BMW iX3

FIRST DRIVE Neue Klasse revolution arrives in production form and hits the ground running with the cracking iX3

- Jordan Katsianis

THIS is a pivotal car for BMW – the arrival of the long-talked-about ‘Neue Klasse'. This is BMW-speak for its next-generation models that will be all-new from the ground up, and the latest iX3 is the first to reach production.

The premium all-electric mid-sized SUV sits alongside the existing petrol, diesel and hybrid-powered X3 in the BMW range, and rivals cars such as the Audi Q6 e-tron, Porsche Macan and the new Mercedes GLC with EQ Technology.

The iX3's sole launch battery and dual-motor powertrain will sit at the top end of the future range, with cheaper models to be introduced in the coming months. Yet the iX3’s pricing seems pretty punchy at £58,755 for the Sport model, with the M Sport and M Sport Pro rising to £61,225 and £62,775 respectively.

This initial battery offering is rated at 112kWh gross (108.9kWh usable), and powers a pair of motors in the 50 xDrive model. The system is rear-biased with a more powerful rear motor, which also provides the bulk of the drive under normal circumstances. The front motor kicks in as required, and is decoupled from the drivetrain when not in use to reduce frictional losses.

BMW quotes 0-62mph in 4.9 seconds, but in the real world the car feels far more potent than that. The peak 645Nm of torque is accessible from a standstill, and the iX3 builds pace faster than any reasonable family car should. This isn’t the high-performance model, but you definitely won't want more pace, even when it’s fully laden.