Find the best price deals on a BMW 128i Coupe.

The BMW 128i is BMW’s entry-level car.  They classify it as a small family car, and it replaced the BMW Compact in 2004.  It is called entry-level, but BMW’s idea of entry-level is different than everybody else’s.  It still has the same interior and suspension that have enamored many drives to the name for years now.

The BMW 128i Coupe has a 3.0 liter, inline 6-cylinder engine that produces 230 horsepower and 200 foot-pounds of torque.  It has 17-inch alloy wheels, rear-wheel drive, and a 6-speed manual transmission.  It is rated at 18 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway.  It goes from zero to sixty in 5.9 seconds.

The 128i, while priced in the entry-level luxury range, comes with most of the goodies that make a BMW a BMW.  It has a leather-covered, tilt-telescope steering wheel that contains audio and cruise controls, bucket front seats with height adjustment, a split-folding rear seatback, leatherette upholstery, remote power door locks, power windows, remote power mirrors, heated mirrors, and remote trunk release.

The 128i also has a front 12-volt power outlet, 2-zone climate control divided between the drive and passenger, 2 memorized settings for the climate control and audio system, a trip computer, leather trim on the shift knob, automatic rain-sensing wipers, a rear defogger, cargo tie downs, automatic headlights, and foglights.  The audio system has 10 speakers, AM/FM radio, a CD/MP3 player, a radio data system, an audio jack, and a USB/iPod port.

When it comes to safety, BMW is one of three companies whose internal standards are more stringent than those of any of the testing agencies.  The 128i comes with traction control, stability control, hill-start assist, antilock brakes, a brake-drying system, side front airbags, and side curtain airbags.

Conclusions and Driver Feedback:

The interior is very close to that of a more-expensive BMW.  BMW are great at producing understated luxury in their cars, and the 128i is no exception.  Most of the materials are high-quality, but with a bit of less-expensive materials thrown in.  One thing that is missing is the wood trim that you so often see in their more-expensive models.  The controls are well-placed and easy to operate.

There is plenty of space in the front seat, with a total combined headroom and legroom of 79.6 inches.   The rear seat, though, is worthless for most adults on anything but short commutes, with a combined measurement of 69.1 inches.  As with many coupes, the rear seat is more of a “2 + 2″ seat than a true passenger seat.  The trunk has 13 feet of cargo space.

The stars of the 128i, as in any BMW car, are the engine and the suspension.  The engine is exceedingly smooth, accelerating with almost no noise, and no jerking to get from zero to sixty.  Zero to sixty in a BMW feels like zero to thirty in most cars, and that is what happens with the 128i.

The 128i does what most BMW’s do: it manages to provide sporty handling and a luxury ride at the same time.  The steering is extremely responsive and accurate, while the suspension is tight enough to allow a lot of fast driving on winding roads without a hint of displeasure.  The ride isn’t quite as soft as those of most BMW’s, but it is still a very soft ride, and very worthy of the nameplate.

The cabin is very quiet, allowing one to detach from one’s surroundings if one wishes to do so.  All in all, the BMW 128i is fun to drive and nice to ride in.  It is safe, handles extremely well, and can give you enough extra power to get out of the occasional jam or avoid an accident.

The only real negative we see here is the small rear seat.  The 128i is more of a 2-seater or a car for a family with one or two small children than a true 4-seat car.  For a single driver or a couple, though, the 128i is a great introduction to the world of BMW.  The price is right, too.

The verdict: from the price to the quality to the driving experience, this is what entry-level luxury is supposed to be.

Options and miscellaneous caveats:

The recommended list price of a new 128i starts just under $31,000.  If you want to add on other luxurious touches, though, a lot of them are available.  By the time you are finished, you will have a luxury car with a luxury price tag.  There are a lot of nice options here, and we recommend that you read through all of them and add whatever makes sense.  In other words, bite off whatever you care to chew.

The  features come as standalones and as packages.  First, we’ll give you the best packages.  The Convenience Package gives you xenon headlights, an alarm system, rear parking sensors, keyless ignition, and keyless entry.

If you move up to the Premium package, it gives you the Convenience Package plus the following: BMW Assist Emergency Telematics, Bluetooth, a sunroof, leather upholstery, 8-way power front seats with driver memory settings, and auto-dimming mirrors.

The 128i Sport Package is recommended for those who want even more fun out of their BMW.  It has sport seats, “Shadowline” exterior trim, a 17-inch sport wheel, a sport-trimmed suspension, and a gear ratio that produces a higher top speed.  The M Sport Package is an upgrade that gives even better 17-inch wheels, an M Sport steering wheel, and an aerodynamic body kit.

Some other options: heated front seats, a Harman Kardon upgraded audio system, satellite radio, and a navigation system with BMW’s iDrive interface.  There is also a cold weather package and park distance control.

We like this car a lot.  It doesn’t cost as much as what most BMW drivers are used to paying, but it provides most of the typical BMW experience.  It will also keep you safe and keep its value in case you ever want to trade up to a higher model.

The BMW X5 first appeared in the US in 1999 as the E53 X5.  It is a  luxury midsize SUV with BMW’s X drive or all-wheel drive, and it has 5 doors, including a rear door.  BMW calls it a Sport Activity Vehicle, but it hasn’t caught on yet.  For US use, the X5 is made in Greer, South Carolina, and some are also made in Mexico. The X5 is in its second generation, and is known internally as the E70.

We are going to review the lowest trim, the xDrive 35i.  Even the lowest trim of this luxury crossover has plenty of conveniences and features.  The BMW X5 xDrive 35i comes with a 3.0 liter, inline 6-cylinder engine that produces 300 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque.  It has 18-inch alloy wheels, BMW’s xDrive all-wheel drive, and an 8-speed shiftable automatic transmission.  It is rated at 16 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway.  Its alleged zero to sixty time is 6.4 seconds.

The xDrive 35i comes with a leather-covered, tilt-telescope steering wheel that houses the audio controls, 8-way power front bucket seats with lumbar adjustment, height adjustment, and premium leatherette upholstery, a 60/40 split-folding rear seat, cruise control, and full-power accessories.  It also has a reverse-tilt passenger mirror, heated mirrors, 2-zone climate control divided between driver and front passenger, alloy trim on the console, dash, and doors, speed-proportional power steering, extended cabin heating and cooling, a sun sensor, memorized settings for two drivers including climate control, steering wheel, and audio, a rear spoiler, a rear wiper, rear defogger, a roof rack, cargo tiedowns, trailer wiring, automatic high-intensity xenon headlights, foglights, and a trip computer.

The audio system has 8 regular speakers, two subwoofers, AM/FM radio, a CD/MP3 player, an audio jack, a USB/iPod port, and Bluetooth.

BMW always goes the extra mile for safety, and the X5 doesn’t disappoint.  It has antilock brakes with ventilating, drying, and emergency assist, stability control, traction control, a rollover sensor, side front airbags, side curatin airbags, active front head restraints, and BMW Assist emergency telematics.  The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the X5 perfect scores of “good” in all tests.  BMW’s internal standards are higher than those of any testing agency, so you can always rest assured that safety is never an issue in any BMW.

Conclusions and Driver Feedback

There are certain things one expects when one buys a BMW.  One is an interior that is made of expensive, high-quality materials, arranged in an environment of understated luxury.  That is exactly what you get here.  The dash is attractive but uncluttered, and the fit and finish are typical BMW.  The front seats in particular are extremely comfortable, very adjustable, and the combined head and legroom is slightly over 6 feet, 4 inches.  The rear seat is almost exactly the same total measurement, but the seats are low to the floor and there are only 3 feet, 6 inches of legroom.  Taller passengers have to sit with their knees in a higher position, and might not be all that comfortable. There is plenty of cargo space.  You can get a total of 75 cubic feet with the second row folded, and there are 23.2 cubic feet of space behind the seating area.

The X5 is typical of BMW’s interior quality, but the handling and ride are where the X5 really becomes a superstar.  The steering is precise, and the speed-proportional power assist helps provide a lot of response, especially at higher speeds.  The suspension is adjusted tightly, and allows for sporty performance on the road.  Due to the heavy curb weight, there is some body roll, but a lot less than you would expect from such a sold vehicle.

The ride is BMW smooth, though it has a more firm feel to it.  The X5 isn’t made for off-road use, but it is as good as it gets on highways or even dirt roads.  The ride isn’t squishy, but you will definitely know you are in a luxury model.  The cabin is also extremely quiet, with almost no wind noise or road noise.

The engine is big enough to provide good acceleration and very smooth cruising down the highway.

All in all, this is a great SUV for someone who doesn’t actually go off-road.  It doesn’t have a lot of off-road chops, but it is very good for just about anyone else who can afford it.

The verdict: very highly recommended.

Options, other trims, and miscellaneous caveats.

There are 4 other trim levels for a total of 5.  The next trim, when it comes to accessories, is the xDrive 35d.  The “d” stands for Diesel, giving you a 3.0 liter, inline 6-cylinder turbodiesel engine that produces 265 horsepower, and an amazing 425 pound-feet of torque.  The reason most trucks use diesel engines is that they provide a lot more torque, especially on the low end, than any conventional engine.

The 35d has all of the 35i’s conveniences, plus auto-dimming mirrors, a panoramic sunroof, and heated front seats, with the ability to choose options that don’t exist for the 35i.

The xDrive 35i Premium gives you everything in the 35i except the diesel engine, and adds leather upholstery, a power-adjustable steering wheel, privacy glass, and 19-inch wheels.

The next move up is to the 35i Sport Premium.  It adds a sport-tuned suspension, a sport steering wheel, sport seats, and 20-inch sport wheels.

The last trim is the xDrive 50i.  It gets the same as the 35i premium, plus a 16-speaker stereo, a navigation system, and a twin-turbo, 4.4 liter V8 engine that produces 400 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque.

There are too many options to fully list here, but we will give a few highlights.  There is satellite radio, sideview cameras, parking cameras, adaptive suspension, active steering, adaptive cruise control, a third row seat that is good for children only, 4-zone climate control, 14-way multi-adjustable seats, and a rear seat entertainment system.

There is something for everyone here.  For those who have a lot of money, we heartily recommend the 50i with the large engine.  There’s nothing like 400 horsepower in a mid-size SUV to keep things interesting.

The BMW “3 Series” is as close to a “BMW for the masses” as it gets. It is their most popular-selling vehicle, and it provides a lot of BMW luxury for a relatively low price. It is currently in its fifth generation, and is built on the “E90” chassis. The “xDrive” is BMW’s patented all-wheel drive system in which the torque split between the front and rear axles is adjusted electronically when one axle has wheel slip.

The 2010 BMW 328i xDrive is an entry-level luxury sedan, and is the second of five trim levels. It has a 3.0 liter inline-6 cylinder engine that produces 230 horsepower. It has 16-inch alloy wheels, the aforementioned all-wheel drive, and a 6-speed manual transmission. It is rated at 17 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway.

The 328i comes with a leather-covered, tilt-telescope steering wheel, power front seats with height adjustment, premium leatherette upholstery, cruise control, full-power accessories, 2-zone climate control, wood trim on the console, dash, and doors, a rear defogger, automatic headlights, foglights, and a trip computer. The audio system has 6 speakers, AM/FM radio, a CD/MP3 player, and an audio jack. There are myriad upgrade packages available.

The 328i also comes with side front airbags, side curtain airbags, active front head restraints, stability control, traction control, and ventilated antilock brakes that feature brake-assist, brake-drying, electronic distribution of braking force. In government testing, the 328i received 4 stars out of 5 for front impact and a perfect 5 stars for side impact protection. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave it their high scores of “good” in both front and side crash tests.

Conclusions and driver feedback:

The interior is typical BMW. The gauges are old school, and the build quality is excellent. The materials are high-quality and soft-touch in an attractive design. There is plenty of cabin space, especially in the front, where headroom and legroom are enhanced by the adjustable seats. The rear seats have plenty of legroom, but taller passengers might take issue with the amount of headroom if they are in the car too long.

The handling is world class, and the 328i is one of the finest-handling cars in production today. Even in their least-expensive model, BMW gives superb handling, with responsive steering and suspension, while giving a ride that anyone would love. The 328i handles well in any conditions, and the engine gives effortless power and some of the smoothest acceleration you’ll ever experience.

Whether it is for commuting, short hops to the country club, or long trips, the BMW 328i won’t disappoint. And if you get a chance to take it on a winding road and test it out a little bit, you will really become enamored. This car delivers a great combination of power, tight suspension, and hugging the road, and is probably one of the safest cars you can drive in inclement conditions.

The verdict: if you have the extra money, it is worth every penny.

This is a very long name for a car, but it seems to be needed to explain exactly what is going on.  This is another of “those” cars that almost defies being put into one market segment.  It is officially a hatchback, but it is built like a wagon, has all-wheel drive like a crossover SUV, and it is tweaked for sport.

Sometimes, cars like this end up with a little bit of everything for everybody and develop a wide following.  Sometimes, they don’t have enough of anything for anybody and end up on sale for a drastically-reduced price at the end of the model year.  To answer the implied question, we haven’t seen the 550i on sale yet.

The 550i xDrive has a 4.4 liter, twin-turbo V8 engine that produces 400 horsepower.  It has 18-inch alloy wheels, all-wheel drive, and an 8-speed automatic transmission with a manual shifter.  It is rated at 15 mpg in the city, 21 mpg on the highway, and goes from zero to sixty in 5.3 seconds.

The 550i xDrive comes with a tilt-telescope steering wheel that has audio and cruise controls, 8-way power front bucket seats with height adjustment and lumbar support, leather upholstery, full power accessories, three 12-volt power outlets, a split-folding rear seat, front and rear sunroofs, a rear defogger, automatic xenon headlights, foglights, and a voice-activated navigation system with realtime traffic.  The audio system has 10 conventional speakers, two subwoofers, AM/FM radio, a CD/MP3 player, and Bluetooth.

The 550i also has the BMW assist telecommunications service, antilock brakes with brake-drying, hill-hold, and brake fade compensation, stability control, traction control, side front airbags, and side curtain airbags.  There is no safety rating, but BMW’s standards are higher than those of the government or the IIHS.

Conclusions and driver feedback:

The 550i is a full-luxury BMW.  Everything you have come to expect from BMW, like wood and leather trim, soft-touch materials, and understated but profound luxury, are there.  The seats are as comfortable as it gets in the front and back.  There is plenty of both headroom and legroom all around, and the seats theselves are comfortable and supportive.  The front seats are so adjustable that it is almost impossible not to be comfortable in them.

There is plenty of cargo space.  There is a trunk under the hatchback that has 15 cubic feet of cargo space, and the total grows to 60 if you fold the back seats and use them for storage.

The 550i is a star when it comes to handling and acceleration.  The engine is powerful and effortless during both acceleration and cruising at highway speeds.  The transmission is extremely smooth, too, and there is almost no road or wind noise.  The steering is very responsive, and the transmission is tweaked for sport, but there is a touch of body roll.  BMW’s patented xDrive keeps the car going down its intended path even in the most inclement of conditions.

The ride is a bit stiff for a BMW.  You can feel a bit of road, and you don’t get the usual BMW detachment.  Luckily, “stiff” for a BMW would be a luxury ride for almost anyone else.  Look at it as a luxury ride with just enough punch to keep passengers engaged.

The verdict: if you want a little sport with your BMW, this is a great vehicle.

MSRP: $89,500

The 2011 BMW X6 M is a 4 passenger luxury high-performance crossover SUV.  In other words, it is a bizarre cross between an SUV and a high-performance hatchback with coupe styling, except that it has four doors.  Oh: it can also tow up to 6,600 pounds.  Let’s try and figure out exactly who wants to buy one.

The BMW X6 M has a twin turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 engine that puts out 555 horsepower and 501 pound-feet of torque.  It has 20-inch alloy wheels, all-wheel drive, patented by BMW as “xDrive,” and a 6-speed automatic transmission with shift paddles.  It goes from zero to sixty in 4.3 seconds, and is rated at 12 mpg in the city and 17 mpg on the highway.

The X6 comes with a typical BMW roster of conveniences: full power accessories, heated 10-way power front sport seats with 4-way lumbar adjustment and driver memory function, a power tilt-telescope steering wheel, self-leveling sport-tuned suspension, adaptive xenon headlights, sunroof, power tailgate, automatic wipers,  front and rear parking sensors, BMW’s iDrive electronics interface, and a voice-controlled navigation system with real-time traffic. and .  The audio system has 16 speakers, AM/FM/HD radio, CD/MP3 player, and an USB/iPod port.

As usual with BMW, there are a lot more safety features than the average car: stability control, traction control, adaptive drive with rollover stabilization and electronic damping control, hill descent control, anti-lock brakes with brake assist, side front airbags, side curtain airbags, and active front head restraints.  No tests are available, but BMW internal standards are more stringent than government or IIHS standards.

Conclusions and driver feedback:

The interior is pure BMW: the finest materials, a dash that looks a bit like a private jet, and an air of understated but impeccable luxury.  The big thing that separates this from most cars with this much power is that it actually seats four people comfortably, with plenty of headroom, legroom, and elbow room.  The maximum cargo space is 60 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The X6 M handles like a smaller sport car.  Despite its body weight of 5,256 pounds and SUV build, it can put some sport cars to shame.  Almost everything in the steering and suspension are electronically enhanced and assisted to make the X6 M handle like an elite sport car, and for the most part, it works.  The steering is very responsive, and the suspension can handle almost anything you give it.  The only place you have to be really careful is on a tight road at high speeds.

Somehow, though, all of this muscle and performance don’t affect the ride.  Despite this car’s sporty and powerful nature, it still feels like a BMW in the passenger seat, which is to say that you are quite cushioned from the road and its surface imperfections.  The engine is extremely powerful, and one would think the acceleration could almost be measured in G’s.  The X6 M is effortless in most acceleration, and cruises quietly and smoothly, with no vibration, noise, or laboring.

The only real negative here is that we can’t figure out why someone with a BMW would be using it to tow anything.

The verdict: highly recommended if you are looking for a very powerful luxury sport crossover SUV coupe hatchback.

MSRP: $66,700

If it was anything but a BMW, we would describe this car as a mess.  It is too tall to be a hatchback, too short to be a crossover SUV, and doesn’t really want to fit into any market segment.  They couldn’t even decide whether to make it a hatchback or a sedan, so they put a two-way hatchback that can open either like a trunk or a tailgate.  Since BMW almost always gets the benefit of the doubt, we’ll have to call it “unique.”

The 2011 BMW Gran Turismo 550i xDrive Hatchback calls itself a five seat luxury sedan.  It has a 3.0 liter turbocharged inline 6-cylinder engine that produces 300 horsepower.  It has BMW’s patented xDrive, which is their automatic version of all-wheel drive, 18-inch alloy wheels, and an 8-speed automatic transmission with manual shift control.  It is rated at 15 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway, and goes from zero to sixty in 5.4 seconds.

The 550i is equipped with 10-way power front seats with driver memory controls, a tilt-telescope steering wheel, folding, sliding, and reclining rear seats, leather upholstery, interior wood trim, automatic climate control, full power accessories, a sunroof, automatic xenon headlights, heated mirrors, rain sensing wipers, navigation with real-time traffic, BMW’s voice-activated iDrive interface, and front and rear parking sensors.

The audio system has 12 speakers, AM/FM/HD radio, CD/MP3 player, an audio jack, and Bluetooth.  If that isn’t enough, there are Sport, Dynamic Handling, Convenience, and Premium Sound packages available, and a host of other options too numerous to mention.

There are a lot of safety features here, too.  It has the industry standards: anti-lock brakes, stability control, traction control, side front airbags, and side curtain airbags.  In addition, it has active front head restraints, brake-drying, hill-hold, and brake fade compensation.  There are options for rearview and sideview cameras, night vision with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, and blind spot detection.

There are no tests available, but BMW’s internal standards are more stringent than those of the testing agencies, so tests would be moot.

Conclusions and driver feedback:

To put it simply, the cabin is a palace.  It has premium soft-touch materials, a brilliant design, and sterling fit and finish.  The seats are both comfortable and roomy.  There is plenty of headroom and legroom all around, and the seats are plush and adjustable, while providing good support.  If you use the standard trunk portion, there are 15 cubic feet of cargo space.  If you fold the rear seats and use the hatchback portion, you can get 60 cubic feet.

The Gran Turismo is tweaked toward sporty performance, and that is reflected in the handling and the ride.  The steering is very responsive and precise, while the suspension is tight enough to handle pretty much anything you want to give it.  There is some body roll because of the increased height and weight, but not much.

The engine, of course, both accelerates and cruises effortlessly and smoothly.  This produces a cabin with no wind noise or engine noise.  The ride is a bit firm on dirt roads, but reverts to the classic, detached, silent BMW luxury ride on smooth pavement.

The verdict: if you want the ultimate ‘tweener and have plenty of money lying around, the Gran Turismo is highly recommended.

MSRP $46,135

Soon, the 1 Series M Coupe will hit the showrooms.  As the high-performance variant of the entry-level 1 series, it is built to give very high performance at a reasonable price, at least by BMW standards.  It is a much less expensive alternative to the M3, which is in the high-50K range at this point.  When judging it as part of the 1 series, it could appear a little pricey.  When comparing it to the M3, though, it is a relative bargain.

The M Coupe comes with a twin-turbo, 3.0 liter inline 6-cylinder engine that produces 335 horsepower.  It has rear-wheel drive, 19-inch aluminum wheels, and a 6-speed manual transmission with a limited rear-slip differential.  There are no mileage estimates yet.  While the unofficial zero to sixty time is 4.7 seconds, the production model that hits the floor will probably be faster.  It is projected to have slightly less curb weight than the 3400-ish weight of the 135i.

The M Coupe comes with a 12-way adjustable front sport seats,  rear 60-40 bench seats, 2-zone automatic air conditioning, full power accessories, cruise control, leather front seat trim, and many other conveniences.  The audio system has 6 speakers, AM/FM HD radio, a CD/MP3 player, and an audio jack with optional satellite radio and iPod capabilities.

It also has the standard safety features plus a few extras: anti-lock brakes, side front airbags, side curtain airbags, active head restraints, traction control, and stability control with front and rear anti-roll bars.  No safety ratings are available yet, but BMW’s always over-perform in standard tests.

Conclusions and driver feedback:

The interior is standard BMW sport: it is functional with an understated but deep-seated air of luxury.  There is plenty of headroom and legroom in the front.  The rear, while flirting with the danger of being a 2 + 2 afterthought, still finds enough room for reasonably-sized passengers.  Nonetheless, we recommend usage as a two-seater.

The handling and performance are stunning.  We all know how adept BMW is at making their cars handle effortlessly while providing a state of the art ride.  The Series M is no exception.  This car accelerates gracefully, quietly, and effortlessly.  It sustains highway speeds without a hint of labor, road noise, wind noise, or even engine noise.  This car is almost as fast as a muscle car, but as quiet as a plug-in electric.

At this point, only 1,000 units are planned for the US.  We have a feeling they are going to be a very high-demand item.  It is a fairly high-ticket item, but its performance is almost that of a few cars approaching six figures.

The verdict: if you have a thirst for speed and a reasonably fat wallet, but don’t want to spend 100K, this is one of the best cars of the year.

MSRP $54,600

The idea of a BMW midsize luxury crossover SUV is a bit of an oxymoron.  People who drive BMW’s are more likely to hang out at Starbucks than they are to go off-road for their excitement.  Since BMW didn’t get to be BMW by misjudging their customer base, they have made a “luxury SUV” that is a lot more luxury than SUV.

The xDrive35i has a 3.0 liter, turbocharged inline 6 cylinder engine that produces 300 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque.  It has 20-inch wheels, BMW’s patented all-wheel “xDrive,” and an 8-speed automatic transmission.  It is rated at 16 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway, and goes from zero to sixty in 6.4 seconds.

The xDrive35i comes with 10-way power sport seats, a tilt-telescope steering column with a thick, premium sport steering wheel, automatic and adaptive xenon headlights, foglights, leatherette premium vinyl upholstery, and cruise control.  The audio system has 12 speakers, an HD radio, satellite radio, a CD/MP3 player, and an audio jack.  Numerous convenience upgrades are available, but they do move the price up fairly quickly.

The xDrive35i also has anti-lock brakes with brake drying and standby, traction control, stability control, side front airbags, side curtain airbags in the first two rows, and a rollover sensor.  The 35i received perfect scores of 5 stars in all government tests except front passenger front impact, in which it got 4 stars.  It got perfect scores of good in all tests performed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Conclusions and driver feedback:

Basically, what you are getting here is a vehicle that looks like an SUV on the outside, looks like a BMW on the inside, and drives like a sport car.  Especially in the front two rows, the cabin is pure understated BMW luxury.  There is plenty of both headroom and legroom in the front, while the second row legroom leaves a bit to be desired for taller passengers.  The third row seats are for short hops or short passengers only.  If you fold both rear rows of seats, there are 75 cubic feet of cargo space.

The handling is quite sporty.  For a vehicle of its weight, the xDrive35i handles extremely well.  It does have a high center of gravity, though, and there is still some body roll when cornering.  When driving straight, though, there aren’t many better in its class.  The power is effortless, the suspension soaks up impacts, and road and wind noise are kept to a minimum.

As for the negatives, the main one is that you are paying about a $10,000 premium for the BMW nameplate.  If you are a BMW fan, it is worth it.  If you are neutral, you might look around a bit.  Also, the more genteel may not appreciate the ride, which is a bit stiff.

The verdict: good for BMW fans, overpriced for everyone else.

MSRP $34,500

The 128, in either the coupe or slightly more expensive convertible, is BMW’s entry-level car.  It is priced below many US luxury cars, but still has the things that make a BMW a BMW.  Most of all, the convertible has the BMW “cool factor” multiplied by at least five.

The 2011 BMW 128i Convertible is a compact luxury convertible.  It has a 3.0 liter, inline  6-cylinder engine that produces 230 horsepower.  It has 17-inch cast-aluminum wheels, rear-wheel drive, and a 6-speed manual transmission.  It is rated at 18 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway, and goes from zero to sixty in 6.7 seconds.

The 128i has a few less conveniences than the more expensive BMW’s, but there is still plenty there.  It comes with a tilt-telescope steering wheel, 8-way adjustable front seats, premium vinyl upholstery, cruise control, 2-zone climate control with a convertible mode for when the top is down, foglights, automatic headlights, automatic wipers, and heated mirrors.  The audio system has 10 speakers, HD radio, CD/MP3 player, and an audio jack.  Upgrades to the Convenience Package or Sport Package, with myriad other features, are also available.

The 128i also has anti-lock brakes with standby and brake drying, stability control, traction control, hill assist, large side front airbags that compensate for the convertible design, and pop-up rollover hoops.  No safety tests are available, but BMW’s internal standards are more stringent than those of the testing agencies.

Conclusions and driver feedback:

The lower price had to come from somewhere, and it comes in the form of a little bit less luxury than the rest of the BMW line.  The interior, while it still looks luxurious, is made of slightly lower-grade, harder materials than the standard BMW.  The dash still looks like a BMW, though.

There is a decent amount of space in the front seat, with plenty of headroom with the top up and plenty of legroom, but the rear seat is more of a 2 + 2 rear seat than a luxury rear seat.  We recommend the rear seat for short commutes only.  Also, even though the front seats are comfortable, we recommend the upgrade to the front sport seats, which have more support.  There are only 8.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the top down and 13 with the top up.

When you buy a BMW, other than for status, you probably buy it because of the driving experience.  This BMW may be less expensive than its relatives, but it is still a slice of heaven when you are behind the wheel.  The engine, though small, gives rapid acceleration and effortless power.  It is extremely smooth, both in transition and at cruising speeds.  The steering is extremely responsive, as is the suspension.  Even without the sport upgrade, the 135i gives a very sporty performance, whether in traffic, on winding roads, or on a straightaway.  The ride, while not standard luxury, is still very smooth.

The verdict: great car for one or two people.

The BMW X3 xDrive35i is luxury crossover SUV that seats five people.  BMW services a pretty select market, and isn’t as subject to the whims of the standard marketplace as most manufacturers are.  For the most part, BMW’s marketing strategy is to make great cars and then say, “this is a BMW; that’s all you need to know.”

They probably couldn’t help but notice the popularity of the compact crossover, though.   Since its debut in 2004, the 3X has been the usually aloof BMW’s main concession to the market, and is their only crossover to have survived since then.  The main benefit here is that satisfied regular BMW customers have a BMW they can buy if they want a compact crossover.  This begs a question, though.  Is BMW putting as much care into a product that is almost an afterthought as they do in their regular cars?

The BMW X3 xDrive35i comes with a 3.0 liter, direct injection, turbocharged inline 6-cylinder engine that produces 300 horsepower.  It has 18-inch alloy wheels, all-wheel drive, and an 8-speed automatic transmission.  It is rated at 19 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway.

It comes with a tilt-telescope, leather-wrapped steering wheel, 8-way power adjustable front seats, premium vinyl “leatherette” upholstery, cruise control, automatic climate control, the patented BMW iDrive interface, adaptive xenon headlights, and rain-sensing windshield wipers.  The audio system has 12 speakers, an HD radio, a CD/MP3 player, a USB/iPod interface, and an audio input jack.  There are also many upgrade packages available.

In addition to the standard anti-lock brakes, stability control, traction control, front side airbags, and side curtain airbags, the 35i also comes with active front head restraints and hill descent control.  There are no government tests available, but BMW is another of “those” companies whose internal safety testing is much more stringent than any standard test.

Conclusions and driver feedback:

The first thing you will probably notice, other than the fact that it is a BMW, is that there is a lot of room here for a compact crossover.  There is plenty of both headroom and legroom in the front and rear.  The interior, of course, is pure BMW, with soft, luxurious materials used in the dash and doors, and comfortable seats with premium upholstery.

The BMW retains its traditional ambiance, even with a modern interface that lends a subtle futuristic air to the dash.  Also, the BMW drive and ride are still there.  The 35i accelerates effortlessly, and cruises smoothly, even at higher speeds.  The steering is very responsive, and the suspension gives a sporty performance during acceleration or cornering.

The ride is typical of a BMW: luxurious with just enough road “feel” to let you know you are in a motor vehicle.  The cabin is quiet.  There is neither road noise, engine noise, nor wind noise to speak of.  There are no negatives here.

The verdict: highly recommended and worthy of the BMW name.