BMW iX3 Review (2026): The Best Electric SUV for Traveling?

Here finally is the new generation of electric vehicles from BMW: the Neue Klasse. The Munich manufacturer has chosen to inaugurate the new platform with an SUV, the iX3, before the upcoming arrival of the i3 sedan. Beyond the new style of the Neue Klasse, it is primarily the onboard technology, both in the cabin and for the electric part, that makes the BMW iX3 interesting. I had the opportunity to test it, and here are my thoughts.

Innovative

I will be brief about the design of the BMW iX3: the electric SUV adopts the new stylistic codes of the brand. Once again, it is a radical break that may be off-putting at first glance. However, the latest productions from the brand prove that BMW's design is innovative: what may appear as a failed design is later appreciated. This is the essence of innovation: breaking the codes to eventually be adopted.

Let’s quickly discuss what makes the iX3 a vehicle with an innovative design. We notice a new grille where the two kidney shapes adopt a more reasonable size, similar to what BMW offered on a Series 3 E21, for example. These kidneys are integrated into the black front strip. The four iconic BMW headlights are reinterpreted with the light signature. At the rear, there is no strip but large lights with translucent glass. From the side, we notice wheels up to 22 inches, 21 inches on our test model, as well as electric door handles integrated into the bodywork. These seem to have been modified for China and its new regulations.

But what is also innovative in the BMW iX3 is its interior. Let’s address this point right away: yes, it is spacious enough for four adults, the trunk offers a volume of 520 to 1,750 liters, and there is a small frunk at the front. The quality of the materials is satisfactory overall, but some parts could use a bit more attention. No, what is truly surprising in this BMW iX3 is the new BMW Panoramic Vision.

BMW Panoramic Vision

I am not quite sure how to position myself regarding the BMW Panoramic Vision. The propeller brand has placed a projected screen under the windshield that spans the entire cabin over a length of 1.20 m. It consists of three displays: an instrument for the driver, positioned under the windshield, a central screen in addition to the touchscreen, and a passenger display. This results in four display surfaces in the cabin, not to mention the head-up display.

And this sometimes leads to redundancy. For navigation, you can have it on the 13-inch central screen, which controls most of the vehicle's functions, twice in the BMW Panoramic Vision, and once again in the head-up display.

Some functions are also trivial: displaying a compass, the date, or the temperature does not warrant such a screen. The idea of streamlining the cabin with this large strip under the windshield is interesting, but it could go further. I can already imagine future developments taking place in addition to the central screen. This may be disorienting, but ultimately, we have become accustomed to large screens and touch controls that were absent a decade ago.

Overall, it remains readable, perhaps a bit difficult to use at first, but owners will find their bearings, their preferred configurations, and won’t touch it again. The absence of a speedometer behind the steering wheel and these displays positioned far towards the windshield remind me a bit of the interior of a Renault Avantime with this idea of maximizing the dashboard's simplicity.

Cutting Edge

The BMW iX3 is at the forefront of technology regarding its electric part. It features an 800-volt architecture allowing for rapid charging: 400 kW at peak and a battery fill of 108.7 kWh in 21 minutes. This is not the fastest fill on the market for a 10 to 80%, but it must be correlated with the announced range of 805 km WLTP. BMW even speaks of a recharge of 372 km in 10 minutes.

This iX3 xDrive50 version features two electric motors. The front motor develops 167 horsepower, while the rear motor produces 326 horsepower, for a combined power of 469 horsepower and 650 Nm. To achieve the announced consumption of 15.1 kWh/100 km, BMW designed the front motor to be passive: it can shut off when not needed to reduce consumption. The car proves to be very efficient, especially considering its announced weight of 2,360 kg.

Travel Companion

The BMW iX3 seems to be one of the best cars for traveling electrically. Its range is excellent: a colleague managed to cover the 1,000 km between Paris and Nice, on the highway at 130 km/h, with only two charging stops for a total of 22 minutes spent charging. The measured highway range was 525 km with a full charge or just under 400 km from 80 to 10%, which is the distance between two stops. His Super-Test of the BMW iX3 is worth reading if you want to go further.

My test was more mountainous and dynamic. I must admit I did not appreciate the road feel offered by the steering, which felt too artificial and assisted for my expectations, which is a drawback in the mountains but an asset in the city, where precision is not an argument while ease becomes one.

The car also felt firm in damping, which contributes to giving it a sufficiently dynamic behavior despite its weight, but which is not the most comfortable for daily use, especially with low-profile tires induced by the 21 or 22-inch wheels. It’s a pity, as the BMW iX3 does not offer, even as an option, air suspension that one would like to find on a vehicle of this range.

I had the chance to drive the BMW X3 40d shortly before this test, and I cannot really explain it, but the overall feel of the car seemed more natural and comfortable in any situation. This is not really related to the BMW iX3, but I find thermal cars more comfortable than electric ones, whether as a driver or passenger. It’s surely a matter of time before a more natural feel is found in an electric vehicle.

BMW X3 40d – photo credit: Cassandra Césaire-Gédéon.

There are a few physical controls missing in the car, particularly for switching from one driving mode to another. It’s a shame: you have to go through the screen with a few clicks. The same goes for the intensity of regenerative braking: paddles would have been appreciated to modulate the deceleration power.

Where I appreciated the BMW iX3 the most was on the highway. The autonomous driving system we were able to test is already effective. For legal reasons, the BMW Symbiotic Drive Highway Assistant was not yet available in southern Spain, but it is already available in France. With it, it will be possible to take your hands off the wheel while supervising highway driving with your eyes, including for automated overtaking. I admit I look forward to the opportunity to test such technology on a long trip.

At highway speeds, the BMW iX3 proves to be quiet and comfortable. I even took a nap for a while. Rested, we enjoyed the high-quality and powerful audio system offered on board.

My Opinion

I was not completely won over by the BMW iX3, but it is undeniable that this SUV has solid qualities. Its electric part impresses, with a generous battery, rapid charging, and very high efficiency. The cabin aims to be disruptive and intends to establish a new standard at BMW. An approach that still disturbs me today, but to which it will probably be easy to get used to over time.

On small roads, the BMW iX3 did not seem to be in its element. But how many family electric SUVs actually spend their days tackling the special stages of the Monte Carlo Rally? Far fewer than those making long highway trips, an exercise in which this model seems particularly at ease.

There remains the question of price. The BMW iX3 starts at €71,950 and climbs to €78,250 in M Sport Pro trim. For comparison, the BMW X3 40d that I tested a few days earlier, although less powerful, was priced at €79,100 in M Sport trim, to which nearly €20,000 of penalties must be added. Ultimately, this BMW iX3 xDrive50 is not a bad deal for those who want to drive a lot, in great comfort, without worrying about range.