2016 BMW X3

Several years into this generation, the 2016 BMW X3 remains a compelling choice in the hotly contested premium compact SUV landscape. 2015 brought a few revisions to freshen up the X3's looks and add equipment to increase its value, so for 2016 the X3 remains largely unchanged. There are three engine choices. The sDrive28i and xDrive28i models are powered by a gas four-cylinder turbo engine, and the xDrive28d by a four-cylinder turbodiesel. xDrive signals all-wheel drive, and the sDrive—limited to the 28i model—is a rear-wheel-drive choice. Above those models is the xDrive35i, which gives the X3 impressive power with its 300-hp turbocharged six-cylinder 3.0-liter.

All X3s drive sharply, with crisp steering and an agility that's unusual for a high-riding SUV. Only Porsche's significantly more expensive Macan will raise a bigger grin behind the wheel, but it doesn't have the X3's space or practicality. With stylish looks inside and out, an easy-to-operate iDrive infotainment system, and BMW's slight improvements in equipment every year, the X3 remains difficult to ignore even as it ages, particularly if driver enjoyment is high on your list of priorities.