When you think about the trailblazers in the EV world, you might first think of the likes of the Renault Zoe and the Nissan Leaf. You may also think about the BMW i3 supermini, a car which has developed quite a cult following due to being way ahead of its time.
The difference however is that very few manufacturers have had the same level of consistency in the EV sector as BMW. Yes, Renault now has the 5 as well as the Megane and Scenic, but those have all been introduced relatively recently.
By comparison however, after the i3, BMW has had the i8 supercar, the i4, the iX, the original iX3, i5 and i7 saloons and now this new generation iX3, the first of BMW’s Neue Klasse generation. Yes, it may be a new electric SUV/ crossover, but this new iX3 is a window into the future for BMW, a blueprint for future electric BMWs and a new design language.
And then, as if all that weren’t enough, there is the small matter of this being the first car in the UK to have an official WLTP range of 500 miles. If this iX3 doesn’t stamp out any detractor’s fears about range anxiety, then nothing will.
BMW IX3 50 – DESIGN
Just one look at this new iX3 tells you that BMW isn’t playing safe. Just as when the German firm introduced its new Chris Bangle design models starting with the fifth-generation BMW 5-Series in 2003, this Neue Klasse boasts a very different look to what’s gone before.
Being entirely honest, we weren’t convinced about the iX3’s looks when we first saw the pictures, but the reality is that it’s far better looking in the metal. The narrow front kidney grille is reminiscent of the classic BMW 02 of the 1960s and 1970s, this iX3 is actually smaller than you might imagine and also looks and feels like a step into the future – ironically immediately dating the over-sized grille look of the i4 and larger iX.
No, the rear isn’t quite as sharp looking as the front – the narrow lights leaving a lot of blank space underneath – but overall this is a really smart-looking car. 20in wheels are provided as standard (more on which later) with up to 22in wheels on the M Sport Pro.
BMW IX3 50 – POWER AND RANGE
The headline figure for this new generation of iX3 of course is that 500 mile range. Then again, perhaps so it should given that it boasts a massive 108.7kWh battery in a car up against the likes of the Volvo XC60 and Mercedes GLC.
This is the 50 xDrive version but will boast the longest range in the line-up, with lesser rear-wheel drive and performance versions to follow later (presumably to be named 40 and 60).
Either way, this is a ridiculously fast car with 469bhp under the driver’s right foot and a 0 to 60mph time of just 4.9 seconds with a 130mph top speed. As with other EVs of course, that’s the kind of acceleration that was supercar level not so long ago and it still seems rather incongruous on a car like the iX3.
BMW claims a 4.1mls/kWh efficiency along with impressive 400kW ultra rapid charging capability enabling the possibility of adding 231 miles of range in just 30 minutes (if you can find a suitable charger that is of course) – a 30% increase in charging speed compared to BMW’s previous technology.
That’s all very impressive, but perhaps more so are those figures compared to the real world. We drove the car in a lowish ambient temperature and a full charge was showing at 461mls, while a mix of motorway and spirited back road driving saw us return 3.8mls/kWh without any effort whatsoever of economical driving. Both figures showing that matching either of the official claims is a firm reality and certainly not a pipe dream. Also helping it to retain that range is a standard-fit heat pump.
BMW IX3 50 – ON THE ROAD
Firstly, as mentioned, any car with 469bhp, even a weighty EV like this, is not going to feel slow. This is a car that will gladly hitch up its skirt and sprint for the horizon line with a quick flex of your right ankle.
That, combined with a lack of body roll, good grip and reasonable feel about what the car is doing beneath you (although it could be better) makes this a surprisingly good driver’s car. The iX3’s steering boasts pretty sharp turn in too, although it could do with more feel.
All that pace is also accompanied by a slightly addictive background Tron-like electronic whirr and of course the total absence of any torque curve delay as the BMW fires forwards. The only slight frustration is a driving position that is set rather too high even with the seat in its lowest position.
There are four settings for the regenerative braking – Low, Medium and High as well as Adaptive. These can only be changed frustratingly by navigating numerous menu buttons on the touch-screen rather than paddles behind the steering wheel, which seems a bit of a backward step. Just as well then that the highest setting can be activated by just switching into B mode on the gear selector and also that it remembers your previous setting when you return to the car rather than defaulting to a pre-set mode.
For us, the highest level was enough and while the adaptive setting did work well, we found it wasn’t quite predictive enough compared to how most people would naturally drive an EV when anticipating the road ahead.
But if the performance and the driving itself doesn’t impress you, then the iX3’s refinement certainly will. With 20in alloy wheels at each corner (22s are also available on other trim levels), you might expect this BMW to be crashing into every pothole you so much as glance at. The reality however is very different. The ride quality is extremely good and, moreover, the damping in particular is exceptional. Simply put, a car like this, with that performance, has absolutely no right to ride this well or be this refined. It’s a real eye-opener.
BMW IX3 50 – INTERIOR
As you’d expect from the exterior styling, the IX3’s interior doesn’t exactly follow convention either.
There’s the now-traditional large touchscreen (a slightly funky parallelogram shape) dominating the centre of the dashboard and BMW has done away with its old iDrive controller. As well as that however, at the base of the windscreen there’s a thin strip of display across the entire width of the car for the speedo, stereo display and so on, plus there’s a head-up display for some versions.
While at first it takes some getting used to, in reality, you quickly become accustomed to it and it actually works quite naturally. If this is the future for BMW interior design, then it bodes well.
But that isn’t all. There’s also a striking looking steering wheel with a four-spoke design at 12, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock. At the 9 and 3 positions are glass-like multi-function control panels for the cruise control and stereo. Again, it looks a bit strange, but works ok although for us there are too many button controls on these sections for our liking to easily use without taking your eyes off the road.
There’s a surprising amount of space in the back seats and lots of head and legroom while the boot varies from 520 litres up to 1750 which is impressive. It feels like a good exercise in packaging and almost makes you wonder why anyone would bother with the larger BMW iX.
SUMMARY
Once in a while, a car comes along in the EV sector, that seemingly resets the rule book about expectations. As we mentioned at the start about trailblazers, the i3 and i8 from BMW both did that and this new generation iX3 feels the same.
Good looking, efficient, refined and with a very impressive range – there’s not much to find wrong with the BMW iX3. In fact, we’re already wondering whether we’ll drive a better EV in the rest of 2026. It really is that good.
FACT BOX
Model: BMW iX3 50
Price: from £58,755
Power: Battery – 108.7kWh
Range: Up to 500 miles
Average efficiency: 4.1mls/kWh
Average charge time on a domestic wallbox: 14.5hrs
CO2 emissions: 0g/km
Rating: 10/10