BMW iX3

BMW may have stolen an electric-powered lead on its rivals with the introduction of the i3 hatchback and i8 supercar, but this new iX3 is the start of the next generation for the Bavarian firm. And, with the i4 and iNext also arriving in showrooms in 2021, BMW is about to strengthen its position in the EV market even further.

Aside from a few electric-blue highlights and a ‘filled-in’ front grille, you could be forgiven for not immediately recognising the iX3 as just another member of the standard range. That conventional styling compared to the more outlandish i3 and i8 is intentional and will be seen with BMW’s future electric models too. With an 80kWh battery, the iX3 boasts the equivalent of 286 PS driving the rear wheels (there’s no four-wheel drive version) and is able to get from 0 to 100kph in 6.8 seconds and onto a 180kph top speed. Fully charged, there’s a range of 459 kilometers (WLTP Standard). On a 150kW rapid charger, BMW claims that drivers can add 100 kilometers of range in just 10 minutes with a 0 to 80 per cent charge in 34 minutes. Probably more realistic is the fully charged time of 7.5 hours on a domestic wall box.

While the iX3 tips the scales at a hefty 2260kg, the good news is that much of that weight is low down giving it a lower center of gravity than the X3 30i and the packaging is impressive too. Boot space is only marginally affected compared to the standard X3, losing just 40 liters of underfloor storage (510 liters with the seats up, 1560 with them down) compared to 100 in the PHEV.

A more visible sign of those advances is the iX3’s regenerative braking system. Regular EV drivers will be used to the three different regen settings available – low, medium and high – although they are buried within the infotainment system menu, so aren’t that easy to change on the move. You can however push the gearlever across to B mode which acts as a shortcut to the highest regen mode. All that isn’t the bad news that you might imagine however, as there’s a fourth ‘Adaptive’ setting. Using artificial intelligence, the sat nav and the forward radar, this automatically decides which level of braking to use depending on the road and traffic conditions. BMW claims that it means 90 per cent of ‘reducing speed situations’ can be handled without using the brake pedal

That may all sound a little odd, but it works remarkably well and in reality, it’s hard to imagine regular iX3 drivers using any other mode. It also adds to the iX3’s otherwise excellent driving experience. While you’re never not aware of that extra weight, it’s not problematic. There’s little body roll and the steering is sharp enabling you tackle twisty roads with confidence and it handles surprisingly well. The ride quality in Comfort mode is good too, although the Sport mode is too firm for any road that isn’t perfectly smooth.