BMW iX3 review: running costs & insurance
An efficient drivetrain and the same ultra-low company-car tax rate as any electric car make the iX3 very cheap to run for a big SUV
| Insurance group | Warranty | Service interval | Annual company-car tax cost (20%/40%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 44 | 3yrs/unlimited miles | 2yrs/18,000 miles | From £256/£512 |
While the BMW iX3 may look expensive compared to petrol and diesel X3s, it actually undercuts its electric rivals quite significantly. It’s also worth bearing in mind that the iX3 only comes in well equipped M Sport and M Sport Pro specifications – there's no bare-bones entry-level version as such.
Once you’ve bought your iX3, you should be able to save a pretty penny compared with this car’s petrol or diesel siblings. It’s easy to only look at the car’s range figure when deciding whether or not to take the plunge, but efficiency is equally important. And in this case, the BMW beats almost all of its competitors – largely due to being rear-wheel drive and weighing a little less than many cars of this type. And as this is a zero-emissions model, company-car drivers benefit from the lowest possible tax rating.
BMW iX3 insurance group
Both the M Sport and M Sport Pro version of the iX3 fall into insurance group 44, while the conventional X3 sits in groups 28 to 40 – so it’d be safe to assume the iX3 will be more expensive to insure than its petrol, diesel or hybrid equivalent. Pure-electric rivals like the Audi Q8 e-tron and Jaguar I-Pace start in groups 48 and 49 respectively, so they'll be more expensive to cover than the BMW.
Warranty
Every iX3 comes with a three-year/unlimited-mileage warranty – just like the petrol and diesel versions of the X3. That’s pretty much par for the course in the premium-car segment, though more mainstream alternatives like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 get longer guarantees. The BMW’s high-voltage battery is covered separately with an eight-year warranty.
Servicing
Due to the reduced complexity of pure-electric powertrains and the fact that they have fewer moving parts than a petrol or diesel engine, servicing is both cheaper and less frequently required. BMW offers up-front and pay-monthly options to cover the cost of maintenance, so you can tailor a plan to suit your needs.
Road tax
As the BMW iX3 emits no CO2, it’s exempt from road tax (VED). Its zero-emission status also means it escapes the London Congestion Charge until 2025 and it should be safe from future clean-air zones, too.
Depreciation
According to independent figures, the BMW iX3 will retain around 52% of its original value after three years and 36,000 miles. That’s roughly the same as the Audi Q8 e-tron, but some versions of the Volvo XC40 Recharge will hold onto more of their initial purchase price. A Mercedes EQC can’t come close; relatively poor range and efficiency don’t do the car any favours, with experts predicting that AMG Line cars will retain only 42-44% of their value after 36 months of driving.
