2026 BMW iX3 50 xDrive Review: Our first Australian test proves the hype is real! The all-new iX3 EV is a great drive with a huge real-world range.
The new BMW iX3 ushers in a freshened logo, an all-new architecture and the longest EV range of any electric car currently on sale in Australia.
It’s an uber-important car, laying the groundwork for a new breed of electric BMWs and providing an EV option in the single biggest segment of the market: mid-sized SUVs.
It’s also playing in BMW’s biggest playground; the petrol-powered X3 is the brand’s top-selling vehicle and the original iX3 – the electric version – proved very popular by sneaking under the luxury car tax threshold to leverage tax advantages.
READ MORE: BMW iX3 Australian pricing announced: And it’s very, very competitive
READ MORE: BMW iX3 40 price and specification confirmed: Entry-level luxury electric SUV undercuts the LCT
READ MORE: 2026 BMW iX3 50 xDrive Review: The best car of 2025? Neue Klasse stakes its claim
With the second iteration of the iX3 there’s the option of all-wheel drive (the original was rear-drive only), which BMW badges xDrive.
That’s important given around 70 per cent of X3s sold drive all four wheels.
In something of a pattern with such big-change models from BMW, it also unleashes a bold styling theme with an interesting take on the iconic kidney grille.
Unsurprisingly, BMW is predicting big things and the company already says Australians are queuing to own one.
There’s plenty to unpack with this important new model that BMW says could be one of its top-selling vehicles.
2026 BMW iX3 price and equipment
The BMW iX3 is priced from $89,900 plus on-road costs for the entry-level model badged the iX3 40.
It’s strategically positioned below the LCT threshold for fuel-efficient vehicles, allowing it to take advantage of the Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) discount available to EVs on a novated lease.
The 40 gets a single 235kW/500Nm electric motor driving the rear wheels, good for a 5.9-second sprint to 100km/h.
Its 82.6kWh battery delivers a claimed 635km of WLTP range.
The iX3 50 xDrive counters with 345kW and 645Nm from its dual-motor all-wheel-drive set-up, a 4.9-second 0-100km/h time and a bigger 108.7kWh battery stretching the claimed range to 805km – more than any other EV currently on sale in Australia.
Both utilise a new 800V electrical architecture, the first for a BMW.
The 40 can charge at up to 300kW while the 50 steps that up to 400kW (when charging on a 400V charger each is limited to half of that, so 150kW and 200kW respectively).
BMW claims a 10-80 per cent top-up in 21 minutes; the 40 can add up to 300km of range in 10 minutes against the 50’s 350km-plus.
Crucially, BMW has packed plenty in for the sub-$90K price. The 40 and 50 share the same equipment levels, right down to their 20-inch alloy wheels.
Standard specification includes an M Sport pack, panoramic glass sunroof (a blind is offered as an accessory, but the glass is designed to cut 90 per cent of heat), Harman Kardon audio, heated front seats and steering wheel, electric seat adjustment with memory and faux-leather trim that BMW calls Veganza.
The tech suite is solid too, headlined by Panoramic Vision – a long, slim screen at the base of the windscreen that stretches from A-pillar to A-pillar – plus a 3D head-up display, Driving Assistant Plus with adaptive cruise and lane centring, and smart key entry with smartphone integration.
There’s also a 17.9-inch infotainment screen presented in a unique slanted parallelogram shape (fun fact: it’s slanted the opposite way for left-hand drive cars).
Three-phase 22kW AC charging is also standard for Australia, something that will ultimately allow the iX3 to power a house (via vehicle-to-home, or V2H) once software and regulatory approval is ticked off.
The options list is short and sweet; metallic paint is $2000, 21-inch wheels $2500 and 22s up to $7700. BMW points out each step up will reduce the EV range slightly.
A $3500 M Sport Package Pro adds red calipers, M Sport seats, a kidney grille in M Shadowline and gloss-black exterior trim elements on things such as the mirror caps and diffuser.
BMW has also opened up the Individual paint palette across the range, with hues such as Java Green, Voodoo Blue and Twilight Purple at $7600, and Frozen Ocean Wave Blue at $6000.
The iX3 can also be optioned with a towbar ($2500) to utilise the 2000kg tow capacity.
Servicing is condition-based depending on how the car is driven and BMW offers two pre-paid packs.
Servicing for the first four years costs $1614 and for six years is $2420.
There’s also a much pricier Inclusive Plus service pack that includes brake replacement as well; given the propensity for EVs to be light on brakes it’s not something we’d be shelling out for.
2026 BMW iX3: What we think
The BMW iX3 has a distinctive look with a different take on the iconic kidney grille. It’s illuminated which adds some tech to the aesthetic.
It’s also very different to the X3 it partly shares its name with.
That’s because the original iX3 shared its underpinnings and body with the regular X3, whereas this new one is a very different beast.
The body is unique – narrower and lower but slightly longer than the ICE X3 that went on sale in 2025.
Underneath is the much-hyped new Neue Klasse architecture. Again, it’s unique to the iX3 and will underpin around 20 other models and variants over coming years. It’s all about optimising the fundamentals for EV components.
One of the most obvious benefits is terrific cabin space. There are only five seats, but those in the rear get great foot and leg space courtesy of the flat floor and well-positioned seats.
A 40/20/40 seatback maximises flexibility with the boot, which has 520 litres of space – or 1750L with the rear seats folded.
Up front, a floating centre console houses phone pockets, cupholders and a covered console, while a larger space closer to the floor looks after small bags and other odds and ends.
There’s even a 58L frunk – or front storage compartment, as the sensible BMW folk refer to it – that works well for charging cables.
A new steering wheel has chunky handgrips at nine and three as well as touch pads and buttons that allow for customisation of various functions and activation of others.
The seats hug beautifully, the driver’s seat cuddling harder once Sport mode has been selected.
All of which is an indication of the iX3’s focus.
Our first Aussie drive was behind the wheel of the range topper (for now – there are more iX3s coming) in the 50 xDrive.
It gets the bigger battery and more power courtesy of its dual-motor system.
Zero issue with range; there were always plenty of kays left on the range estimator during our lengthy and occasionally spirited drive.
The Symbiotic Drive system is also interesting, with a new interpretation of how driver assistance systems work with the driver.
Activate the system with cruise control and steering assistance, for example – which works nicely on a freeway or country road – and it won’t cancel automatically by hitting the brakes. So you can adjust the speed manually before allowing the car to regain more control.
But, of course, BMWs are about driving and the iX3 is no different.
The otherwise sensible five-seat family car is one of the most competent and capable electric SUVs on sale.
The ride occasionally errs on the firm side – patched roads can jiggle things around – but it’s beautifully controlled, and the payoff is an SUV that slices through corners with genuine precision and poise.
Interestingly, the suspension is passive – there are no adjustable dampers – which makes the body control all the more impressive.
The electric motors even play a role in the damping, adjusting their response over speed humps and larger bumps to help cushion the ride – effectively forming part of the suspension system.
It’s indicative of the engineering that’s gone into the car. BMW has delved deep to extract every benefit from the electric architecture.
Much of the excellent driving competency comes from BMW’s own in-house computer system, developed from the ground up for this car.
It ties the traction control, stability control and electric motors together, even braking or accelerating individual wheels mid-corner to keep the car pointing where you want it – and, importantly, rewarding the driver with the sort of feedback that’s rare with many EVs.
The 50 xDrive we drove has loads of thrust and is usefully quick, and the futuristic soundtrack in Sport mode is a nice touch.
Like so much of this car, though, it’s configurable, so if it’s not for you, change it.
That configurability is a theme.
The slender but crisp A-pillar-to-A-pillar display is genuinely useful, keeping key information close to your line of sight – plus it’s highly configurable, both to different drive modes and the key information you want displayed.
And the drive modes can be tailored extensively, right down to a Max Range setting targeting the claimed 805km.
Some of the logic takes learning, though: certain drivetrain settings are locked out depending on which mode you’re in, and landing on the screen you want can sometimes mean a couple of taps.
The longer you spend with it the more details you uncover.
The smooth-stop system brilliantly modulates the brakes and electric motor for seamless stops; plenty of Chinese brands offer similar tech but we’ve never experienced anything anywhere near this good before.
Occasionally the auto park brake hold can release with a jolt on brisker take-off, but it can also be switched off.
Minor gripes in what is an impressive and thoroughly resolved electric SUV – and, importantly, one that’s genuinely fun.
This is one of the best-driving SUVs on the market, electric or otherwise.
2026 BMW iX3: Verdict
The iX3 is a deeply impressive electric SUV that sharpens the focus on driving enjoyment while nailing everyday liveability.
Sure, the ride tends towards firm, but it’s the trade-off for body control and cornering ability that shames plenty of sporty machines – and the depth of engineering means it’s never uncomfortable.
Throw in the tech, impressive driving range and genuine luxury value and the iX3 isn’t just one of the standouts of the electric SUV segment; it’s a statement of intent for where BMW is heading.
Score: 4.5/5
2026 BMW iX3 xDrive 50 price and specifications
Price: $109,900 plus on-road costs
Basics: EV, 5 seats, 5 doors, SUV, AWD
Range: 805km
Battery capacity: 108.7kWh
Battery warranty: 8 years/160,000km
Energy consumption: 15.1 to 18.8kWh/100km (dependant on wheel size)
Motors: 1 front 123kW/255Nm and 1 rear 240kW/435Nm; combined output 345kW/645Nm
AC charging: 22kW, Type 2 plug
DC charging: 400kW, CCS combo plug
0-100km/h: 4.9 seconds
