Road test: BMW iX3

Road test: BMW iX3

  • BMW iX3
  • Base price: $118,900
  • Powertrain and Economy: Single permanent magnet electric motor with 73.8 kWh battery, RWD, combined consumption 18.9 kWh/100 km, range of 461 km (source: RightCar†
  • Vital Statistics: 4734 mm long, 1891 mm wide, 1668 mm high, 2864 mm wheelbase, 510 liter boot space, 19-inch alloy wheels.
  • Safety: 5 stars (source: ANCAP†
  • We love: Agile, sharp handling, great quality, really fun to drive.
  • We don’t like: The glossy black ‘grille’ is a bit much, not a fan of the blue highlights.

BMW is deep in the middle of a veritable avalanche of brand new EVs landing on our shores. The very impressive iX is followed by the i4 sedanthe iX1small SUV and the big i7 luxury limousine† But first we have the iX3 midsize SUV built on the foundation of the hugely successful X3. Definitely a good spot in the range if there ever was one

OUTSIDE

Apart from the blue bits and the shiny 'grille', the BMW iX3 looks like a standard ICE X3.

Damien O’Carroll/Stuff

Apart from the blue bits and the shiny ‘grille’, the BMW iX3 looks like a standard ICE X3.

While the first electric endeavors were visually their own thing in the range, this time BMW has played it smart, splitting its electric SUV offering between the striking (and polarizing) iX and the much more traditional and conservative iX3.

READ MORE:
† Road test: BMW iX xDrive50
† First ride review: BMW iX3
† BMW awards the all-electric iX3 SUV
† BMW prices all-electric iX SUV for New Zealand

While the iX looks like nothing else on the road, the iX3 can easily be mistaken for an ICE X3. It has its more radical touches, though, with the signature taillights, blind grille and blue accents announcing it’s the electric version.

However, if you take a closer look, you'll see that the iX3 also has several lights, particularly the heavily contoured taillights.

Damien O’Carroll/Stuff

However, if you take a closer look, you’ll see that the iX3 also has several lights, particularly the heavily contoured taillights.

Can’t say I’m enamored with the glossy black plastic ‘grille’ and the blue highlights seem like an unnecessary afterthought. While the latter option can be taken away, the grille is just something you have to come to terms with. Personally, I could live with one or the other, but both is a bit much for me.

For the rest, though, the iX3 is very ordinary when it comes to what an X3 looks like, which is fine considering the current X3 is a handsome, traditionally styled SUV.

INSIDE

The two-tone brown with black interior doesn't photograph well, but looks great in real life.

Damien O’Carroll/Stuff

The two-tone brown with black interior doesn’t photograph well, but looks great in real life.

The ‘same but different’ story continues in the iX3, with just a few modest blue highlights to say you’re in the electric version. The interior remains attractive and well laid out, although it seems a bit dated now, especially compared to the iX’s remarkable interior.

The two-tone leather can be polarizing, but I liked it, while the quality is impeccable. There are a few typical BMW dots around the cab that are made of hard plastics, but overall the quality is high throughout.

UNDER THE HOOD

More splashes of blue distinguish the iX3's interior from the ICE models.

Damien O’Carroll/Stuff

More splashes of blue distinguish the iX3’s interior from the ICE models.

The iX3 is powered by a single 210 kW/400 kW electric motor mounted on the rear axle and powered by a 73.8 kWh battery. All this is good enough to bring the 2,255 kg SUV to the maximum speed on public roads in 6.8 seconds. And honestly, it feels faster than that.

But if you’re looking for instant punch-like EV sensations comparable to a Tesla, the iX3 won’t offer that. Instead, it’s more than fast enough, but with a nice balance between its power and torque. Torque is nicely distributed and retains enough at higher speeds to deliver a solid mid-range punch, making the iX3 a fantastic open road cruiser and a very impressive winding road warrior to boot.

While the decision to make the iX3 rear-wheel drive is an unusual one, as slamming a motor on the front axle would put it on par with its obvious AWD EV rivals such as the Audi e-tron, Jaguar I-Pace and Mercedes-Benz EQC, it pays off when it comes to handling…

ON THE ROAD

Available only as a RWD model, the iX3 is a wonderfully immersive ride.

Damien O’Carroll/Stuff

Available only as a RWD model, the iX3 is a wonderfully immersive ride.

Where the iX is brilliantly capable, but almost completely uninvolved from a keen driver’s perspective, the iX3 is wonderfully captivating.

An RWD X3 isn’t something I ever thought I’d need in my life, but the iX3 proves that BMW hasn’t left the ‘Ultimate Driving Machine’ thing out of its current range of EVs, as the iX worryingly suggested.

Sharp, precise steering is matched by a beautifully composed chassis that is happy to do whatever you want with Teutonic precision. The extra weight of the battery has never been an issue, or even really noticed, apart from the admirable effect of lowering the center of gravity further.

Although smaller than the iX, the iX3 also looks much more conventional. What is good or bad depends on your point of view.

Damien O’Carroll/Stuff

Although smaller than the iX, the iX3 also looks much more conventional. What is good or bad depends on your point of view.

JUDGMENT

A surprisingly fun car, the iX3 clearly shows that BMW is not forgetting the driver’s involvement in its electric future. While the iX impresses as a technological powerhouse that wraps you in luxury, the iX3 is a car that a driver will enjoy.

While I really love the iX for all it does fantastically well (and that damn awesome audio system…), the total lack of driver involvement worried BMW would move away from making cars for avid drivers while it switched to electricity.

The iX3 really proves otherwise and just makes me look forward to the i4 more…