Is BMW’s new iX3 a game-changer or just another electric SUV?

The BMW iX3 is the first in a new generation of electric cars that builds on everything the Bavarian automaker has learned about electric vehicles since the launch of the small upright i3.

Almost no other German car has attracted as much attention recently as BMW’s dedicated “New Class” EV platform.

The manufacturer aims to reinvent itself with this range of models and finally respond to the triumphant progress of Tesla and Chinese technological leadership.

But enough theory. In a few months, the iX3 will begin hitting the roads and to show what we can expect, BMW has given the media an iX3 50 xDrive to put through its paces.

In this form and with prices starting at $68,900, the new kid on the SUV block will rival the Audi Q6, Porsche Macan and all-new Mercedes GLC.

A later entry-level model will cost around €60,000. That makes the new car about as expensive as the existing X3, which uses a four-cylinder gasoline engine. Price parity is one of BMW’s goals, as is the SUV’s new look.

The iX3 doesn’t look as radically new as some of the design studies we’ve seen along the way, but it does introduce what BMW calls a “clean and reduced” aesthetic.

The vertical front face features a reinterpreted and illuminated grille, much less “in your face” than the brash grilles seen on the brand’s other models. The design features a drag coefficient of 0.24, characterized by seamless body-to-glass connections, flush door handles and reduced, clean surfaces.

With a length of 4.78 meters, a wheelbase of 2.90 meters and a flat floor, even the second row offers generous seating and plenty of luggage space.

The iX3 has a solid boot space of 520 to 1,750 liters and finally, a 58 liter boot that can be put to good use. It might be bigger though and you’ll 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 control concept. Panoramic iDrive is the name given to the combination of the large central screen and a second screen strip that extends across the entire windshield like a narrow strip.

If that’s not enough, you can also order a heads-up display. Although the new display strip takes some getting used to at first, it widens the driver’s field of vision and reduces distractions.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the new “circle” steering wheel design. The wheel has vertical spokes instead of horizontal spokes and an almost angular basic shape.

Everything seems to want to be different just for the sake of it.

The iX3 weighs 2.4 tonnes but it rides well and feels very responsive despite the tonnage. Body roll is minimal and the steering is precise.

The new SUV’s cabin offers a quieter panorama and if you don’t select one of the sound profiles on offer, there are no simulated gear changes or gear changes to interrupt what the brand once described as “pure driving pleasure”.

Regenerative braking is also so powerful that more than 90% of braking is achieved through energy recovery alone.

Commercial negotiations in the showroom will necessarily focus on the price range, and in this regard, BMW has improved the car considerably.

The all-wheel drive vehicle’s two engines deliver a combined output of 345 kW/469 hp and 645 Nm, allowing it to go 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 kilometers before needing to recharge with electrons. That’s down to its massive battery rated at 109 kWh. Please note that no other electric car has such a large power unit.

To prevent pit stops from becoming 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 step forward in terms of driver display and control concepts, and even more in terms of electrical engineering.

Additionally, the price has fallen at the level of combustion engines and heavy-duty SUV engines, as you would expect from a BMW. It may even be the best electric car currently available in 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 be enough to fend off the cheaper competition right on its heels? Only sales will tell us.

Specification: BMW iX3 50 xDrive