BMW iX3 – electric warrior

SUPER efficient luxury is the name of the game with the new BMW iX3, the first 100 per cent electric SUV from the premium German brand.

Business-like and practical, the bold-looking Beemer doesn’t lean to the leftfield like some of its rivals – it’s nothing like the i3 for instance – but sticks to the principles its fans prioritise.

So it’s not aimed at the off-road market, because very few folk are inclined to take on the rough stuff.

Instead it allays any fears of range anxiety with its fully charged upper limit of 281 miles, rising to 350 miles when it comes to city driving.

Interior space is ample for a family of five, cossetted in plush leather sports seats, and the car’s boot capacity stretches from 510 litres to a maximum of 1,560 litres, pretty much the same as conventionally powered SUVs.

Out on the road our tested Pro variant feels very much like a regular X3 – there isn’t the electric car rush characteristic of some models.

That said, it’s eDrive system with high voltage battery produces a hefty 286bhp for performance figures of 0-62 in 6.8 seconds and 112mph top speed, so the iX3 is anything but sedate.

As for charging, it takes 34 minutes to reach 80 per cent and you can add another 62 miles in an extra 10 minutes.

That’s because the power density of the iX3’s electric motor is a third greater than that of existing electric vehicles in the BMW Group and the motor is up to 93 per cent efficient, so all you we need for this car, is to get a ev charging company to make an installation on your home.

Prices are from £58,850 and two trim grades are up for grabs – Premier Edition and Premier Edition Pro – the latter adding another £3,000 to the tab.

Premier Edition includes heated front seats, wireless smartphone charging and assistance tech like the brand’s Driving Assistant Professional set-up, parking assist and BMW Live Cockpit Professional.

Moving up to Pro spec brings in a head up display, Harman Kardon surround sound, gesture control, auto high beam, parking assistant plus and lumbar support.

You also get BMW IconicSounds Electric, developed alongside film score composer Hans Zimmer, and which alters cabin sound for a soothing noise.

State of the art kit sees the car equipped with the latest BMW Operating System 7, which allows software to be updated over the air, while BMW Live Cockpit Professional offers a digital hi-res 12.3 inch instrument cluster behind the steering wheel and a 10.25-inch central display.

And the iX3 is also compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, giving access to digital services like Google Assistant, Google Maps and Whats App plus music streaming services.