BMW X3 Sports Activity Vehicle named All-Terrain Car of the Year
02/09/2007

The BMW X3 Sports Activity Vehicle has been named All-Terrain Car of the Year for 2007.
It was the second year in a row, that the BMW X3 won the readers' poll held by respected German magazine, 'Off Road'.

The win was decisive with the BMW Sports Activity Vehicle leading by more than ten percentage points ahead of the next-placed vehicle.

The refined and re-invigorated performance-orientated X3, which has just gone on sale in Australia, clearly asserted itself among the 14 vehicles that had been nominated for the SUV class, taking 24.2 per cent of the total votes cast.

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.
The accolades reflect the market success currently enjoyed by BMW in this segment.

In 2006, a total of 113, 997 BMW X3 vehicles were delivered worldwide; this represents an increase of 3.0 per cent compared to the previous year. In Germany alone, the BMW X3 was sold more than 23,000 times, giving it a market share of 10.3 per cent in the all-terrain vehicle segment.

All in all, BMW was again able to maintain its position as the most successful brand in this vehicle class in 2006 both in Germany and Australia. Despite the impending model renewal, the BMW X5 once more played an important role here. Taken together, the BMW X3 and BMW X5 claimed a market share of 15.0 per cent in the all-terrain vehicle segment in Germany.

In Australia, the BMW X3 and BMW X5 claimed a leading market share of 21.9 per cent of the luxury SUV segment.

One sentence : AWD + Turbo Diesel Power .

^^^ It's actually quite a bit more of that, but it's a good start!

Let me be the first to ruin the party. WHAT!?

The BMW X3 is selected as the "All Terrain Car of the Year" from an OFFROAD magazine? What are their criteria now for an offroad truck? Handling and performance?

Every review I have read has stated that the X3 isn't very capable offroad once you get into the really muddy terrain. There are more capable SUV's out there that perhaps don't have the driving dynamics of the X3, but are better offroad. And as an OFFROAD magazine, I think they should have graded on offroad capability.

The Toyota Landcruiser comes to mind, as does the Mitsubishi Pajero or even the old Mercedes G-Class. They all perform better offroad than the X3. Yes, the X3 will perform better onroad, but this is an offroad magazine. Makes me wonder what their criteria are these days.

Next thing you know, they pick the Porsche Cayenne over a Hummer H1.

Oh well, congrats to BMW, but I disagree with this.

Kudos to BMW for the prize but when it comes to off road abilities i think we all know that X3 doesn't have any.

Guys read again...


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.

not much with offroad capabilites. People buying a X3 dont buy the car for offroad driving which this award shows.

So X3 was voted the best SUV for the road. That explains it.

Yep, I saw this. Hence I was wondering why an OFFROAD-biased magazine would all of a sudden care about handling and driving dynamics.

The X3 is a good SUV, my neighbour has the 2.5i version, and there is no doubt in my mind that it has the traditional BMW driving dynamics. I am just questioning the reason why an offroad magazine cares so much about handling and onroad performance when an SUV's priorities should be things like offroad capability, towing, safety and perhaps fuel economy, not driving dynamics.

Either way, kudos to BMW.

the readers voted for X5, not the magazin.

And who says OFFROAD magazin is offroad-baised? OFFROAD is only the name of the magazine so people understand what cars are being tested so they dont go there and looking for FIAT PUNTO...

and I still say the majortites of all SUV owners dont buy the car for offroad driving. In US many women drives SUV and they dont do it for offroad driving, they want safety and good visibility.

So again, OFFROAD is just the name of the carmag.

Then they should change their name.