Test: BMW iX3 – Warrior in price and equipment

The BMW X3 has been on the market since 2018 and with the new iX3 you have the option to choose between gasoline, diesel, rechargeable hybrid and fully electric transmission.

Only a few car models have this option. The reason is obvious. It is expensive to have separate car models from scratch, and worldwide electric car sales are negligible.

This does not mean that BMW takes investment in electric cars lightly. Just look at the i3, where you thought new in every area and built a new carbon neutral factory. And already next year comes the sensational SUV iX, which is the size of the BMW X5.

Like a bmw

BMW hasn’t done a lot of electric drivetrain. It has been given a closed grille and blue elements around the aforementioned grille, ducts and as a framed alarm clock that no longer has an exhaust system. Blue items are optional. Norwegian cars will also have more aerodynamic wheels as standard. You don’t have the test car.

Inside, there’s a blue start button and gear stick that reminds you never to go through a gas station again. Even the instruments are exactly the same, because the ordinary BMW also has a power display from 0 to 100 percent a day, unless you look for the tach yourself.

In other words, you keep what is very good with the BMW. Beautiful comfort, great variety of materials, low noise level and practical solutions.

It has plenty of room for three children in the back seat and the trunk is a quite acceptable 510 liters. It’s 40 liters smaller than the gasoline and diesel models that almost no one buys and 60 liters larger than the rechargeable hybrid that everyone wants.

What is surprising, however, is that the car totally lacks luggage space in the front, even though it no longer has an engine there. The existing electronics and cooling are covered by a large plastic lid.

the elephant in the room

Natural competitors are the best-selling Audi e-tron Jaguar I-Pace and Mercedes EQC and all are more expensive, consume more power and run less.

The main reason for this is that the iX3 only pulls on the rear wheels. Between the rear wheels they have placed a 400 volt electric motor with 286 horsepower and 400 Nm. They call it the 5th generation electric motor, because of the experiences they have with the i3. In other words, electric motor with less cobalt and otherwise free of rare metals.

Battery pack of 80 kWt gross and 74 kW net, is located on the floor. Most surprisingly, it has half the cobalt of most other batteries, while BMW has control over the cobalt supply providers. The batteries, which are manufactured in modules for repair and reuse, are assembled in our own carbon-neutral factory.

BMW’s Norway Favorite Has Longer Reach

BMW has opted for the somewhat unusual solution of having two cargo hatches. One for domestic charging up to 11 kW and one for 150 kW.

The intelligent system

BMW is obviously more tight-fisted than the competition. It has a single drive shaft and the weight is less. BMW declares a consumption between 1.85 and 1.95 kWt per mile. We only had the car for a short day and the consumption figures with a lot of filming, photography and general tests of the car are not representative, but a small stage on the road indicates that the figures are easy to reach. So you have to cover 46 miles.

BMW also has something they call active recovery. That is, it uses the map, traffic lights, and other traffic to determine how much resistance the disk should provide. Then roll as often as you can and brake exactly what you need. The system works very well. You can also choose not to provide an engine brake, or a fairly powerful engine brake, which mostly allows you to drive with just one pedal.

Is that how it works

We were very excited about how the electric X3 would feel. Basically it feels like a normal X3, but more choppy. The engine is nimble from the start and active feedback feels completely natural.

The biggest uncertainty is related to the rear wheel drive. We have ridden it on tarmac, gravel and sticky wet track and are pleasantly surprised. The ESP system keeps the rear in place and while the weight distribution is now very unusual, 57 percent at the rear and 43 percent at the front, little is noticeable during normal driving. Possibly this is countered by the centrally located battery, which provides a lower center of gravity.

TEST: Pure luxury

The only thing that amazes us is that you only have an OFF or ON stabilization system, not something in between, as we are used to. Turning the system off gives you fun, easy-to-handle driving pleasure on gravel roads and normal roads, but it’s incredibly toxic if you try to duck on slippery surfaces. When the heavy stern arrives, you quickly become an extra.

NEW DESIGN – The iX3 doesn’t have BMW’s biggest kidneys, but it sets itself apart from the others with incredibly solid surfaces and blue bezels. Photo: Rune M. Nesheim

NO BLUE SMOKE: On the other hand, the pots have been replaced by blue diffuser-type elements. Photo: Rune M. Nesheim

I: the little i-one shows when X3 is electric. Photo: Rune M. Nesheim

I: the little i-one shows when X3 is electric. Photo: Rune M. Nesheim

Advanced LED lights that mask other traffic require a Plus package and are only worth it. Photo: Rune M. Nesheim

LED: the taillights are like the normal X3. Photo: Rune M. Nesheim

Good buy

You get it in three versions, Connect for 572,000, Connect Plus for 628,000 and the introductory model Connect Plus Edition for NOK 609,000, and that’s the one you MUST have. Then you get, in principle, the top model with glossy black accents on the exterior, black roof and electric trailer hitch. It shouldn’t cost a lot either, because it only weighs 750 kilos.

TEST: significantly improved range

Even the cheapest has LED lights, adaptive chassis, all available security, the largest entertainment package, parking assist, panoramic glass roof, 3-zone climate and power memory seat adjustment, adjustable backrests and charging systems continuous and much more.

Charge Plus gets sports seats in genuine leather instead of artificial leather, a much better sound system from Harman Kardon, Head-Up display, and necessities such as adaptive LED headlights and keyless car opening.

The only complaint with the iX3 is the lack of four-wheel drive. For some, it is essential. But our recommendation is to try one before deciding. It is very possible that you will change your mind. Especially when you compare price and equipment level with the competition.

The BMW iX3 is one of the candidates for the Car of the Year. The 10 candidates of the jury will be announced on Tuesday, November 24. The winner will be announced on December 1.