BMW put the new iX3 through the paces, and it still drove 500 miles on a single charge

BMW drove the new iX3 through heavy rain and snow on public roads, climbing over 6,500 feet up hills, and it still managed 500 miles without stopping to charge.

BMW iX3 proves long-range capabilities in real life

The German luxury automaker is taking another swing at the EV market with its Neue Klasse models now on sale.

As the first Neue Klasse EV, the new iX3 is already proving to be a considerable upgrade from BMW’s current electric vehicles.

Days after the iX3 50 xDrive outlasted every single EV during NAF’s Summer El Prix range test, driving 485 miles (781 km), BMW put the Long Wheelbase variant through the paces in China on public roads.

A BMW iX3 50L xDrive prototype with 21″ wheels drove 500 miles (over 800 km) around the Qinghai Lake grand loop.

The prototype achieved an energy consumption of 20.3 kWh/100 miles (12.6 kWh/100 km), or an extremely efficient 4.9 miles per kWh, and still had 2% battery capacity at the end of the journey.

According to BMW, the iX3 Long Wheelbase (LWB) could achieve a driving range of around 518-522 miles (835-840 km) under the same real-world driving conditions.

The vehicle began its journey in Xining, repeatedly climbing hills with an elevation gain of over 6,500 feet (nearly 2,000 meters).

BMW drove the prototype through “heavy snowfall, intense rain, and strong high-altitude sunshine” with temperatures ranging from 33.8°F (1°C) to 69.8°F (21°C).

The BMW iX3 40 is on sale in Germany, starting at €63,400 ($73,000), with a WLTP driving range of 628 km (390 miles), while the iX3 50 xDrive is priced from €73,925 ($85,200), with a driving range of up to 805 km (500 miles).

In the US, the 2027 BMW iX3 50 xDrive is now available to order, starting at $61,500. It has an EPA-estimated driving range of up to 434 miles.

The LWB version’s wheelbase is 108 mm longer than that of the standard iX3, opening up more space for rear passengers. However, it’s specifically designed for China and a few other overseas regions, such as Southeast Asia.