BMW X3 Named All-Terrain Car of the Year?

Every year since 1982, the readers of ‘Off Road’ magazine have been casting votes to find the most popular all-terrain vehicle on the German market. A total of 56,448 votes were cast in the latest poll.

For BMW, this is a clear vote of confidence from an informed public and yet more confirmation of the strategy of placing riding enjoyment and extremely good handling right at the top of the list for the all-terrain vehicle segment.

Moreover, at the award ceremony in Munich, BMW came in for an additional honor. The German Four-Wheel Association (Deutsche Allrad Verband [DAV] ) awarded the company its prize for 2007. This was an expression of appreciation by the nationally active interest group for riders and owners of four-wheel driven vehicles for the high level of technical skill and expertise demonstrated by BMW in the development of its intelligent xDrive four-wheel system. This system is controlled permanently by an electronic module. The variable power distribution between the front and rear axles results in a unique riding experience, not only for BMW’s SAV models. Thanks to its unique interfacing with the DSC stability control, engine controller and, optionally, also with the active steering, the extremely fast and precise-acting xDrive promotes not only off-road surface grip but also riding dynamics.

Bill - 2/12/2007 1:10:43 PM

+7 Boost

Is this a joke?

Maybe it is just me, but if this is true, then it is pretty sad that automotive journalists evaluating an SUV care more about handling and driving dynamics than actual offroad capability. I've read numerous German publications about the X3 and the new X5. They all explain the same thing: good onroad, not so good offroad.

And now the X3 wins this award?

BMW_DRVR - 2/12/2007 1:35:22 PM

0 Boost

Bill,
I agree with you but the fact is most of these SUVs never go offroad.

Bill - 2/12/2007 2:04:14 PM

+4 Boost

Yes, but in that case, they should have picked an SUV which performs well offroad if their criteria was just that.

kart1 - 2/12/2007 5:05:17 PM

+2 Boost

Wait this magazine is called "Off Road" right. What kind of a off road magazine is this??? They pick a car that can barely go off road. This magazine needs to change it's name to "Maybe Off-Road" magazine.

Carboy - 2/13/2007 4:09:49 PM

+2 Boost

Jeremy CLarkson once off roaded in it and it can't even off road because it was too low.

S4cabriofoxone - 2/12/2007 9:30:14 PM

+1 Boost

Are you joking?

The old X3 was boring... but the new one, now that I've seen it in person-- has really changed. The refresh made it much better. It's now a viable small SUV contender, and starts at about $37K (?).

Rupert - 2/12/2007 3:00:51 PM

+4 Boost

Which "all-terrain" would this be?
Paving and Asphalt?

Threepoint1415926 - 2/13/2007 2:26:27 AM

+2 Boost

All of it! Pavement and asphalt! lol

vdiv - 2/12/2007 3:47:42 PM

+4 Boost

I find this weird as well. I guess by all-terrain they imply the best compromise between road and off-road, price and performance, etc and more etc. Even then why the Touareg/Cayenne/Q7 didn't win is strange.

MunichRob - 2/12/2007 5:25:59 PM

+2 Boost

Yeah I don't see how the X3 pulled out this win.

mstangpny07 - 2/12/2007 6:04:02 PM

+3 Boost

hmm...asphalt, concrete, rain, snow, slush, hail, tarmac!
uh...okay....

rg12345 - 2/12/2007 8:44:25 PM

+3 Boost

Nope :)

S4cabriofoxone - 2/12/2007 9:30:41 PM

0 Boost

The Kia Rondo.

silverarrow2 - 2/12/2007 8:52:33 PM

0 Boost

BS!!

Larry - 2/13/2007 12:29:28 AM

0 Boost

Wow X3 wins award over Mercedes M-class, Audi Q7 and Porsche Cayenne

rack - 2/13/2007 9:34:21 AM

+2 Boost

If we voted in the USA for the best all terrain car, the one that will likely get voted in will be something like the escalade, or the yukon.

M53R - 2/13/2007 1:53:11 PM

+2 Boost

Wow :o. That dropped my jaw!

BenP - 2/15/2007 5:44:52 PM

+1 Boost

I'll bet most of you haven't ever driven an X3 offroad. It isn't going to get through the deep jungle of the congo, but it'll surprise you. I suppose you guys also think it's a coincedence that BMW X3's went 1-2 in the 2004 Alcan 5000 winter rally. 6th overall in Paris-Dakar was a fluke too, I guess. By the way, all you Q7 lovers are looking at a fancy minivan. Do your homework and, if you can spare the loot, take a trip out to the BMW Performance Center in Spartanburg, SC and try one of their incredible driving experiences. And yes, I am biased, so you don't need to point that out. I own BMW's and sell them for a living, and it really is an incredible brand. Look me up in Charleston, SC if you want to talk to a salesperson who is also an enthusuast. 843.402.6599

Zino - 2/15/2007 5:51:10 PM

+1 Boost

I bought an X3 for my wife last year. It's NEVER going to climb trees... I have an old Jeep Comanche for that... but the X3 is no slouch here in the foothills of Virginia. We have 4 or 5 inches of snow and ice, and the X3 doesn't even notice. Since most of the time the roads are clear we get most of the benefits in rainy weather, but we ALWAYS enjoy the amazing handling of this thing. We didn't want an X5, which seems to be everybody's favorite 'off-road' performance car, because the X5 drives like an X3 with a refrigerator strapped to the roof. It's not (until now) been any more useful inside than the X3, and it just has more luxe appointments along with a more luxe price.

Never have understood the almost universal scorn the X3 has gotten. The style is funky, which you either like or not, but they drive great, have a very useful size inside and out, and are outstanding to drive.

I admit, Off-Roader mags picking it as their favorite car is puzzling... the Land Crusher or even the preposterous Cayenne are more useful in the mud. But that takes nothing away from the X3's own cheerful demeanor and performance advantages.