First Drive - BMW iX3 - Even Cheaper Than The Cheapest X3. And There Is More Kit!

When BMW envisioned the current X3, it truly was a tall order. The German manufacturer wanted to be sure that their SAV could be produced in an array of powertrains. For us, we got a taste of a few petrol engines, a PHEV variant, and diesel during a roadtrip in Australia (check out our two-part special here and here). The iX3 fires the starting gun for the fifth generation of BMW eDrive technology, and we think that they have produced a daily driver that will rival the day-to-day practicality of an ICE vehicle.

The BMW iX3 takes the versatility of the X3, and pairs it with the practical range of the brand’s fifth generation of BMW eDrive technology. And with the introduction of the iX3 and i4 Coupe, the German automotive manufacturer is close to its turning point of switching to non-fossil forms of propulsion.

New battery cell technology is at the heart of the brand. The iX3 contains 188 lithium-ion prismatic cells, which are around 20 per cent higher in density, when compared to the group’s current cell design which is used in their existing range of vehicles. In short, the iX3 offers a range of up to 459 kilometres, quite similar to many ICE road vehicles.

Also making its debut, is their innovative charging unit, designed to send power to both the iX3’s 400V battery and 12V on-board power supply. With DC charging with outputs of up to 150kW, the iX3 is able to charge from 0-80 percent in just 34 minutes, and add 100km to the car’s range with just 10 minutes of charging.

BMW has adopted a current-excited synchronous electric motor to drive the iX3, as opposed to an asynchronous motor, which uses more precious metals in its production, which is more damaging to mine.

The iX3 is immediately recognisable since it shares body panels with the X3. There are some differences though, since it does not require the same method of cooling; the iconic kidney grille is almost an enclosed design. Since there is no exhaust, the rear end has also been sculpted, and paired with an aerodynamically-enhanced underbody to reduce air resistance. BMW has specially fitted a set of 20-inch aerodynamic light alloy wheels, that reduces drag by around 5 percent. Overall, the wind-cheating efforts, adds approximately 10km to the range of the BMW iX3.

The BMW iX3 is available in two equipment lines, “Inspiring” and “Impressive”. The Singapore market gets the latter, which endows you with an impressive bit of kit. This includes Adaptive LED headlamps, acoustic glazing for the front windows, a massive panoramic glass sunroof, an automatic tailgate, and a 16-speaker premium Harman Kardon surround sound system. The highlight of the “Impressive” line, is the inclusion of BMW’s Driving Assistant Professional, which features Active Cruise Control with Stop&Go function, Steering and Lane Control Assistant, Lane Change Warning and Lane Departure Warning, plus Park Distance Control with front and rear sensors, and a tyre pressure indicator.

There is plenty of familiarity within the cabin, and with a recent model refresh, X3 models, apart from the base petrol 20i, receive the fancier BMW Live Cockpit Professional setup. The BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant also makes its way into the iX3, and you can wirelessly connect your mobile device through either Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

The iX3 also boasts similar practicality the X3 is known for, with 510 litres of boot space to spare, which is expandable to 1,560 litres after dropping the 40:20:40 folding rear seats.

Consistent with how EVs drive, the iX3 delivers plenty of torque when taking off. The driving experience is largely silent, with just a hardly audible hum from the electric motor, and a slight rumble over uneven roads. The Adaptive Suspension which is crucial for optimum stability and drivability, by default is tuned for comfort, meaning that even with those 20-inch rims, the iX3 rides smoothly. In this application, BMW has omitted the use of runflat tyres, which inherently gives a choppier ride. According to BMW, they plan to eventually step away from runflats with their newer cars. One of the things I truly like is the boast that the iX3, like the X3 is still able to wade to depths of up to 500mm, something many SUVs in its class would not be able to; and I personally believe, with its EV architecture, it might unofficially be able to wade to deeper depths.

If you are keen to milk even more performance out of the BMW SAV, the selecting of ‘Sport’ mode sharpens the reactivity of the Adaptive Suspension, and for the first time, while accelerating, we experienced BMW’s new EV sound, developed by Award-winning composer, Hans Zimmer. With a lower centre of gravity (around 7.5 cm lower as compared to a ICE variant), and without so much weight up-front, the iX3 feels impressively nimble around bends, and it seems to feel like it leans a little less into corners too. While I know it would not be necessary, but if you are keen, you can opt for the Adaptive M suspension for an even sportier driving experience.

Among the many innovations is the car’s Adaptive recuperation tech, which takes data from the navigation system, and the driver assistance system sensors. In situations where there is a vehicle in-front, you can feel the system working, to regulate the car’s speed; and in the process recuperates energy. Drivers can otherwise choose their preference of how strong the regenerative braking can be set, or even set the car up to coast whenever they lift off the accelerator (the last is my favourite, as I do like to have full control of how the car brakes). Selecting ‘B’ on the gearshift allows the iX3 to be driven in one-pedal mode, which to some, is ideal for city driving.

The first-ever BMW iX3 comes standard with the BMW i Wallbox Plus, together with a basic installation package to get you started. While on the run, it is compatible with all Type 2 public charging stations across the island, which carging can be paid for via the ChargeNow card, or through the ChargeNow smartphone app.

As for firmware updates, the new BMW iX3 is equipped with the latest generation ID7 Operating System, allowing over-the-air updates for every line of software.

Priced at $251,888*, the BMW iX3is slightly less costly than the lowest rung ICE BMW X3, and overall, cheaper to run. It is also more powerful than the X3 xDrive30i M Sport, and still loaded with all the goodies you would find in a high-spec X3.

The only question is, would you switch to electric today?

*Accurate as at 7 August 2021

Credits: Words: Clifford Chow. Photos: Bignight