real autonomy, accelerations, interior space. Test with measurements.

Almost all the neighbors will think you bought an X3. Hell, even you could believe that when you wait for the green light at the traffic light! The BMW iX3 electric SUV looks almost like the conventional brother both inside and out. But as soon as you start, reality envelops you with Oscar sounds and linear accelerations. I will explain in detail below. Photo: Bogdan Paraschiv

For those who want an electric vehicle, but do not want to stand out, the BMW iX3 is gold! Basically, you have in front of you a conventional X3 that has given up smoke (literally) and, with a pure soul, has taken the plunge. This is how the iX3 was born.

It has kept most of the design elements known to the public, so only one X3 remains in traffic. However, those with a trained eye will notice the elements that betray the electrical nature of the propulsion – the full grille and the blue touches. Oh, and there are the aerodynamic rims. Standard, you get the 19-inch set, and if you opt for the Impressive package, you can enjoy, like me, the 20-inch ones.

Interior similar to the X3

Passengers may not know which model they boarded, because the interior is almost identical to the X3. The differences – you guessed it! – resides in the same blue accents that attacked the start / stop button, the BMW logo on the steering wheel and the derailleur lever. It is only after you “turn on” that another hint of electric propulsion appears – the discreetly customized graphics of the two screens.

BMW iX3 – small differences inside

However, other details can be seen from the driver’s seat. For example, mode B on the gear selector lever, which intelligently recovers energy when decelerating. If other manufacturers have used the paddles on the steering wheel to vary the energy regeneration steps, BMW has completely eliminated them, because it has a major advantage in hand. iX3 knows how to adapt perfectly to traffic conditions and adaptively regenerates the current. Thus, if you release the acceleration, the car runs freely until it approaches the front, in which case it reduces its speed, keeping a safe distance. If it brakes, the iX3 copies its behavior, regenerating as much current as possible.

➡ BMW iX and iX4 cost as much as conventional models 💡

If you want to have permanent control, select B and benefit from maximum deceleration, in the pure “one pedal” style.
Whatever you choose, you will not be able to achieve WLTP autonomy, but you will be able to approach 400 km in the city. If you plan long-distance trips, you can bet on 350 km, meaning you can make a Bucharest-Brașov and return to the limit. Or maybe you want to go faster and stop for “food”. Thus, according to our measurements, 20 minutes at a 150 kW outlet are enough to increase the range by 100 km. However, these outlets are very rare in the country, so it is better to take into account the 50 kW ones, in which case the time spent at the outlet is tripled.

Dynamics

Do you want to become a pilot? iX3 supports you with consistent accelerations, although not as fast as your opponents. If they have one engine on each deck, the iX3 has only one on the back. It is, therefore, a genuine BMW in terms of behavior, with exceptional cornering agility… with a single amendment. If it’s wet on the ground or you suddenly turn the steering wheel, adjusting the ESP has nothing to do with the sporty character of the car, but desperately tries to get you back on track, making it harder to control. Good thing the incisiveness didn’t spoil the comfort of the suspension, which is one of the strengths of the iX3.

➡ Set up your own iX3 here! 💡

When you get bored of the quiet (and the iX3 runs extremely quiet, no matter the speed, thanks to the exceptional soundproofing), you can activate the soundtrack composed by Hans Zimmer, head of the Soundworks department at Dreamworks and author of several movie soundtracks that i -they brought an Oscar, two Golden Globes and four Grammys. Welcome to hyperspace!

Basically, you don’t have much trouble setting up an iX3. There is a standard version, called Inspiring, which, I assure you, will successfully meet the requirements of the most demanding SUV customers, and the Impressive package, of 5638 euros, for buyers with thin cheeks. Among them, some optional features can be ordered individually.

Efficient engine

With the i3, launched in 2013, BMW has taken a bold stance. He designed a 100% electric car from scratch, to take full advantage of this type of propulsion. With the iX3, however, it followed a simpler, but more financially secure path. Basically, it just added an electric version to the X3’s portfolio.

Although the body of the iX3 is known, the electric motor is completely new (fifth generation). It has an unusual structure – it’s synchronous, but it doesn’t have permanent magnets in the rotor. They are difficult to handle and require the use of rare metals, which are expensive materials, produced mainly in China. Instead, in the new motor the magnetic field necessary for operation is created by the flow of current through the rotor, and this requires sliding contacts, which can wear out over time. However, BMW assures us that they last longer than the car itself.

On the other hand, the possibility of adjusting the excitation current provides an additional way to change the character of the motor when selecting different driving modes and allows to extend the delivery range of the maximum torque. The engine is integrated with power electronics in a compact unit, and all these finesse have allowed a maximum efficiency of 93% under certain conditions.

Advanced battery

The Li-Ion battery has a 20% higher energy density than the fourth generation. It is manufactured by external suppliers according to BMW standards. The level of development allows the cobalt content of the cells to be reduced by one third compared to the previous generation of batteries. With a weight of 518 kg and a net capacity of 74 kWh, the energy density is 0.14 kWh / kg.

The on-board charger allows charging with up to 11 kW for three-phase power sources and 7.4 for single-phase. At 150 kW DC stations, the battery is charged from 20 to 80% in about 30 minutes. When the BMW iX3 is charged with green energy, the CO2 footprint is 60% lower than that of the X3 xDrive 20d.

BMW iX3