BMW has been flooding us with teasers and bits and pieces about its next-generation EV platform, the Neue Klasse, for so long – two full years now – that I admit I’ve become a little numb to the hype. I saw dashboard-filling displays, talked endlessly to engineers about the completely redesigned active safety suite, and even tried my hand behind the wheel of a prototype machine.
All this for the launch of a crossover SUV, typically the most milquetoast of all automotive classifications. But after spending the better part of a day poking around the final version of the iX3, I’m surprised to say it was all worth it. This small SUV is truly a game changer on multiple fronts, a huge step forward for BMW’s electric efforts, and a machine that could be good enough to overcome declining EV sales.
Platforms are important for carmakers. They are the core elements that allow relatively quick and cheap development of many new models without completely redesigning core elements such as chassis, engine, suspension and software. The Neue Klasse (German for “New Class”) is BMW’s latest and greatest new platform, intended to form the foundation of a series of upcoming EVs.
The iX3 is the first of those, a compact SUV that’s about the same size as BMW’s existing X3, offering the same amount of cargo and space for five passengers. This new platform pulls the battery downwards and propels its two motors forward and backward. None of this is new in the EV sector, but most of BMW’s previous EVs have relied on platforms designed for internal combustion. It is optimized for EVs from the start.
It has a 108.7kWh usable battery pack, powering a pair of motors that, combined, deliver 463 horsepower and 476 pound-feet of torque through all four wheels. Maximum range will be about 400 miles (EPA testing not yet completed), 40-more than Tesla’s longest-range Model Y.
BMW engineers told me what’s really important is the iX3’s new electrical architecture, which includes more efficient motors and silicon-carbide inverters. It also charges fast, at speeds up to 400kW if you get a plug with enough juice. By the way, this will be a NACS plug, as it will be BMW’s first plug to support the Tesla-style connector.
A quick look into the iX3’s cabin reveals the SUV’s biggest tech upgrade: the pillar-to-pillar Panoramic Vision Display. Think of it like an ultra-widescreen heads-up display that acts as the gauge cluster on the left, but there are six customizable sections in the middle and right where you can display anything from efficiency information to what’s playing on Spotify.
Never enough, the iX3 also has a true 3D heads-up display that projects above the panoramic vision, plus a 17.9-inch, 3,340 x 1,440 rhomboid-shaped touchscreen for good measure. The display overloads and becomes a little overwhelming when you first get in the car, but I found it to be intuitive enough not to be distracting. If all this seems a bit much for you, it’s easy enough to disable the more detailed or attention-grabbing display sections.
The in-car experience is integrated with an advanced My BMW app that not only lets you remotely park the car from outside and get a 3D view of the inside or outside of the car; You can also queue up playlists on your phone or give your passengers control to do so from their own devices.
However, to experience the more significant technological upgrades, you need to get behind the wheel.
Taking back control of many of today’s more advanced active safety systems in cars can sometimes feel like wrestling. Often, overriding the lane-centering system requires shaking the wheel vigorously, which can result in a frustrating jerky experience for your passengers.
The iX3, on the other hand, is designed to be completely seamless. If you have BMW’s Highway Assistant enabled, it will drive itself in most situations on the highway, but you can reach over and grab the wheel whenever you want. There’s no resistance to overcome, and if you let go the car takes over again.
The car can also help you there if you want to change lanes. At the signal, glance in the mirror and the car will automatically change lanes. Or, if you grab the wheel and change lanes yourself, the car will automatically apply the turn signal for you.
BMW’s system will also enable if you press the brake pedal. If you wish, you can come to a complete stop, then release the brake and the car will smoothly return to speed. The system stays on until you turn it off – or more aggressively hit the brakes – working with you rather than against you.
This new security system seems a little strange at first. It took me a while to figure out when it was on and when it was off. But, after a few minutes on the highway, I got into the thick of things. It actually felt like working in conjunction with the car’s systems instead of constantly turning them on and off. The hands-off system also worked very well, and operated cleanly even through traffic.
However, it wasn’t until I went on some secondary country roads that I realized how nice the iX3 was to drive. That dual-motor setup means full-time all-wheel drive, but the power split between those two motors depends on which drive mode you’re in. The car feels safe and secure in Personal, Regular Drive mode. Drive it as aggressively as you want and it has a quiet, predictable nature that makes it easy to keep it on track without too much input from the driver.
To experience more significant technological upgrades, you need to drive
Switch to Sport, however, and the tail sticks out a bit under hard acceleration, making the iX3 feel like a traditional, rear-driven BMW. It’s no rocket ship, but it’s nimble and its suspension strikes a great balance between predictable, comfortable handling and sporty response. Even the steering feels sharp and gives respectable feedback, just like the old BMWs.
In many ways, this all-new package feels like a return to form, a new SUV with engaging driving and safety at its core but a mix of enough luxury and refinement to retain its premium cachet. But this is not a sure success. For one thing, there’s the look. BMW has been pushing the boundaries with many of its latest designs, and the iX3 certainly has an attractive style. After initially hating it, I have to admit that after a day behind the wheel I quickly grew to like the iX3, especially when viewed from the rear.
Even if you like the styling of an SUV, there’s still the question of price. BMW has not yet set a formal price for the 2026 BMW iX3, only that it will start around $60,000. That puts it at least $10,000 more than a base, gas-powered X3 SUV. Since federal EV incentives are no longer in play, that delta may be difficult to digest for many buyers.
But, despite sharing mostly similar names, both these SUVs feel worlds apart. With enough range and fast enough charging to overcome range anxiety, as well as volume, handling and comfort galore, EVs are the clear choice for those with room in their budget.
Photography by Tim Stevens
<a href