The BMW iX3 is a more enjoyable car to drive than the combustion-engined BMW X3, and the reason is its electric powertrain, according to a hands-on review of the iX3 50 xDrive. The reviewer, who says they generally prefer sedans and hatchbacks to SUVs, concluded after driving the car hard on Romania's Transfăgărășan and through the Swiss Alps that the electric model offers superior handling and driving enjoyment.
The loaner vehicle, supplied by BMW Switzerland, uses two electric motors producing 463 hp (345 kW), with BMW quoting a 0-100 km/h (62 mph) time of 4.9 seconds. The reviewer said the car feels quicker than those figures suggest, though they noted that rapid acceleration alone is no longer unusual in powerful electric SUVs. What sets the iX3 apart, in their view, is how it performs between launches, through sequences of corners.
A key factor is the battery's position. The battery weighs around 600 kg (1,320 pounds) and sits low beneath the cabin, lowering the centre of gravity and reducing the top-heavy feel common to many combustion SUVs. The reviewer said the car feels planted and settled through bends. BMW specifies a double-joint strut front suspension, a five-link rear axle and structural bracing linking the front subframe, battery and body, and the published weight distribution is almost even with a slight rearward bias.
Electronics also play a role. BMW's central controller, which it calls Heart of Joy, coordinates propulsion, braking, energy recuperation and steering through a single unit working with the company's in-house Dynamic Performance Control software. BMW says the system processes information up to ten times faster than its previous systems, reducing delays to milliseconds. The reviewer described the result as fewer corrective interventions and a more consistent, precise line through a corner, while still allowing the rear to slide when too much power is applied on corner exit, which they found controllable and enjoyable.
The reviewer also described the drivetrain's response as immediate and smooth, with no waiting for a downshift or for boost to build. Throttle input can be used as a precise cornering tool, a benefit the reviewer said was especially apparent on mountain roads. They also said the car gave them more confidence than the combustion X3 they had previously driven.
During the trip, the reviewer drove the iX3 from Zurich to St. Moritz to attend the Bernina Gran Turismo historic hillclimb, where they saw historic racing cars, including ones driven by a young Enzo Ferrari, and took a passenger ride in a Z4-based Bovensiepen Spider. The event was loud and fume-filled, the reviewer said, and the silent drive back to Zurich provided a welcome contrast while the iX3 still made the winding roads enjoyable.