BMW iX3 50 xDrive Driving Report: How Good Is the Neue Klasse?
The BMW iX3 50 xDrive is the first production car of BMW's Neue Klasse, and electrive has published a detailed driving report on it. The verdict on 29 October was clearly positive: very efficient, fast to charge and good to drive, with some weak points in comfort and software.
Key takeaways
- Two motors, 345 kW and 645 Nm; 0 to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds.
- 108.7 kWh net battery, up to 805 km WLTP, 800-volt system, up to 400 kW DC charging.
- Price in Germany from €70,900 in 2026.
- Measured: 14.4 kWh/100 km on country roads, 26.2 kWh/100 km on a fast motorway run.
Consumption in the test
On a motorway-heavy trip of about 102 km north of Berlin, partly on sections with no speed limit, the iX3 used 26.2 kWh per 100 km at an average of 88.8 km/h. The display showed up to 213 km/h. On the return over country roads in Efficient mode, at over 30 °C outside, consumption fell to 14.4 kWh per 100 km at an average of 60 km/h. The tester notes that the two runs are not directly comparable because of the very different speeds.
Charging
At an Alpitronic HYC 300 charger the car started at 58% and reached 80% in about 12 minutes, taking 30.62 kWh. Peak power was 258.2 kW. BMW quotes 10 to 80% in 21 minutes, which was not checked in full. The car also supports bidirectional charging: vehicle-to-load worked reliably with the supplied adapter, and with BMW's home wallbox and energy module it could power a house. Power is only fed back above a load of 800 W.
Strengths
- Sharp, light steering and very stable at high speed.
- Panoramic iDrive projects key information across the base of the windscreen, so the driver looks less at the central screen.
- Driver assistance switched on with one button, with hands-free motorway driving and lane changes on confirmation.
- Solid materials, comfortable massage seats and a practical boot with a steep tailgate.
Weak points
- Firm steel suspension; no air suspension.
- More tyre and wheel-arch noise than expected in a premium car, and sensitivity to side wind.
- No ventilated seats.
- Many menus, occasional navigation glitches and sometimes slow Apple CarPlay.
- High boot floor and a small storage space under it.
What it means for you
If you are looking at a premium electric SUV, the iX3 50 xDrive sets a high bar for efficiency and charging: real-world consumption of under 15 kWh per 100 km on country roads is rare in this class. Test drive it on rough roads before you buy, as the firm suspension and road noise were the main complaints. If comfort matters most, wait to see whether BMW adds an adaptive chassis to later versions.
Read our full guide to the BMW iX3 and browse the BMW catalogue.
Sources
- electrive: The BMW iX3 50 xDrive: is the Neue Klasse a breakthrough? (29 Oct 2026) (accessed 30 Oct 2026)
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