The Hube hills in Lower Saxony don’t often make it to the headlines. They’re modest compared to the Alps, covered in dense green, dotted with sleepy villages and silent valleys where only wind and birds talk. That morning was chilly and overcast, but the kind of quiet that beckons you to drive. I had the keys to the updated BMW iX3, and my destination was everywhere. It’s hard to ignore the poetic irony of testing an all, electric SUV in a place where even LTE struggles, clean air, endless bends, and a road that has seen more tractors than Teslas. But sometimes, contrast is the best teacher.
The BMW iX3 had just received its visual facelift. It now looks more focused, crisper, more electric without trying to yell it in your face. Closed kidneys with a smarter top section, a few splashes of i, blue, and slimmer headlights, it’s an evolution, not a revolution. But under the skin? That’s where the real character comes alive. Let’s dive into what it really felt like to live with this EV through forested climbs, village lanes, and open stretches where sheep outnumbered cars.
Power Without Drama: Living with the 210 kW Rear Motor
This is not your average SUV pretending to be sporty. The iX3’s single rear, mounted motor generates 210 kW (286 hp) and a healthy 400 Nm of torque. It’s not neck, snapping, but it’s assertive. And unlike many dual, motor setups, this one feels more rear, driven, more balanced. In the Hube’s twisting terrain, that rear, wheel layout became a blessing. You feel the push, not a front, pull, and for a car weighing over 2.2 tons, it rotates into corners better than expected.
On cold tarmac with wet leaves scattered, I toggled between Comfort and Sport modes. The throttle in Sport was sharp but never jerky. I could exit bends with power and poise. It felt composed, consistent, but also surprisingly light on its feet considering its size. The official 0, 100 km/h time is 6.8 seconds, but I wasn’t chasing numbers. I was chasing the feeling, and it delivered.
Range Anxiety? Not Here, Real World Figures
BMW claims 471 kilometers WLTP range, but you and I both know the truth lives on the road. In my Hube drive with mixed terrain, regen at medium, ambient temperature around 12°C, and no intention of babying it, I clocked around 390 kilometers on a full charge. That’s real, world honest. Consumption settled at 19.7 kWh/100 km, only slightly above the claimed 17.6. Not bad, considering I had the heat on, was playing music via Bluetooth, and used active cruise a few times.
The real beauty? Efficiency didn’t nosedive at autobahn speeds. At 130 km/h on open stretches near Seesen, the iX3 held strong without gulping electrons. That tells me BMW’s aero and motor tuning are genuinely working.
Charging Experience: Fast Enough, Smooth Enough
I plugged the iX3 into a 150 kW DC charger near Northeim for a quick coffee and sandwich stop. From 12% to 81% took 32 minutes, right on the dot. That’s enough to grab a bite, stretch your legs, and hit the road again. AC charging at 11 kW at home overnight was painless, it went from 17% to 100% in around 7.5 hours.
I tried Ionity with the BMW Active tariff, paying just €0.39/kWh. That’s affordable EV touring in a premium shell. BMW’s MyBMW app gave accurate charge predictions and sent push notifications, simple, modern, works without fuss.
Driving Dynamics: Sporty, Not Overly Ambitious
The Hube roads aren’t just postcard pretty, they’re demanding. Tight curves, abrupt changes in elevation, unpredictable gravel. This is where the iX3’s adaptive suspension shines. It soaks up road imperfections without turning floaty. The ride quality sits perfectly between plush and planted. The iX3’s lower center of gravity, thanks to the battery pack, gives it poise mid, corner. It doesn’t lean, doesn’t whine, just flows.
The steering is classically BMW: a bit light at low speeds, weighted enough when you’re pushing. But the real party trick is the regenerative braking. I kept it on mid, level, which made most one, pedal driving intuitive. On tight descents into the valley, I simply lifted off, and the iX3 slowed gently, even intelligently deciding when to coast or recoup based on nav data and road curves.
Familiar BMW, Now with Electric Charm
Step inside, and it’s a BMW. Sports seats are standard, and the materials feel expensive, not flashy. The i, blue highlights in the ambient lighting remind you this isn’t just another X3. The layout is familiar, center console, rotary iDrive controller, proper buttons where you want them, and a touchscreen where you expect one.
The facelift brings a cleaner central dash, and the new 12.3, inch digital display is crisp and legible. Voice control with “Hey BMW” worked flawlessly. I set the climate, navigation, and even toggled drive modes without touching a screen. The heated steering wheel came in handy on misty morning climbs.
Rear seat space is generous. I hauled two friends and their backpacks up a forest trail road. No complaints. The boot, with 510 liters (and up to 1,560 liters with seats folded), swallowed our weekend gear and two folding bikes with ease. The loading lip is low, the floor flat, BMW didn’t forget the practical side of the SUV game.
Tech and Safety: Assisting Without Over, Assisting
BMW bundles the Driving Assistant Professional suite as standard on the Impressive trim, which I tested. Active cruise control, lane, keeping, cross, traffic alert, and even wrong, way warnings were all baked in. These features work together subtly. No intrusive beeps or excessive nudging. Just enough to keep you safe without turning the drive into a robot babysitting session.
I particularly liked how the system slowed down gently when entering a village or approaching a curve. Using map data and sensors, the car smartly decides when to coast or slow down using regen. It’s efficiency with intelligence.
Trims and Pricing: Worth the Badge?
My test unit wore the “Impressive” trim badge and lived up to the name. You get 20, inch aero wheels, leather sports seats, a head, up display, a premium sound system, and adaptive LEDs. Price? €75,700 before incentives. That’s premium, no doubt, but when you factor in standard equipment and performance, it holds up well against the Mercedes EQC and Audi Q8 e, tron.
The entry “Inspiring” trim is no slouch either. With panoramic sunroof, nav, DAB, and adaptive cruise, it’s well, specced at €67,300. But if you’re spending this much already, the Impressive trim feels like the right move.
Technical Specifications
For trustworthy information, we exclusively use BMW’s official website for technical data.
| Specification | Details |
| Engine Type | Electric |
| Max Power | 210 kW / 286 hp |
| Torque | 400 Nm |
| Drive Type | Rear, wheel drive |
| 0, 100 km/h | 6.8 seconds |
| Top Speed | 180 km/h |
| WLTP Range | 471 km |
| Real, World Range | Approx. 390, 400 km |
| Battery Capacity (Gross/Net) | 80.0 kWh / 73.9 kWh |
| Charging Power | AC: 11 kW / DC: 150 kW |
| Trunk Volume (Standard/Max) | 510 L / 1,560 L |
| Vehicle Length x Width x Height | 4,734 x 1,891 x 1,668 mm |
| Empty Weight | 2,270 kg |
| Payload | 470 kg |
| Towing Capacity (Braked/Unbraked) | 750 kg / 750 kg |
| Base Price | €75,700 |
Conclusion: The Quiet Contender from Munich
The BMW iX3 doesn’t shout for attention. It doesn’t need to. It drives like a true BMW, feels luxurious without excess, and performs with a quiet confidence that only deep engineering can deliver. Driving it through the raw, unpolished roads of Hube made me appreciate its restraint even more.
It’s not the fastest, nor the biggest, nor the flashiest EV out there, but it might be the most honest. This is electric mobility for those who still want to drive, not just commute. The iX3 may not break new ground, but it covers the existing one with grace, discipline, and charm.
Is the BMW iX3 fully electric?
Yes, it’s a fully electric SUV, based on the X3 but running purely on battery power.
How long does it take to charge?
At a 150 kW DC charger: 10, 80% in about 31 minutes. At home (11 kW AC): Full charge in roughly 7.5 hours.
Is the iX3 worth it over competitors?
If you want a balanced electric SUV with genuine driving feel and classic BMW styling, yes. It’s a mature, polished package.
