We drove the new BMW X3 to Hersheypark for the day, and found that the kids are jaded at their very young ages! I liked the new X3 so much more than the first generation, which I didn't think fully deserved the BMW label. What are your thoughts on the vehicle?

My full review is at:

http://automotivetraveler.com/jump/3286

First gen X3 was indeed dog even in the 3.0 form. When the MCE occurred, BMW dropped the 2.5 and only used 3.0, bumped the hp to 255. That vehicle was real fun to drive in manual transmission, which I had chance to drive.

The new one is a step better, but with no manual transmission. Based on my limited time in the car, I do not think the current vehicles with the automatics match the previous generation vehicles with manual transmission in fun factor.

Regardless, BMW vehicles are least in features to price quotient and have lost the driver to machine connection since the Z4 debuted.