Design — Growing On Me, Whether I Like It Or Not

Let's get the elephant in the room out of the way first. I don't like the new design language. But I should be honest — I didn't like the previous one either, until it grew on me. And somehow, I'm already feeling the iX3's Neue Klasse design doing the same thing. Especially in the flesh, and watching it move around a car park, it's arguably less about being pretty and more about being classy. The body lines echo those of the outgoing iX — nothing wrong with that at all. Sleek, modern, elegant.

The damage is done most notably at the front. The new BMW kidney grilles now resemble buck teeth and just look odd. But then again — it grows on you. I guess.

Interior — A Genuine Step Change

This is where the iX3 lands its biggest punch. I drive an X5 as a daily, so I'm used to a certain cabin character — spacious but still a little enveloping. The Neue Klasse ditches that in the best possible way. The space feels open and genuinely roomy, much like stepping into a Tesla or a Kia EV that feels bigger on the inside than its footprint suggests.

The standout feature is the panoramic windshield-wide display that replaces the traditional HUD. I'll admit to being a tech nerd, and as soon as I stepped in my first reaction was: why hasn't anyone done this sooner? The concept has real merit — it moves information off a small HUD and onto a far larger, more accessible screen without taking your eyes off the road. Is it perfect? No. It's cluttered with widgets that seem more concerned with looking impressive than being useful. But the idea is genuinely good and I hope more manufacturers follow.

The main infotainment screen dominates the dashboard. It's sharp, considerably bigger than outgoing models, and oddly shaped — a sort of SIM card silhouette that doesn't necessarily add to the experience. My one real critique: it's neither angled toward the driver nor curved. I personally prefer both. A minor point, but noticeable.

This particular iX3 also featured the new M steering wheel. Completely unnecessary? Yes. Did it bother me? Not really — though it felt like the car was trying slightly too hard. Sometimes prototypes look better on paper.

Elsewhere the cabin is a genuinely pleasant place to be. Arm rests at the right height, spacious feeling throughout, comfortable seating. The weak spots reveal themselves in the center console area — cheaper-feeling buttons and a noticeably plasticky gear selector that remind you this is, fundamentally, an iX3 rather than a flagship. A shame, but not a dealbreaker.

Rear Space & Boot

This is where the Neue Klasse platform really pays dividends. Rear seat space is very good, with plenty of legroom for adults and no real issues with headroom even in cars fitted with a sunroof. One reviewer with a driver seated at 6'7" found they could still sit comfortably behind themselves — that's a meaningful real-world data point. There's sufficient space for knees and legs and ample headroom, making the iX3 perfect for longer drives with multiple passengers or fitting rotating child seats with ease. This is a significant upgrade over the previous generation iX3 and puts it firmly in family SUV territory.

Boot space is rated at 520 litres seats up and 1,750 with them folded, which is competitive for this class of car and more than enough for day-to-day family duties. The rear bench splits 40:20:40 for flexible loading. There's also a 58-litre frunk under the bonnet, which is ideal for storing charging cables or keeping muddy kit separate from the main boot. That combination of frunk plus proper boot space makes this a genuinely practical family proposition.

For context, that boot figure compares well against the Audi Q6 e-tron at 526 litres and trails only the cavernous Tesla Model Y at 854 litres in this class.

The Drive & Range

The iX3 50 xDrive produces 469bhp and 645Nm of torque. It's a proper neck-snapper. The acceleration is fast and feels powerful throughout the entire curve — not just an initial rush that fades. It surprised me genuinely. I was expecting something that drives like a competent but unremarkable electrified SUV. Instead it handled like a car from a higher price bracket. Suspension soft and forgiving, handling composed, the whole package more cohesive than an X3 on steroids has any right to be.

800km WLTP is the headline figure and it's a serious number. The battery capacity is 108.7kWh on the larger pack, and DC fast charging goes up to an impressive 300-400kW — meaning top-up stops are genuinely short. After pushing it hard in its sportiest setting, the battery held a steady charge. Real-world usage points to 650-700km depending on driving style, which in Belgian and Dutch conditions means you can genuinely treat this as a long-distance car without range anxiety becoming part of the conversation.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Rear passenger space is genuinely class-leading for the segment
• 520L boot plus 58L frunk — practical family car credentials are real
• 469bhp xDrive is properly, unexpectedly fast
• 800km WLTP range effectively eliminates range anxiety
• Panoramic windshield display is genuinely innovative
• Cabin space and openness sets a new benchmark at this size
• Fast charging up to 300-400kW keeps stops short

Cons:

• Front kidney grille design remains an acquired taste
• Infotainment screen shape adds nothing to the experience
• Center console buttons and gear selector feel below the car's price point
• Windshield display cluttered with unnecessary widgets
• Fixed panoramic roof only — no retractable sunroof option
• At 2,360kg it's a heavy machine

Verdict

The iX3 Neue Klasse is the BMW I didn't expect to like as much as I did. The exterior design will divide opinion for years and the interior has a few rough edges that feel inconsistent with the price tag. But none of that matters much when the car drives this well, offers this much space, and goes this far on a charge. It's the most complete electric SUV BMW has made, and one of the most convincing arguments for the Neue Klasse platform yet.

Am I moving back to an EV? No ... But, if this is where BMW is headed, the next few years are going to be interesting.