AND WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER LOW END CAR AGAIN . LOOK CUTE BUT ROUGH RIDE AND NO AMENITIES AT ALL LEXUS RX WAY BETTER AND GLK BETTER Q5 IS WAY OUT FRONT BELIEVE ME TRY THE 2.0 IT WILL SUCK THE DOORS OFF THE X3 AND THEN SOME !!!!
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

     

  11. andianthony avatar andianthony Posted: 8/13/2011 5:39am PDT

    My husband fed up with the problems and has spoken with Regional, chicago area, to come pick up the car. I'm convinced I have a lemon, passenger window going up and down at will, remote key flashes on dash "engine won't start", while engine running, then car won't start different day, while gear in reverse with foot on brake pedal car still wants to move. However, dealer offering 35K in return. I will write later tell you what engineer says about this vehicle.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

 

Have an opinion?Join the conversation!

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

More From High Gear Media

 
 
The Car Connection
 
 
© 2013 The Car Connection. All Rights Reserved. The Car Connection is published by High Gear Media. Stock photography by Homestar, LLC. Send us feedback.