We drive the new BMW iX3 EV - it's charging ahead by cracking first 500-mile range

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BMW's new iX3 crossover's headline-grabbing claim to fame is that it's the first electric car in the world to achieve up to 500 miles on one charge, marking a 'new era' for the German car giant.

But having just driven the iX3 for the first time on UK roads, I can tell you there's an even greater achievement to highlight: this smart family five-seater sports utility EV really does drive, feel and perform like a proper BMW.

It is sporty, agile and engaging, as well as surprisingly intuitive and fun to drive.

There are a few stylish twists too – both inside and out – including rapid charging and improved all-wheel drive.

The claimed 500-mile range should get you from London to Dundee. Boffins at BMW achieved this by combining engineering wizardry with four electronic 'super brains' and a 'digital nervous system'. This includes the 'Heart of Joy', whose software monitors the driver and road, and reacts within fractions of a second to maximise performance and help keep the car sharp, nimble and stable in all conditions.

Inside, the most striking feature is the panoramic driver display, spanning the entire width of the dashboard. As the first iX3s leave UK showrooms, it has already won Car of the Year from WhatCar?, whose judges hailed it 'truly great'.

In for the long haul: The iX3 drives and feels like a true BMW and it is sporty, agile and engaging, as well as surprisingly intuitive and fun to drive

It is the first of 40 BMW models and variants to be launched in the next 18 months. I drove the iX3 on a route including motorways, country lanes and sweeping A-roads. Riding on 20in (standard), 21in and 22in wheels, all models are propelled by a 469hp (345kW) EV set-up, including underfloor batteries and two motors to drive both axles and create enough power to accelerate from 0 to 62mph in 4.9 seconds, up to a top speed governed at 130mph.

The only downside is cost. Prices start at £58,755 for a base level iX3 50 xDrive, which with optional enhanced wheels meets the claimed range of 500 miles – or 493 miles on standard wheels.

The xDrive M Sport from £61,255 does 492 miles on standard wheels or 498 miles on optional versions.

I drove the range-topping iX3 50 xDrive M Sport Pro (from £61,755), which promises a 491-mile range (497 on optional wheels). It had £10,000 of 'extras', such as a sunroof and head-up display, pushing the price to £72,162. A cheaper entry level iX3 is to follow.

PARK AND RIDE

I drove the new iX3 from BMW's UK headquarters on the outskirts of Farnborough in Hampshire on a varied route including motorways, country roads, sweeping A-roads and small villages to the to the Avington Estate near Winchester and back.

I also tried out its clever hands-free self-parking system which can drive you into a parallel roadside parking space, or into or out of a tight spot in a row of parked vehicles. Happy to report no dings.

The claimed 500-mile range should not only get you from London to Dundee or to Inveraray in the Scottish Highlands, but also further afield to Frankfurt or Hanover in Germany, or Strasbourg on the Franco-German border.

The claimed 500-mile range should not only get you from London to Dundee, but also further afield to Frankfurt or Hanover in Germany, or Strasbourg on the Franco-German border

BMW bosses said the new iX3 takes its inspiration from the original 'Neue Klasse or New Class of cars launched more than six decades ago

New class act 

BMW bosses said the new iX3 takes its inspiration from the original 'Neue Klasse or New Class of cars launched more than six decades ago, starting with the BMW 1500 unveiled at the 1961 Frankfurt Motor Show, which sparked a renaissance in the company's fortunes.

As BMW now prepares to launch 40 new variants of 21st century 'Neue Klasse' models by the end of next year (2027), BMW UK chief executive David George said: 'This is more than just the launch of a new product. It is the start of a new era for BMW.'

Bye bye bling...

Exterior styling of new iX3 crossover exudes a smart, sophisticated and contemporary look which, with its retrained styling and smaller trademark kidney grilles.

It also marks an end to the controversial period of BMW-bling with giant grilles and brash styling aimed at attracting Far and Middle Eastern markets.

One solid and five metallic exterior paint colours - including Polarised Grey and Ocean Wave Blue – will be available exclusively for the iX3, with three further finishes to follow.

Extras on my car included: a panoramic sunroof (£1,275); 22-inch M alloy wheels (£3,300); Space Silver paint (£875); heated steering wheel (£250); a Technology Plus pack (£1,700) incorporating 3-D head up display, 3-zone auto air conditioning, and an upgraded Harman Kardon surround-sound audio system; and a tow-bar (£1,025).

Step inside and the new second-generation iX3's light, airy, spacious and minimalist cabin and it immediately looks and feels the business

A newly designed steering wheel features pronounced thumb rests and multi-function buttons to help more intuitive use

Interior upgrade

Step inside and the new second-generation iX3's light, airy, spacious and minimalist cabin and it immediately looks and feels the business.

The most striking visual feature is the panoramic driver display spanning the entire width of the dashboard below the windscreen. This you can customise to visually prioritise your most important information widgets - including speed limits, temperature and so on - to keep them in your eyeline. This can be enhanced by an optional 3D head-up display as on my car.

The wrap-around cockpit design flows into the door panels. New door openers are electrically operated.

A newly designed steering wheel features pronounced thumb rests and multi-function buttons to help more intuitive use.

Seats have been redesigned to boost comfort and do. Driver and front passenger seats are heated and electrically adjustable as standard while the rear bench-seat has a single sofa-like surface.

BMW says it has kept some key buttons and knobs on the steering wheel including for windscreen wipers, indicators, exterior mirrors volume control gear selector and parking brake, hazard warning lights and rear window heating and de-frosting.

But the main thrust is still via touch commands largely via a central display screen, or voice commands.

This includes choosing your drive mode - Sport for engaging performance which was my default; Efficient for more frugal energy-saving; Silent for relaxed motoring; and Personal to tune the car's set up to your preference.

Electric power cones from a 108.7 kWh underfloor collection of cylindrical lithium- ion rechargeable batteries.

As well as being spacious inside, there's also plenty of luggage room comprising 520 litres in the boot with the rear sears in place, increasing to 1,750 litres when folded, plus 58 litres under the engine-less bonnet known as a 'front-trunk' or 'frunk'.

Though proud of its Bavarian roots in the South East of Germany, this BMW is built at a green eco-plant in Hungary. About a third of the car is made from recycled materials including plastic bottles, fishing nets and aluminium, giving a carbon footprint 30 per cent less than its predecessor. The standard interior has Econeer seat fabrics made from recycled plastic.

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As well as being spacious inside, there's also plenty of luggage room comprising 520 litres in the boot with the rear sears in place, increasing to 1,750 litres when folded

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CHARGING AHEAD

BMW's sixth-generation eDrive technology with an 800v architecture, new high-voltage batteries with cylindrical cells, and 400kW rapid charging allows up to 231 miles of range to be added in just 10 minutes and up to 80 per cent in 21 minutes using the fastest DC rapid-chargers. The iX3 can also be charged up at a rate of 11 kW as standard, or 22 kW with an optional extra pack.

Energy recuperation means 98 per cent of braking manoeuvres can be performed without using physical friction brakes.

A 'Max Range' app function can extend the range by up to 25 per cent by limiting drive power and top speed and scaling back comfort functions.

It is also equipped for or bidirectional charging which allows the car to become a mini power station to charge up household appliances.

The car with a 'Superbrain'

The iX3's key super-brain - which BMW calls the car's 'Heart of Joy' - controls the driving experience, handling, dynamism and precision by overseeing the drive system, brakes, charging, energy recuperation and steering sub-functions.

In conjunction with the vehicle's Dynamic Performance Control software stack – developed completely in-house – it computes all driving functions up to 10 times faster than conventional control units and enables 98 per cent of braking manoeuvres to be performed solely by energy recuperation.

BMW noted: The 'superbrain' brings together all automated driving and parking functions, optimises symbiotic human-vehicle interaction and offers 20 times more processing power than traditional units.'

The car's 'digital nervous system' reduces physical wiring by 600 metres, cutting weight by 30 per cent.

The Cars & Motoring verdict...

Bimmer's got a winner. 

Less bling, more range, and some clever tech that is helpful rather than annoying is a compelling combination.

But it's the driving performance, intuitive feel and contemporary comfort that are the key factor with this new electric BMW.

Great fun for the family and an engaging option for couples and singletons.

But I could still have done with a few more physical buttons.