Another thing I noticed...the 04 and later X5 4.4s get better gas mileage than X3 3.0. This part of this message may offend some and it is not intended. I will end up buying my wife and X3 because she really likes the car. It is fun to drive and after all...it is BMW...but....It has been seriously Bangelized. What they should have done is made the X3 look like a smaller X5...like the Aviator and Navigator...but..In my opinion....and take it for what it is worth.(not much)..the X5 is a much more masculine looking vehicle. And as far as women go...I see plenty of them driving both...but where I live, I also see them driving high dollar 4x4 pick up trucks.. It is all a matter of taste...



Now...before I get flamed...I do like the X3, but it is like comparing a 330 to a 545i.

I completely agree that a 4.6is will outrun an X3 on the road... how could it not with the superior power to weight ratio, but I was referring to handling in my comments, not speed over distance or climbing. Put them into an autocross where you can't break open the throttle over distance, and the more nimble X3 will eat the X5 for breakfast... and that, my friend, is what slice and dice city driving is all about.

You're completely wrong about the X5 being larger in terms of cargo space, however (I'm going by published stats). The engineers did a beautiful job of squeezing an amazing amount of space into the X3. I don't know where you got your numbers from, but go to any website that shows the specs and you will find out that the X3 is larger inside in almost every respect with the exception of width (which if you're carrying RC planes, could certainly be a deciding factor, as the X5 will give you an extra 1.8" or width in the rear).

Here's the rest of the tale of the tape.

X3 has 1" more headroom in the rear (X5 has 1/2" more in front).
X3 has 1" more legroom in the front.
X3 has 1/2" more legroom in the rear.
X3 has 1/2 cubic foot more luggage space
X3 has 1 cubic foot more total cargo space
X3 has 1" higher ground clearance and a 4" shorter overhang on a wheelbase that is less than 1" shorter than the X5. That means better offroad and deep snow capability.

What's odd to me is that the X5 seems to have mysteriously found more cargo space this year and has come closer to the X3's capacity compared to ratings I've read in the past. They must have modified it slightly because last year the X3 was reported as being about 6 cubic feet larger in total cargo capacity. One magazine review I read stated it being a full 10% larger than the X5 (rounded off). What I find really interesting is that on the BMW USA website, I couldn't find luggage or cargo space stats (seats folded), although they do get published on BMW sites from other countries. My guess is BMW USA doesn't want people finding out the "dirty little secret" about the X3 being bigger in the areas that count.

When I weighed all the pros of the X3, like better handling, larger cargo space, larger passenger space, better off road and deep snow clearances, better price.... versus the con of less horsepower (I don't tow a trailer so I don't need it), the decision which vehicle to buy was an easy one. Maybe if I was buying a vehicle for the prestige factor my choice would be different, but I'm a practical guy and the handling and bigger cargo and leg space of the X3, for a lower price, won me over.... plus the really slick interior bike rack that lets me carry our mountain bikes on the inside (can't do that with an X5).

You're going to hate it next year when the new X5's come out looking like a bigger version of the X3. The good news is that it will be considerably larger on the interior than the current X3 (they couldn't let the reverse go on much longer).

If the artist renderings the new X5 are anything like what I have seen, I doubt I or many other people on here will like it as much...but I am open. Even on a autocross and (I did mention handling through switch back roads) the 4.6is will eat the X3 for lunch...same with the 4.4i sport.

As far as interior space...I am not looking at specs. I am comparing them side by side. Right now I have both an X3 and X5 sitting in the garage. The X3 is a loaner and the X5 is my neighbors. I am able to get 2 sets of golf clubs in the back of the X5 without folding the seats down. I cant even get 1 set in the X3 because it is not wide enough. If a automobile magazine says the X3 is larger by 10% I can tell you it is a typo. I am 6'4" tall and regardless of headroom, both of them are more than adequate. If the X3 has more...It is not noticeable nor does it matter because both of the hold me with adequate headroom.

I can buy 2 X3s for the current price of my X5

That should say enough..this thread is CLOSED.

cheerio...

As a single guy in Scottsdale, AZ, I figured drive a car that chics want to ride in or want for themselves, let me tell you the women here are impressed with a guy with and X5.
But I do think a lot of women do drive the X5, just like the Mercedes ML, Lexus RX330. The Porsche and Land Rover seem to be the ones guys drive in the luxury segment.
Only one guy friend, a 24 year old mustang driver, said it was a mini van, the rest are impressed with ride.

Cheers,
Kevin
Arizona

"Well my dad can beat up your dad..." :p

Seriously, this whole thread is pretty pointless and ridiculous.

Enjoy your expensive X5, but personally I'd rather have a fully loaded X3 3.0 the rest of the cash for other toys. And if I was going to spend $80K+ on a car, it would not be an X5... but to each his own.

here are my two cents;
X5 has 3.0, 4.4, 4.8 versions
X3 has 2.5, 3.0

why is there not a high end sport version of the X3?
CAUSE CHICS DON'T CARE FOR SUPER HIGH END SPORT VERSIONS OF CARS!!!

The point is that one has a 5 at the end and the other has a 3!!!
5 is bigger than 3 which means BIG BOYS drive X5 :thumbup:
I would choose a 2000 X5 3.0 over any X3

By big, do you mean overweight?

j/k


Just one comment on storage space. Fact is, all cubic feet are not equal. While the X3 may have more cubic feet of storage space, that only comes into play if you are carrying jelly beans (or some other small object that can fill every nook and cranny). Useful storage space should also be given consideration. Maximum width, depth and height of a box that can fit into the cargo area.

Just my $0.02. Really all these grown ups arguing over whose car is better.

:popcorn:

LOL,
below the belt :mad: but none the less

LOL :D

I walked into that one :o