Seven years after the launch of the i3, BMW has finally brought out its second fully electric car, says Top Gear. The X3 is BMW’s biggest-selling model and this electric version, the iX3, is intended to meet the needs of the average driver. It is more efficient than rivals, has a smaller battery and can accept high charge power. That means you can start at full power after an overnight charge, stop after 220 real-world miles at a 150kW charger and add about 180 real-world miles in half an hour, then go on to complete a 400-mile trip. What’s more, it feels “ridiculously normal” to drive. The power “comes in with urgency… but is never brutal” and “keeps on going determinedly” up to its limited top speed of 112mph. The “top-spec” model even has an in-cabin sound generator that produces an “electronic hum that rises and falls in pitch as you change speed, and in volume as you press the pedal harder”, but otherwise the car is silent. It is “superbly easy” and relaxing to drive too.
The iX3 looks “normal” on purpose, says Jonathan Burn on AutoExpress. It is designed to “feel entirely conventional” and appeal to those delving into electric vehicles for the first time. It might not look all that special, but “it’s spacious, quiet, well built and packed with clever tech”. “This is simply an X3 that also happens to be electric.” One “neat piece of tech” is the car’s digital key, which allows owners with iPhones to share access to the car with others without them needing a key. Owners can set restrictions on speed, power, even music volume for each driver.
MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE
Sign up to Money Morning
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
The iX3 is BMW’s first model to be made in China, but this has had no effect on quality, says Greg Kable on AutoCar. “If you’ve decided that it’s time for an electric car… you would be foolish not to give it a good look.”
Price: £58,850; Engine: 80kWh battery, one electric motor; Power/torque: 283bhp/400Nm; 0-62mph: 6.8 seconds; Top speed: 112mph; On sale: summer 2021
-
How retirement pots risk running out 11 years early if inflation remains highPension savers could find their retirement income may not last as long as they anticipated over fears that inflation may not slow down
-
How extending stealth tax freeze would cancel out pensioners’ Winter Fuel Payment by 2030Pensioners relying on just the full new state pension face paying tax on their income within a few years, as the payment rises but thresholds remain frozen
-
8 of the best converted industrial properties for saleThe best converted industrial properties for sale – from a Victorian railway station in Norfolk to a Grade II-listed former water tower with views of the River Alde
-
Review: Villa d'Este – a Christmas spectacle on Lake ComoTravel Villa d’Este, on the shores of Lake Como in Italy, is a magical place in which to celebrate the festive season
-
Aircraft leasing companies can lift investors' portfoliosThe aircraft leasing business is a safer way to cash in on air travel and its booming demand. David Prosser explains how it works and how to access it
-
8 of the best houses for sale with fishing rightsThe best houses for sale with fishing rights – from a Georgian property on the banks of the River Derwent, County Durham, to a restored mill house in Marlborough with fishing rights on the River Kennet
-
How dinosaur fossils became collectables for the mega-richDinosaur fossils are prized like blue-chip artworks and are even accelerating past the prices of many Old Masters paintings, says Chris Carter
-
Review: Stank House Farm – a cosy cottage in YorkshireTravel Stank House Farm is a charming holiday cottage in North Yorkshire, close to Bolton Abbey and several wonderful walks
-
'Why I launched MoneyWeek'Inspired by The Week and uninspired by the financial press, Jolyon Connell decided it was time for a new venture. That's where MoneyWeek came in
-
Review: Relais & Châteaux – a world of wine and art in the Western CapeTravel Relais & Châteaux, the association of independent luxury hotels, offers a refined experience in Cape Town and Stellenbosch, in South Africa
