BMW iX3 Unpacked: Efficiency Over Excess

Actually, it's normal. It's just another X3. BMW's best-selling car—yes, even bigger than the 3 Series. The X3 is available in petrol, diesel, plug-in hybrid, and now fully electric. The Unicorn V-powered version is eagerly awaited. Was it modified for battery life or something else? The iX3 was engineered after the rest of the current, third-generation X3 lineup was discontinued. So, they didn't make many changes. The cabin remains unchanged. The body shell isn't much different, not even underneath. This means the battery isn't as large as you might expect. And it has to hang low off the floor, so it doesn't have the ground clearance of a full-fledged SUV. Legroom hasn't been increased. It's rear-drive only, and there's no front boot. Many of its competitors have larger packs, twin-motor 4WD, and frunks. Uh oh. And yes, it may be quite new, but what you see here is actually the facelifted iX3. BMW announced a refresh of its looks in August 2021 – before any pre-facelift examples had reached the UK. Strangely, not much has changed; BMW is introducing a sharper front end, larger kidneys, and rear lights that take inspiration from the 2 Series Coupe. There's also a larger infotainment screen and a new gear selector. Give me some numbers. So, what's the magic number? With just a 282bhp motor, 0-62mph takes 6.8 seconds. There's no whiplash acceleration like competing electric SUVs. The battery is only 80kWh gross, of which 74kWh is usable. The BMW lags far behind here. But the WLTP range is 285 miles, or about 3.5mi/kWh. Not bad, but not in the 300-mile-plus bracket of the newest EVs on the market. The smaller battery will charge quickly because it draws 150kW. In other words, the iX3 seems very efficient, and it's targeted at how people use their cars, not features that can win YouTube or Twitter battles. Who is it for? It's for people who want a crossover for a high driving position and a large trunk, not for off-roading. Still, most crossover buyers will be there, especially electric crossovers, and especially in China and the US. And China is where the iX3 is made. Not that you can tell: the build quality, materials, and refinement are exactly the same as what you'd get from the Munich factory, or indeed the US factory where the regular X3 is built. Despite slight changes in layout, the battery, electronics, and motor are all BMW's own, and can also be found in the i4 saloon and iX SUV. Both use a unique floorpan, allowing for more capacity packs for longer range. Who does it compete with? Its main competitors are the Jaguar I-Pace, Mercedes-Benz EQC, and Audi Q8 e-tron. It's significantly cheaper than its faster 4WD competitors, with a starting price of £65,000. If you're willing to trust a new Korean brand, there's also an electric version of the Genesis GV70 that you might want to consider. What's the verdict? “These engineering choices mean it costs less... at least among premium brands.” After the vastly different i3 and i8, this is all quite practical. The iX3 is a mainstream crossover, and can cover a considerable distance on a single charge. BMW admits it's not an off-roader, as very few people actually go off-road. And it doesn't leverage the weight and price of dual motors for crazy acceleration, because after a few trial runs, most people realize they don't want to be human cannonballs. Still, 0-62 mph in 6.8 seconds isn't too bad for a diesel crossover standard, and many people will be happy. Unless you regularly drive the Autobahn, you won't feel the lack of speed. Even if you do, a small SUV probably isn't for you. And these engineering choices mean it costs less. At least among premium brands. Keep in mind, the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, Tesla Model Y, and VW Group's trio of ID.4, Skoda Enyaq, and Q4 e-tron are also worth considering. All of them are cheaper than the BMW. Speaking of competition.