[stormchaser]

I don't have much experience with the outgoing X3 (Have rented them a few times) but just drove the new X3. Unfortunately, it was only a 15-minute test. My initial impressions.

1) Comfy seats, however not sure if the side bolsters on the bottom cushion will be comfy on a long drive (The X1 M-sport version has bolsters on the bottom cushion as well that jab your underside but I think these are softer.

2) Plastic items on the interior especially the door lock, vent area, and steering wheel cap. Felt like the quality of an X1 but I can overlook the interior in favor of how the car drives.

3) I don't like the few buttons the car retained in the center area since they are on that shiny plastic in which the entire area moves when you push the buttons (The same as the new G60 5 series).

4) great VIS out the front aside from the long hood which kinda makes me feel like I am in a larger truck.

5) Rear window VIS was fair

6) Very compliant on bumps and all road surfaces

7) Decent at cornering but not without a bit of roll

8) Felt SUV-like versus car-like in the handling arena but I guess that is to be expected (I don't know if the outgoing X3 felt any different).

9) Doors closed with a high-quality thud (Good and better than my current G30).

10) Aside from some plastic on the interior the build quality seems high.

11) As opposed to others, I kinda like the look of the front end and rear, but do not like the rounded back panels where they meet the back (Reminds me of a Buick Encore). Overall not bad looking, but not great either.

Sorry, I can't provide more feedback with such a small amount of time in the X3.