Long-distance driving in an electric car has been a challenge for a long time. However, modern EVs have largely eliminated range anxiety for many people, thanks to larger batteries, more efficient drivetrains, faster charging, and range figures unheard of a decade ago.
We’re now reaching a point where driving a latest-generation EV doesn’t come with too many compromises. One of those EVs is the new BMW iX3, an SUV that promises more than 600 real kilometers on a full charge, quick charging stops, good performance, and plenty of comfort.
The iX3 not only impresses on paper, as EV enthusiast and YouTuber Bjorn Nyland recently discovered. Nyland took the iX3 xDrive50, the only version currently available, on a 1,000 km road trip challenge to see how it would fare against the competition.
1,000 km motorway test
In short, Nyland wanted to see how much time it takes to drive 1,000 kilometers on the highway in real traffic conditions, including charging stops. Efficiency, charging speed, and battery capacity were all tested in a single run. Apparently, the iX3 did not disappoint.
With a full battery, Nyland set off on the highway with the cruise control set at 120 kph and an ambient temperature of around 0°C. That’s not ideal when you want to squeeze the most range out of the (very large) 108-kWh battery. The fact that the car was running on 21-inch wheels, rather than the more efficient 20-inchers, didn’t help either.
8 hours and 55 minutes
After stopping just twice during the trip, the BMW iX3 finished the challenge in 8 hours and 55 minutes. That’s the same time as the Tesla Model S Long Range and the Zeekr 7X Performance. However, the iX3 was more efficient than both these cars, despite driving in colder weather. Normally, the iX3 delivers even better results in nicer weather.
The iX3 has it all, according to Nyland: “It’s efficient, averaging 26.7 kWh/100 km, it charges really fast, at up to 400 kW, and doesn’t skimp on performance or comfort.”
Our view
We just had the opportunity to drive an iX3 for a week. Honestly, we don’t exactly see how one can have an average energy consumption of almost 27 kWh/100km and call it efficient. Of course, the iX3 is big and heavy, and being an SUV doesn’t help aerodynamics, but a 0.26 drag coefficient is very good for a sports utility vehicle.
Our test car had even larger wheels (22-inch), but we were able to drive it in fair weather and in all sorts of traffic. We averaged just over 18 kWh/100 km and didn’t exceed 20 kW/100 km on the motorway at the same speeds as Nyland’s test drive.
In short, we were a fan of the comfort, hush-free ride, performance, and efficiency of such a large car. We especially liked the panoramic display just below the windscreen and the absence of very large screens across the dashboard. The seats are very comfortable, too. The suspension may be a little harsh (22-inchers?) on our not-so-well-maintained Belgian roads, so adaptive damping could still improve things.
The car had impressive roadholding and was also fairly easy to maneuver for its size, thanks to the (optional) four-wheel steering our test car was equipped with. Design-wise, the car still resembles the iX we were never a big fan of, but in the iX3, it grows on you, and it’s just the side view that could have a little more personality.
To conclude, what Nyland achieved isn’t particularly impressive. I think one could do better, at our motorway average one stop suffices, for example, but that’s not the point. What matters is that the iX3 is one of the better SUVs on the market right now, but we’ll see soon what the full-electric Mercedes GLC and Volvo EX60 eventually can do.
Where BMW is concerned, we’re eagerly waiting for the other upcoming model on the ‘Neue Klasse’ platform and technology, the i3. An i3 Touring would be our choice in this price category, offering the same roominess as this SUV and much more attractive and aerodynamically efficient looks. But we admit we’ve never been SUV lovers.
