BMW iX3 review: range, battery & charging
Despite looking like a regular BMW, the iX3 uses cutting-edge battery and charging technology
| Range | Wallbox charge time | Rapid charge time |
|---|---|---|
| 285 miles | 11hrs 45mins (0-100%, 7.4kW) | 27mins (0-80%, 150kW) |
The BMW iX3 not only matches rivals for range and charging speed, but in many cases, beats them. With a range of up to 285 miles, it exceeds the Mercedes EQC and almost matches that of the Jaguar I-Pace. However, in our experience the BMW is more efficient in the real world. Big recent updates to the Audi Q8 e-tron and Volvo XC40 mean there are now a handful of rivals capable of more than 300 miles on a charge.
The iX3's maximum charging speed of 150kW is faster than the aforementioned Mercedes, but again, those updates mean the Audi and Volvo can now top up quicker; the XC40’s peak of 200kW is among the very fastest of any car currently on sale. In this class, only the Tesla Model Y's 250kW speeds can beat it.
If you have the necessary three-phase electrics, the iX3 can also charge at home at up to 11kW, though most owners will be limited to a 7.4kW home charging speed. Charging like this will take around 12 hours from empty to full.
BMW iX3 range
BMW claims a range of up to 285 miles for the iX3 – beating rivals like the above-mentioned EQC, but falling just shy of the I-Pace. On a full charge, our BMW iX3 showed as little as 180 miles of range – but that was on a cold, wet, winter’s day; we were able to get much closer (within 20-30 miles) to the official number in milder weather. If you make the most of the car’s regenerative brakes and spend a lot of time in town, it could be better still.
More importantly, however, is a car's efficiency – normally measured in miles per kilowatt hour (mi/kWh). We ran a facelifted BMW iX3 for six months, and during that time (over 5,000 miles) returned an impressive 3.4mi/kWh – equivalent to around 250 miles of driving range. For comparison, a similar stint in a Mercedes EQC returned less than 3.0mi/kWh.
Charge time
The iX3 is bang up to date in this area, supporting charging speeds up to 150kW. That means if you plug an iX3 into a suitably fast ultra-rapid charger, it can be topped up from 10-80% in just under 30 minutes.
At home, using an 11kW wallbox (which requires three-phase electricity) the iX3 can be fully charged in around eight hours. However, most owners will be limited to a 7.4kW unit or on-street charging-point, which will need just under 12 hours to do the same job.