NEW BMW iX3 revealed! 500-mile electric SUV arrives | What Car?
This is the new BMW iix3 and this fully electric SUV is potentially one of the most important new BMWs ever released, showcasing all new EV technology and the longest electric range of any car on sale. Keep watching to find out everything you need to know about this crucial new model. And to make sure you can see our full review of the EX-3 as soon as we’ve driven it. And to watch many more videos like this, make sure you subscribe to our channel. So BMW’s first fully electric car was the BMW i3 released back in 2013. It was a slightly wacky small hatchback which showcased a lot of interesting ideas but struggled to find mainstream success. And so it was the release of the first BMW EX-3 that really signaled the German manufacturer’s EV intent. Released in 2020, it was essentially an electric SUV version of the fuelpowered BMW X3. And it was fantastic. It was good to drive, comfortable, offered a brilliant infotainment system, and for a long time, it has been one of the very best electric SUVs you can buy. But even though it was first launched only a few years ago, the electric car world then was very different. You didn’t need many fingers to count its electric car rivals at the time. But today, so many more EVs are around to provide competition. And being a great electric SUV certainly isn’t as easy as it used to be. And so, with an official range of under 300 mi and a maximum accepted charging rate of 150 kW, even though the EX-3 is still good to drive compared to most other electric SUVs out there, the numbers it offers are pretty far a drift from the best options. But with the BMW iix, BMW has already shown it’s capable of moving its EV technology on pretty quickly, albeit at a rather high price tag. And now everything changes with this, or at least it’s supposed to. The new BMW EX-3. The reason for the hype is the fact that it’s built on an allnew electric platform dubbed Noa Classer, which BMW is pinning its future EV hopes on. It will form the basis for at least six new EVs by 2028, including the fully electric 3 series. The arrival of the first of these models was previewed by a series of concept cars. first with some saloons, the i Vision D. Then the Vision Noya Classer. Then we had the Visionaer Classer X, which clearly previewed the new EX-3. And more recently, the Vision driving experience, a quad motor saloon, which lifted the lid on the performance technology of future M cars. But now to the production version of the new EX-3, which is finally here. And what about the styling? Well, BMW is no stranger to radical design makeovers. as we’ve seen with lots of their other products in the past, like the BMW 4 series, 7 series, and the EX itself. And the look of this new EX-3 shows a new design language which will be adopted across the German manufacturers’s future products. So, while the dimensions are quite similar to the old EX-3, the familiarity mainly ends there. This EX-3 features an upright front end, large air intakes, and a kidney grill, which is a visual reference to the original Nea Classic of the 1960s. And yes, as an optional extra BMW iconic glow lights it up. There’s a new headlight design with vertical daytime running lights, and a horizontal light signature spanning the width of the front end. At the side, you’ll find flush door handles, which pop out when you approach with the key, and there are six paint colors available at launch. Three more will join the lineup in spring 2026. 20-in alloys come as standard, but there is a choice of a different style on the options list along with bigger 21 and 22in alloys. Inside, things are very different from other BMWs. BMW describes things as contemporary and minimalist. What that means is that there are virtually no physical controls for the infotainment system to be seen. For years, BMW’s iDrive infotainment system was the best around, largely thanks to the rotary dial controller, which you could easily use while driving. But that all seems a long time ago now, and the German manufacturer, like so many others, has pivoted to relying on touch screens and voice command to control the infotainment system features. There are also some touch sensitive scrollers on the steering wheel, but we’ve tried them out, and they are far fiddlier to use than a simple dial. This isn’t the first BMW to get rid of the rotary dial, of course, but it’s still a shame to see this new model, which outlines so much of the plans for its future interiors, miss out on one. It looks like the circular physical controller is gone for good. BMW calls this new system and setup panoramic iDrive, and it features a digital driver display, which stretches along the top of the dashboard at the base of the windscreen. This setup does mean you have to look over the steering wheel rather than through it to see the driver display like a Peugeot. There’s still a head-up display available on top of that. And for the record, having had a chance to sit in one, we found no issues with the wheel blocking the display as is common with Peugeot. Now, if the usability of the tech might be a bit of a miss, it should still be a hit when it comes to practicality. Two sixfooters will have plenty of head and leg room in both the front and the rear of the new EX-3. And those in the back can slide their feet beneath the front seats easily, even when those are set as low as they’ll go. Meanwhile, a completely flat floor makes life more comfortable for a central rear passenger than it is in petrol SUVs like the BMW X3, for example. The boot offers 520 L of storage, opening up to a maximum of 1,750 L with the rear seats down. And helpfully, they split fold 40 2040. There’s also an additional storage compartment under the bonnet, which offers an extra 58 L of space. Now, what about this class leading pure electric range, then? Well, the EX-350X drive gets a massive 108.7 kWh battery and an official range of up to 500 m from a full charge. That is very far indeed, around 100 mi further than the longest range versions of the Audi Q6 Ron and Tesla Model Y. When you do need a top up on the go, a maximum charging rate of 400 kW is accepted thanks to its 800vt electrical architecture and means a 10 to 80% top up in ideal conditions of the massive battery can happen in just 21 minutes. That’s if you can find a charger quick enough for that, of course. Speaking of quick, this EX-3 gets two electric motors. It’s four-wheel drive and it can accelerate from naugh to 62 miles an hour in 4.9 seconds. That’s not quite as quick as the recently announced 3.3 second Model Y performance, but still plenty enough pace for an electric SUV. Three trim levels will be available in the UK called simply EX3 for the entry- level trim. Then there’s M Sport and M Sport Pro above that. Even the cheapest trim comes with heated and electrically adjustable front seats, wireless phone charging, and dual zone climate control. M Sport adds some different alloys and various M Sport styling tweaks. M Sport Pro brings yet more cosmetic alterations, adaptive LED headlights, upgraded seats, and that illuminated grill. And the cost? Well, the new BMW iX350X drive is priced from £58,755 here in the UK, which impressively undercuts the cheapest versions of the Q6 Ron, which are slower and can’t travel as far. It’s likely though that the Tesla Model Y will be one of the main contenders this has to battle for sales, though. And while no version of that car can manage 500 miles on a full charge, it’s a fantastic allrounder with a much lower starting price. Production will begin later this year in BMW’s new factory in Hungary with first UK deliveries of the EX-350X drive scheduled for March 2026. We’ll be driving it before then, though, so make sure you subscribe to our channel to see our review of this electric SUV as soon as we’ve driven it. So, that’s everything we know about the new BMW EX-3. Tell us what you think of the car in the comments below. Do you like the styling? Would you choose this over a Model Y? And don’t forget, head over to whatcar.com for car reviews, news, features, and reveals. Thanks for watching.
The new BMW iX3 has just been revealed! Watch our video for everything you need to know about this 500-mile electric SUV.
Save thousands on your next new car with What Car? at https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/
New videos are uploaded to What Car? each week. Don’t miss a single one. Subscribe now: https://bit.ly/2Obgxjd
Visit our website at https://www.whatcar.com/
New videos are uploaded to the What Car? channel every week. Subscribe now so you don’t miss a single one: https://www.youtube.com/whatcar
What Car? is the UK’s biggest car-buying brand and has been helping buyers for more than 50 years. Our tests are widely regarded as the most independent and in-depth.
Our YouTube channel brings you trusted reviews on all types of car, plus car news, reveals and features.
In-depth written reviews are available on our website whatcar.com, where you’ll also find advice features and the latest new and used car deals.
Follow What Car? here:
LIKE What Car? on Facebook: https://goo.gl/yv5jF8
FOLLOW What Car? on Twitter: https://goo.gl/SJzmT8
Check out our full video catalog: https://bit.ly/2W81iu9
