Discussion
Finally getting around to replacing my partners ageing Audi A1 which has done her extremely well up to 130k miles but is getting a bit long in the tooth now. We’ve been toying with the idea of going electric as most of her journeys are circa 10 miles each way to the office and shopping duties, got a test drive booked in on an IX3 on Sunday so just wondered whether anyone has got one currently or has driven one yet or has any experience with them? Was looking at a x4m40i previously but the draw of cheap running costs is inticing!
I'll add to this in a manner that wasn't asked for...
I have been looking with a similar driving profile in mind and what struck me was how expensive the IX3 is (so didn't even consider a test drive)... If replacing an A1, is a car that big needed... Again potentially similar situation I don't need a big car, but I like one, or do the miles so I managed to justify an I3 and to be honest size, range, premium feel all worked for me so placed an order.
If I needed a bigger car I have to say I'd be looking at the Enyaq and probably the Ioniq 5 or EV 6.
I know it's an opinion you didn't ask for, but I struggled with the rationale behind the IX3 and more so after watching Johnny Smiths review. To be clear it wasn't a bad review just not a clear winner and I'd want to try the others first.
I have been looking with a similar driving profile in mind and what struck me was how expensive the IX3 is (so didn't even consider a test drive)... If replacing an A1, is a car that big needed... Again potentially similar situation I don't need a big car, but I like one, or do the miles so I managed to justify an I3 and to be honest size, range, premium feel all worked for me so placed an order.
If I needed a bigger car I have to say I'd be looking at the Enyaq and probably the Ioniq 5 or EV 6.
I know it's an opinion you didn't ask for, but I struggled with the rationale behind the IX3 and more so after watching Johnny Smiths review. To be clear it wasn't a bad review just not a clear winner and I'd want to try the others first.
Moonpie21 said:
I'll add to this in a manner that wasn't asked for...
I have been looking with a similar driving profile in mind and what struck me was how expensive the IX3 is (so didn't even consider a test drive)... If replacing an A1, is a car that big needed... Again potentially similar situation I don't need a big car, but I like one, or do the miles so I managed to justify an I3 and to be honest size, range, premium feel all worked for me so placed an order.
If I needed a bigger car I have to say I'd be looking at the Enyaq and probably the Ioniq 5 or EV 6.
I know it's an opinion you didn't ask for, but I struggled with the rationale behind the IX3 and more so after watching Johnny Smiths review. To be clear it wasn't a bad review just not a clear winner and I'd want to try the others first.
Some very good points raised, I’d be all over an i3, I think they’re awesome little cars and a really good product in general unfortunately the boss doesn’t like the look so it’s ruled out 🤦🏼♂️ In terms of size, we’ve recently got a puppy so having a large boot is a plus, and since my car is a 330e saloon whenever we go away the boot is absolutely tiny so for things like trips to airports or even tip runs we could do with one big car was my thinking! I have been looking with a similar driving profile in mind and what struck me was how expensive the IX3 is (so didn't even consider a test drive)... If replacing an A1, is a car that big needed... Again potentially similar situation I don't need a big car, but I like one, or do the miles so I managed to justify an I3 and to be honest size, range, premium feel all worked for me so placed an order.
If I needed a bigger car I have to say I'd be looking at the Enyaq and probably the Ioniq 5 or EV 6.
I know it's an opinion you didn't ask for, but I struggled with the rationale behind the IX3 and more so after watching Johnny Smiths review. To be clear it wasn't a bad review just not a clear winner and I'd want to try the others first.
Moonpie21 said:
I'll add to this in a manner that wasn't asked for...
I have been looking with a similar driving profile in mind and what struck me was how expensive the IX3 is (so didn't even consider a test drive)... If replacing an A1, is a car that big needed... Again potentially similar situation I don't need a big car, but I like one, or do the miles so I managed to justify an I3 and to be honest size, range, premium feel all worked for me so placed an order.
If I needed a bigger car I have to say I'd be looking at the Enyaq and probably the Ioniq 5 or EV 6.
I know it's an opinion you didn't ask for, but I struggled with the rationale behind the IX3 and more so after watching Johnny Smiths review. To be clear it wasn't a bad review just not a clear winner and I'd want to try the others first.
I watched that review too and I was a little underwhelmed too. I think that BMW might have missed a trick with the iX3, but hey, they have the product planners so they should know what they are doing. They have to sell cars, and I suspect this one will sell well.I have been looking with a similar driving profile in mind and what struck me was how expensive the IX3 is (so didn't even consider a test drive)... If replacing an A1, is a car that big needed... Again potentially similar situation I don't need a big car, but I like one, or do the miles so I managed to justify an I3 and to be honest size, range, premium feel all worked for me so placed an order.
If I needed a bigger car I have to say I'd be looking at the Enyaq and probably the Ioniq 5 or EV 6.
I know it's an opinion you didn't ask for, but I struggled with the rationale behind the IX3 and more so after watching Johnny Smiths review. To be clear it wasn't a bad review just not a clear winner and I'd want to try the others first.
However, one thing I would say about BMW electric products though - they have been around for a while and are pretty well proven. We have an i3 and totally accept that its a marmite car - but its a proven drivetrain and is very reliable overall. The battery pack has held up well, the electronics are good and while the iDrive stuff is getting a little long in the tooth, it does work well and BMW have thought through logical and sensible features.
For example, climate control while you park the car? Yep, has that. Simple click of the button when you leave it. Remote app to control features / functions? Yep (though will admit the older app sucked, but the new one is very good. Decent charging times? Yep. The list goes on. BMW i products dont have a long list of advanced features, but what they do have work well and are reliable. A good practical choice and I suspect the iX3 will be a solid buy. Just dont expect the best packaging.
I'll pass on the iX3 (have an SUV already), but the i4 - now thats interesting!
carl0 said:
It's the EV for someone who can't see beyond a 'premium' brand ice SUV as the vehicle to have.
Nobody can explain why they want one other than its a EV powered version of the car they already own or aspire to.
Why does anybody want any car? I’ve had a BMW and a Tesla on the drive for 5 years, i know both brands very well and I wouldn’t put myself in the bracket of being ‘unable to see beyond…’. I was given a lift in the ix3 yesterday and it fixed everything that was off putting with the original x3, of had smooth power delivery, good punch, silent, and yet still had all the benefits of build quality, material choice, practicality etc. Nobody can explain why they want one other than its a EV powered version of the car they already own or aspire to.
Maybe you’re just in the bracket that thinks an EV has to reinvent every aspect of the car and not adopt any of the best bits from a 100 years of car development?
Autocar have just done a brief review; they gave it a 4-star rating:
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/bmw/ix3
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/bmw/ix3
I like it but I have a BMW right now and the IX3 interior just isn't sufficiently different to make me want it as opposed to something completely different in the form of a polestar or tesla. Also some aspects of the design are just a bit lazy - I know it's not exactly a deal breaker but they did nothing useful with the space at the front of the car that not having a combustion engine frees up.
Well done drive complete so here’s a little review for anyone looking at the IX3.
Managed to secure a full day test drive so really got a feel for the car, first impressions were great being the premier edition it came with all the equipment you’d ever want and more with the usual high quality finish you’d expect. The exterior changes with closed grill and aero wheels won’t be to everyone’s taste but I thought it looked brilliant, demo car was the phytonic blue again which looked awesome! Car was fully charged on collection and showing a range of 289 miles not quite diesel levels of range but comparable to my 330e however I did find the ix3 predicted range to be much closer to real word as I did 240 miles in the day and still had over 30 left when I got back to the dealership, with me testing the performance and various driving modes. This car really can put a smile on your face, 0-60 of 6.5 doesn’t really tell the full story as it feels much quicker than that, and 30-70 for joining motorway slip roads is brutal for a vehicle of this size and weight. On the twisties the ix3 really held its own to be fair to it, providing enough feedback through the steering which at first I thought was a little light but didn’t notice much roll at all, far better than the phev evoque we tested previously.
For me and my partner it really excelled our expectations having been looking at an X4m40i previously and were fully converted to electric now, doesn’t seem to be any compromise at all which is just what I wanted, running the numbers now and looking to get one ordered ASAP!
Managed to secure a full day test drive so really got a feel for the car, first impressions were great being the premier edition it came with all the equipment you’d ever want and more with the usual high quality finish you’d expect. The exterior changes with closed grill and aero wheels won’t be to everyone’s taste but I thought it looked brilliant, demo car was the phytonic blue again which looked awesome! Car was fully charged on collection and showing a range of 289 miles not quite diesel levels of range but comparable to my 330e however I did find the ix3 predicted range to be much closer to real word as I did 240 miles in the day and still had over 30 left when I got back to the dealership, with me testing the performance and various driving modes. This car really can put a smile on your face, 0-60 of 6.5 doesn’t really tell the full story as it feels much quicker than that, and 30-70 for joining motorway slip roads is brutal for a vehicle of this size and weight. On the twisties the ix3 really held its own to be fair to it, providing enough feedback through the steering which at first I thought was a little light but didn’t notice much roll at all, far better than the phev evoque we tested previously.
For me and my partner it really excelled our expectations having been looking at an X4m40i previously and were fully converted to electric now, doesn’t seem to be any compromise at all which is just what I wanted, running the numbers now and looking to get one ordered ASAP!
SWoll said:
The only compromise I would expect you to find is when it comes to charge it in public.
Not tempted to hold fire and try the iX? Ground up EV with better performance and practicality for not much more money?
Less range (unless you go for 50) and a smaller boot, though 4wd and much bigger cabin. Not tempted to hold fire and try the iX? Ground up EV with better performance and practicality for not much more money?
SWoll said:
The only compromise I would expect you to find is when it comes to charge it in public.
Not tempted to hold fire and try the iX? Ground up EV with better performance and practicality for not much more money?
Surely public charging would be an issue on any electric car though? Luckily I’ve got a driveway which will be easy enough to add a charging point on and the furthest we’d take it regularly would be circa 100 mile round trip which this would do with ease. And for me I just can’t get around the looks of the ix, I’m drawn to the ix3 because it looks and feels like a conventional ice vehicle which is what I’m after at this point until we all fly around in spaceships.Not tempted to hold fire and try the iX? Ground up EV with better performance and practicality for not much more money?
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