BMW

iX3

The BMW iX3 is a five-door, rear-wheel drive SUV that is fully electrified and heavily based on the standard X3 model. It boasts an impressive driving range between charges and all the handling ability associated with the Bavarian car maker.

The good

Design, handling and driving range

The bad

Some rivals are more dynamic to drive

Tech Specs

Price from

£58,850

Combined Fuel up to

Driving range of 279 miles

0-62 from

6.8 second

max speed up to

112mph

co2 from

0g/km

Test Drive

BMW iX3 Premier Edition Pro – First Drive (2021)

We seem to have been waiting a long time, but BMW has finally launched its first fully electrified SUV – and it has certainly been worth holding out for.

It’s called the iX3 and is heavily based on the popular X3 model and that means it looks like a ‘normal’ car, unlike BMW’s first foray into EVs back in 2013 when it unleashed the i3 with its quirky fibre-glass styling.

Since then it has become apparent that people don’t really want weird and whacky designs just because the car is electrically-powered and, with that in mind, the iX3 has just a few subtle clues to its power source.

At launch the iX3 was available in Premier Edition and Premier Edition Pro trim levels, but just a few months down the line the X3 underwent a mid-life facelift. So now the iX3 has relaunched with M Sport and M Sport Pro trim levels instead.

However, we tested the earlier version in high-end Premier Edition Pro guise, costing £61,770. Premium pricing then for a premium car. The iX3 marks the introduction of the Bavarian car maker’s fifth generation eDrive technology with a combination of the latest electric motor, charging systems, power electronics and high-voltage battery pack.

Developing 286hp and 400Nm of torque, the iX3 boasts impressive performance stats with a 0-62mph sprint time of 6.8 seconds and top speed that is electronically-limited to 112mph. But as it is purely electrically powered, the main figure that will be on everyone’s mind is driving range between charges. Well, BMW has that covered as the iX3 can deliver up to 279 miles which should allay any range anxiety fears.

The five-door SUV looks dynamic from any approach with true X3 styling. The only clues that would make you realise it is in fact an EV are a few blue accents, more aerodynamic wheels and the solid grille.

Moving inside, once again, the iX3 is very traditionally styled with fine leather upholstery, piano black trim, soft-touch surfaces and a panoramic sunroof that lets light flood into the cabin.

There are a few blue accents again to highlight the vehicle as an EV – these include a blue starter button and blue trimmings on the gear lever, along with some EV-specific readouts concerning driving range and charge levels. But otherwise, it is very X3-like in its design and layout.

There is the latest generation BMW operating System 7 and that means any future software updates will be automatically completed over the air. The 12.3-inch instrument cluster behind the steering wheel offers all the vital driving data and there is a 10.25-inch infotainment screen that acts as the nerve centre of the car.

The many on-board features can be accessed via the BMW iDrive Controller, buttons on the steering wheel, gesture control or the BMW personal assistant that is activated by saying ‘Hey BMW’ and speaking your instruction when prompted.

This set-up gets more intuitive over time learning about your favourite seating position, cabin temperature and most popular driving routes. It can also follow instructions such as ‘take me home’ when the sat nav will automatically be set with home as the destination.

Creature comforts are plentiful and include a pitch perfect Harmon Kardon sound system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a head-up display, heated seats, sat nav, a separate control panel for all the climate functions, plus a sound synthesiser to give the car a more authentic noise within the cabin. (It does sound like a Tube train at times though!)

Onto performance then and once again, the iX3 doesn’t disappoint. It eats up motorway miles for fun quickly accelerating to 70mph where it cruises effortlessly. Then out on the twisting lanes, the rear wheel drive car is beautifully poised and balanced with next-to-no sign of body sway into tighter bends.

With the battery pack stored beneath the floor, it helps the car’s centre of gravity and that means it feels well planted no matter how enthusiastically you drive and the adaptive suspension set-up means the ride quality can be controlled along the way.

Drive modes called Eco Pro, Comfort and Sport alter the reactions of the vehicle, and if you switch from D for Drive to B for Braking, single-pedal driving is possible as the levels of regenerative braking are increased considerably when you take your foot off the accelerator.

There is room for a couple of adults to sit comfortable in the back of the iX3 and the boot can hold 510 litres of kit – a limit that increases to 1,560 litres with the 40:20:40 split-folding rear seats dropped flat.

Elsewhere, there are plenty of storage compartments scattered throughout the car, including a lockable glovebox, deep door bins with space for a water bottle, front and rear cup holders, a central cubby box, a wireless charging pad and seat back nets.

In addition the iX3 is packed with safety kit, including the BMW Driving Assistance Professional package that introduces various semi-autonomous systems, such as active lane keep and steering assist with side collision protection, traffic jam assistance, adaptive cruise control and a wrong-way warning. The autonomous emergency braking will bring the car to a standstill if it detects a pedestrian, cyclist or vehicle in its path and the driver ignores the warnings, and there is a high-end alarm and immobiliser to keep any uninvited attention at bay.

When it comes to charging, the iX3 can be boosted from empty to full from a 7kW home charging wallbox in about 12 hours. Faster charging can be achieved via a 150kW fast charger which will see the car’s range increase from 10-80 per cent in 34 minutes.

The X3 is the first BMW model that can be ordered with petrol, diesel, plug-in hybrid or fully electrified powertrains offering what the company calls the “Power of Choice” approach. Well at least until 2030 when everything changes, of course.