The BMW iX3 is the first of a new electric car generation that builds on everything the Bavarian maker has learned about EVs since fielding the little, upright i3.
Hardly any other car from Germany has been talked about as much recently as the “New Class” dedicated EV platform from BMW.
The manufacturer aims to reinvent itself with this model range and to finally respond to Tesla’s triumphant advance and Chinese technological leadership.
But enough of the theory. Within a few months, the iX3 will start rolling onto roads and to show what we can expect, BMW gave the media an iX3 50 xDrive to put through its paces.
In this guise and with prices starting from $68,900, the new kid on the SUV block will compete with the Audi Q6, the Porsche Macan, and the equally new Mercedes GLC.
A later entry-level model will cost around €60,000. This makes the new car roughly as expensive as the existing X3 which uses a four-cylinder petrol engine. Price parity is one of BMW’s aims, along with a new fresh look for the SUV.
The iX3 does not look as dramatically new as some of the design studies we have seen on the way, but it does introduce what BMW calls a “clear and reduced” aesthetic.
The upright front end has a reinterpreted, illuminated kidney grille which is much less “in your face” than the brash grilles seen on other models from the brand. The design features a 0.24 drag coefficient, characterized by seamless body-to-glass connections, flush door handles, and reduced, clean surfaces.
With a length of 4.78 metres, a wheelbase of 2.90 metres, and a flat floor, even the second row offers generous seating, and there is plenty of space for luggage.
The iX3 has a solid 520 to 1,750 litres of boot space and, finally, a 58-litre frunk that can be put to good use. It could be bigger though, and you still need to unlock it.
The leap forward is even more visible inside. With the “New Class,” BMW is also introducing a new display and operating concept. Panoramic iDrive is the name given to the combination of the large central display and a second screen strip that stretches across the entire windscreen as a narrow strip.
If that’s not enough, you can also order a head-up display. Although the new display strip takes some getting used to at first, it does expand the driver’s field of vision and reduces distraction.
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the new “quircle” steering wheel design. The wheel has vertical spokes instead of horizontal ones and an almost angular basic shape.
The whole thing looks as though it is trying to be different just for the sake of it.
The iX3 weighs 2.4 tons but it bowls along well and feels very responsive despite the tonnage. Body roll is minimal and the steering is precise.
The cabin of the new SUV offers a calmer panorama and if you do not select one of the sound profiles on offer there are no simulated gear changes or gear shifts to interrupt what the brand once hailed as “sheer driving pleasure”.
Braking recuperation is also so powerful that over 90% of braking is achieved through energy recovery alone.
Sales talks in the showroom are bound to revolve around range between charges, and in this respect BMW has upgraded the car considerably.
The two motors of the all-wheel drive vehicle deliver a combined output of 345 kW/469 hp and 645 Nm, enabling it to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds and reach a top speed of 210 km/h.
The car can travel an impressive 805 standard kilometres before it needs to refill with electrons. That is down its huge battery rated at 109 kWh. Please note, no other electric car has a power pack this big.
To ensure that pit stops don’t become a test of patience, BMW has also increased the charging capacity. With up to 400 kW possible, the iX3 is currently the charging champion among German electric cars.
The new BMW SUV looks fresh and new, takes a big leap forward in terms of driver display and operating concepts, and even more so in terms of electrical engineering.
What’s more, the price has dropped to the level of combustion engines and the robust SUV drives as you would expect from a BMW. It may even be the best electric car currently available from Germany, on par with a Tesla and close to the most advanced Chinese models.
BMW has indeed reinvented itself with this model but will it suffice to fend off the cheaper competition snapping at its heels? Only sales will tell.
Specification: BMW iX3 50 xDrive
