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Automotive·2 min read

BMW iX3 40 tested: the base model still rewards drivers

The cheapest BMW iX3 starts at 63,400 euros. In a practical test it stays agile despite weighing 2,160 kg and pairs a driver-focused feel with cooperative assistance.

A BMW iX3 40 electric SUV driving on a road during a practical test.
Image: Autos
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The entry-level BMW iX3 40 proves that the brand's "Freude am Fahren" promise still holds in an electric SUV. In a practical test, the model, priced from 63,400 euros, impressed with precise handling and a driver assistance system that works with the person at the wheel rather than against them.

Agile despite 2,160 kg

On paper, a sport utility vehicle with an unladen weight of 2,160 kg should struggle to deliver driving fun. In practice, the iX3 40 turns in precisely and feels almost playful despite its mass. The steering gives accurate feedback about what happens at the front and rear axles, and body roll is low. The testers even wonder how good the planned i3 saloon will be, given its naturally lower centre of gravity.

The car measures roughly 4.78 metres in length, 1.90 metres in width without mirrors and 1.64 metres in height, with a wheelbase of 2.90 metres. The electric drive delivers 235 kW from an 82.6 kWh battery. The test highlights efficiency and charging power as further strengths.

Assistance that cooperates

A central question was what becomes of the fun behind the wheel when the Symbiotic Drive assistance system blurs the transition between human and machine driving. According to the test, the answer is nuanced, but the cooperative assistance counts among the car's biggest strengths.

The weaknesses are the door handles and the interior design.

Growing presence on the road

In Hamburg the iX3 is already a common sight, and its once provocative design language has become everyday. Outside big cities it still draws curious looks. Germany's Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) counts 9,532 new registrations through September, a high figure for an electric car in this segment, especially as production is still ramping up.

For buyers, the message is that even the cheapest iX3 does not feel like a compromise for those who like to drive themselves.

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Tags:bmwix3electric suvcar reviewsymbiotic drive

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BMW iX3 40 test: agile base model from 63,400 euros · Osegi