BMW iX3 Review & Prices

BMW is undergoing a revolution, and the new iX3 is at the spearhead of the brand’s shift to an EV-only manufacturer. It features all-new styling, a cabin that has nothing in common with the current generation of BMW models and enormous battery range.

The iX3 is a bit like Fleetwood Mac, who switched up their sound when they went from performing blues music to writing hit rock songs. Even if its philosophy is totally different, you know that there’s a lot of talent and potential behind the new vibe.

It’s not alone in the charts, either, with the already-established Tesla Model Y and Audi Q6 e-tron in its sights, while Mercedes has recently unveiled its own take on the electric SUV recipe with the Mercedes GLC EV.

The iX3’s styling harks back to the old ‘Neue Klasse’ BMW models of the 1960s which saved the Bavarian brand from certain bankruptcy. You get a pair of narrow, upright front ‘grilles’ which are straddled by a sporty, visor-like panel which houses the LED headlamps. It’s really very handsome.

Those grilles are actually decorative panels which house an array of sensors for the iX3’s functions. The sides aren’t quite as novel or interesting, but at the back you get a pair of super-wide taillights, and there’s a fancy crease that goes the full-length over the top of the car.

BMW iX3: electric range, battery and charging data

Range: 456-500 miles
Efficiency: 3.7-4.1 miles per kWh
Battery size: 108kWh
Max charge speed: 400kW
Charge time AC: 11hrs, 0-100%, 11kWh
Charge time DC: 21mins, 20-80%, 400kWh
Charge port location: Left Side Rear
Power outputs: 469hp

It even gets an all-new logo, with a minimalist version of the classic blue-and-white roundel. It looks rather smart.

The interior is even more striking than the exterior, with an all-new design that includes a full-width projected display underneath the windscreen, a head-up display and a parallelogram-shaped infotainment screen which is super responsive and crisp to look at.

It’s still a faff to adjust the climate controls (even the vent direction is screen-controlled), but otherwise BMW has simplified the menus and made the new system easier to use. You get a new steering wheel design with touch-sensitive controls, too.

Overall material quality feels very high in the iX3, with lots of trimmed and soft-touch plastics higher-up in the cabin. Reach low and you’ll find some scratchier trims, but even they get away without feeling cheap, while the vegan leather seats are luxurious and comfortable.

There’s a fair amount of storage space up front, with hidden cubbies, a wireless phone charging tray, cupholders and a big, open storage space in the middle.

You get acres of room all-round, and even the tallest of passengers won’t struggle for headroom or legroom in the back. The 520-litre boot is a smidge smaller than the Audi Q6 and 50 litres less than the petrol X3. You also get a 58-litre front boot, but it’s smaller than you get in a Tesla Model Y.

The headline is that the iX3 can travel a whopping 500 miles on a charge, making it the longest-range EV you can buy at the moment. Round of applause, please. To achieve that, BMW has fitted it with an enormous 108kWh battery that can charge at a blistering 400kW.

That means you can add around 230 miles of range in just ten minutes, or so BMW claims.

The iX3 50 model has four-wheel drive and 469hp thanks to its pair of motors, though when pottering about the front motor car completely disconnects to improve efficiency

We’ll have a full review for you as soon as we get behind the wheel of this striking new SUV, but in the meantime you can get a head start with BMW’s iX3 deals, as well as BMW iX3 lease deals. There are plenty of new BMW deals, or you can check out the range of used BMWs for sale through our network of trusted dealers. You can even sell your current car through Carwow when the time comes.

The BMW iX3 starts from a hair under £59,000 in ‘basic line’ trim, over £1,500 less than the Audi Q6 and a whopping £6,000 less than the recently unveiled Mercedes GLC Electric, though you can get a Tesla Model Y for just under £45,000.

M Sport models start at over £61,000 and bring with them a sportier body kit and larger wheels, while the whole-hog, range-topping M Sport Pro trim includes sports seats and a sport steering wheel as well as blacked-out exterior trims and red brake calipers.

Even the entry-level models come with 20-inch alloys, LED lights all round, front heated seats and AI software to help seamlessly integrate the suite of driver assistance features…apparently.