- Outstanding range and charging speed
- Solid performance, engaging driving
- Practical space and technology
- Still a premium car, especially when you add options
- Big battery means lengthy home charging
- No electrochromatic option for sunroof
Range (WLTP): Up to 500 miles Top Speed: 130mph 0 to 62: 4.9 sec Efficiency: Up to 4.1 miles per kWh
Introduction
Range anxiety is one of the stock reasons people give for not wanting to buy an EV, even if in practice you don’t need as much as you think. But many people want this, and 2026 will be the year where mainstream, if not exactly “affordable”, cars break that barrier. First to arrive on the market is BMW’s 2026 iX3. So much more than an update of the original iX3, this is the first production model from the new Neue Klasse. While BMW has created individual electric-only cars – the original i3 and iX – the new Neue Klasse is the first all-electric platform. BMW’s designers have pulled out all the stops to make this a car with the widest possible appeal, and from our test drive experience, they have succeeded.
Price and Options
German manufacturers tend to overwhelm with drivetrain and trim options, but BMW has kept things relatively simple for the iX3. At launch, there is just one drivetrain available – the xDrive 50. This provides all-wheel drive and a potent 469hp, plus a 108.7kWh (net) battery. The drivetrain is from BMW’s 6th Generation, so the battery has been produced with 42% less carbon emissions than its 5th Generation. There’s also a switch from prismatic to 46mm cylindrical cells.
There will allegedly be a less powerful xDrive 40 option in 2027, but without a drivetrain choice for now, your main choice is trim level, of which there are three. Above the basic entry-level is M Sport and M Sport Pro. Judging by previous sales, BMW only expects to sell a few percent of the basic model.
However, even that has a decent specification, including electric seats, 20in wheels, the full infotainment system (of which more later), and even adaptive cruise control. M Sport adds subtly more aggressive angles to the styling, a premium steering wheel, plus PerformTex artificial suede and Veganza seating upholstery. The M Sport Pro adds kidney grille illumination, adaptive LED matrix headlights, yet another steering wheel design, and the option for 22in wheels.
The first surprise is the price (with caveats). BMW is a premium brand, and its cars are never cheap. But despite being a significant upgrade over the original iX3, this new version hasn’t gone up in price. The basic iX3 starts at £58,755, the M Sport at £61,255, and the M Sport Pro £62,755, which is actually lower than before. Considering the battery is much bigger and motors more powerful, this is a bold pricing move. However, it should be noted that you can still add up to £10,000 to the price with options.
There are more keenly priced alternatives, particularly from Chinese brands and even other European competitors. The equivalent Tesla Model Y, the All-Wheel Drive Premium, is around £7,000 cheaper, but while performance is similar, range is much less. In fact, only the forthcoming Volvo EX60 will be able to compete in this respect. But it hadn’t been launched in the UK at the time of writing.
Exterior Design
The new Neue Klasse BMWs are meant to have elements in homage to the original 1962 cars, and no design from BMW is complete without a kidney grille. The iX3 has a more restrained grille than many recent cars from the brand, with a vertical design that is highly reminiscent of the 1500 and 2002 of 60 years ago.
The front is still unmistakably BMW, with the typical fierce and serious appearance. The side profile has a lot in common with the iX. The rear, however, has a new diagonal hatching across the taillights, which was also a feature of the i3 prototype. There’s a sporty rear spoiler extending the roofline to keep the profile flowing.
Interior Comfort
The interior design is more radical still than the exterior. There are even fewer buttons than the most futuristic recent BMW EVs like the iX and i7. But the main innovation is the 40in panoramic screen at the bottom of the windscreen. We’ll discuss this more in the infotainment section of this review.
The M Sport sculpted bucket seats in our test car are very comfortable and the upholstery stylish. The central console includes a couple of cupholders, two wireless charging pads plus two USB C ports, and a capacious cubby with ventilation. The lid for the latter doubles as an armrest.
Rear space is excellent. This car will be more than capable of accommodating a family of four six-footers in comfort. The middle seat is narrower, so best left for a child or very small adult for a long journey. With no middle passengers, you can pull the seat back down to create an armrest with a pair of integrated cupholders.
All versions of the BMW iX3 have a large panoramic sunroof, which allegedly reflects heat. But unfortunately, it doesn’t have the snazzy electrochromatic capabilities of the optional sunroof available with the iX.
There are central air vents with some climate controls available, plus two USB C ports for rear passengers. The two outer seats sport ISOfix points. Strangely, there are no seat-back pockets for rear seat passengers, but there are fixing points for optional mounts for tablets, so you can keep the kids entertained with media on long journeys (travel sickness permitting).
Storage and Load Carrying
The new iX3 is a smaller car than the iX, but surprisingly the boot space is about the same. The basic capacity is 520 litres with the rear seats up. These can be dropped forward with a 40/20/40 split, so you can just push down the middle section to accommodate a long item alongside two adult passengers in the rear.
With all the back seats forward, capacity rises to a generous 1,750 litres, which is towards the top of the pack for midsize SUVs. The boot floor is quite flat, too, making this a great car for cargo. There’s a little space under the boot floor for cables. Alternatively, you could put these in the 58-litre frunk.
The £1,025 tow hitch option enables the iX3 to pull up to 2,000kg braked, too, which is more than enough for a caravan. The towbar is motorized, dropping down at the touch of a switch and retracting with a second press.
Each trim level has a distinctive steering wheel design, but all three offer what BMW calls “shy” controls, where options you can’t currently use aren’t illuminated. These are touch buttons but have haptic feedback so you know when you’re pressing them. On the left the buttons control the adaptive cruise, while on the right are media and general functions. There are still traditional stalks for indicators, lights and windscreen wipers.
BMW has reduced the number of discrete controls beyond this. There is still a jog switch for selecting drive, neutral and reverse, plus a button for park. There’s B-mode for additional regeneration. You get a button for hazard lights plus one each for front and rear windows. A wheel controls sound system volume. And that’s your lot.
Everything else will require a trip to the 17.9in infotainment screen. This is well laid out and the touch system responsive. There’s a clear connected satnav. The headline act is the 40in “Panoramic Vision Display”. On the section behind the steering wheel can be found typical instrument panel information, clearly presented. But to the left is a section with six customisable slots for widgets. Using the infotainment screen, you can add your choice of information to this strip.
There’s a great BMW HUD as well, available as an option.
Performance and Driving
Typical BMW owners buy because they want a car with a bit more involvement than the average vehicle and are willing to pay for it. Most of the electric BMWs we’ve driven before delivered on this promise, with the i4 M50 and i5 M60 being highlights. While the 2026 iX3 doesn’t quite reach these heights, it’s still surprisingly good for a 2,400kg SUV.
The 469hp dual motors dispatch 62mph in 4.9 seconds, which is plenty for A-road and motorway overtaking manoeuvres. The pure BEV platform delivers a rigid chassis with a low centre of gravity, so cornering is flat and responsive, despite the weight. The suspension is a little firm, but the ride quality still comfortable.
While the iX3 is towards the top end of the size chart for urban environments, it’s still acceptable. Twisty A-roads and motorways, however, are where this car comes into its own. A British country single laner with a 60mph will be great fun, while the composure on motorways is excellent. The driving comfort is there for lengthy journeys.
Range and Charging
The headline news for the 2026 iX3 is its range. With the right option combination, the WLTP figure is 500 miles, although this entails the base model with the £550 optional aerodynamic wheels. Without these, the figure is 493 miles from the 108.7kWh (net) battery. Upgrade to the 22in wheels (as in our car) and the range drops considerably to 467 miles, or 464 miles with the M Sport Pro, which we tested.
We drove quite exuberantly during our time with the iX3 (it’s a BMW!) and mostly in Sport mode. The test routes also involved a lot of A roads and 70mph dual carriageways. We only achieved 2.7 miles per kWh but that would still equate to 292 miles of range. With a bit more sedate driving, we feel confident that well over 300 miles will be possible, and probably over 350 miles. That puts this car in the league of similar petrol alternatives.
The charging speed is getting there too, with the 800V architecture capable of up to 400kW DC performance. This means you can put 231 miles of range back in the car in just 10 minutes or go from 10-80% in just 21 minutes. Of course, you will need to find a fast enough charger.
However, with such a huge battery, it will take over 16 hours to recharge from 0 to 100% with a typical 7.4kW home wall box. There is 11kW AC available, which reduces the time to 11 hours, and 22kW is optional, reducing the time still further to 5.5 hours. But most homes in the UK don’t have either. This will be more useful for companies offering on-site 22kW charging for employees.
Still, the 2026 BMW iX3 will munch through the miles easily. Range anxiety will be a thing of the past, and long journeys dispatched with ease.
Running Costs
With the quoted maximum efficiency of 4.1 miles per kWh, the BMW iX3 is relatively frugal for its weight and performance. Our result of 2.7 miles per kWh is still decent, although it can’t quite match the efficiency we’ve seen from the Tesla Model Ys we’ve tested. Still, it’s not a disappointment.
Insurance groups are quite high, however, ranging from 43 for the basic car and M Sport to 44 for the M Sport Pro. The basic warranty is for three years and unlimited miles, and this includes Roadside Assistance. The battery has eight years of warranty for 100,000 miles.
Safety
The iX3 is packed with safety features, because Driving Assistant Plus is included as standard. This offers blind spot detection and adaptive cruise that operates at Level 2+. Upgrade to the Highway Assistant (not available at the time of review) and you’ll be able to take your hands off the steering wheel on selected roads too. There’s no Euro NCAP rating yet, but with the amount of safety tech on board we predict five stars.
While there’s a great parking camera, BMW now offers some additional assistance as an option. The Parking Assistant Plus package (£500) delivers a 360-degree view and enables the car to park itself both in regular spaces and parallel situations. Add the Parking Assistant Professional option, and you can even use your smartphone to drive the car in or out of a tight space from outside.
| Price: | Base car – £58,755; M Sport – £61,255; M Sport Pro – £62,755 |
| Range (WLTP): | Up to 500 miles |
| Charge time (7.4kW, 0-100%): | 16 hours |
| Charge time (11kW, 0-100%): | 11 hours |
| Charge time (400kW, 10-80%): | 21 minutes |
| Battery: | 108.7kWh (net) |
| On Board Charger: | AC –11kW (22kW option); DC: 400kW |
| Efficiency (WLTP): | Up to 4.1 miles per kWh |
| 0-62mph: | 4.9 seconds |
| Top Speed: | 130mph |
| Power: | 469hp |
| Wheels driven: | All-wheel-drive |
| Cargo: | 520 litres; 1,750 litres with rear seats down; frunk: 58 litres; towing 2,000kg braked |
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