BMW iX3 leads electric SUV range test despite efficiency gaps

The BMW iX3 has achieved the highest calculated real-world range in a head-to-head test conducted by the British magazine What Car?. The test compared the iX3 against the Mercedes GLC EQ 400, the Volvo EX60 P10, and the Tesla Model Y Juniper Long Range.

Using a practical testing method where vehicles were driven until the battery reached 10 percent before extrapolating the total distance, the BMW iX3 recorded a calculated practical range of approximately 681 kilometers (423 miles). While this outperformed its competitors, the iX3 also showed significant efficiency weaknesses. It missed its official WLTP range claim by 15.1 percent, the largest discrepancy among the tested group, and recorded the lowest efficiency at 3.65 miles per kWh.

While the iX3 was noted for its superior driving dynamics and agility, testers criticized the vehicle for high levels of wind and road noise, a stiff suspension that impacts comfort, and lower interior material quality compared to its rivals.