Rival: 2026 BMW iX3 reviews are impressive... R2 has its work cut out

[Jabbahop]

Don't really see this as a competitor to the R2 - at all. Wholly different market.
BMWs are expensive to buy and maintain. I doubt that will be any different with this one.
I AM glad to see them onboard with EVs, though.

I haven’t had an ICE bmw but have had our 2014 bmw i3 for 11 years. The only non tire maintenance we have had is 1) replacing the brakes because they got too much surface rust from Vermont weather and not being used much 2) replacing the charge port which melted to the L2 charging cable that shorted. Think it is the most care free car we have ever had.

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[Eric9610]

So I don’t think people on this thread know this but all BMW SUV are made in the USA in Spartanburg SC for the last 20 years or so and the plant is expanding to build all the new ix versions. By the time the iX3 goes on sale in the USA it will be built in the USA.

 

[DuoRivian]

So I don’t think people on this thread know this but all BMW SUV are made in the USA in Spartanburg SC for the last 20 years or so and the plant is expanding to build all the new ix versions. By the time the iX3 goes on sale in the USA it will be built in the USA.

From what I had read the Mexico plant was going to make the iX3 in addition to to the launch site in Hungary. The South Carolina plant would stay with X3, X5 etc, but who knows in the future if this does well.

 

[tate16t]

My understanding is SC only assembles the X line and don’t make anything.

 

[savethemanual]

My understanding is SC only assembles the X line and don’t make anything.

BMW has invested into the SC factory, it's confirmed they will make EV's there. One would assume the iX3 will be one of them.

 

[Sportstick]

The BMW plant loading plan has X3-X7 and a new coupe-ish version of X7 at Spartanburg, South Carolina. Different variants of 1 and 2 Series come from Leipzig and Regensburg in Germany. iX3 will initially come from Turkey, but then also be sourced at San Luis Potosi in Mexico.

 

[Wilber]

So I don’t think people on this thread know this but all BMW SUV are made in the USA in Spartanburg SC for the last 20 years or so and the plant is expanding to build all the new ix versions. By the time the iX3 goes on sale in the USA it will be built in the USA.

Excuse me, but my 2024 BMW iX was made in Germany.

 

[Eric9610]

Excuse me, but my 2024 BMW iX was made in Germany.

Every volume model except IX and x1 are made in the USA. X3, 4, 5, 6, 7 are all currently exclusively made in the USA. The plant is currently going through a renovation to build the NK cars here.

 

[richguess]

I didn’t think my ordered R2 would be available for 12-18 months, so I bought a 2024 AudiQ8 etron. The technology isn’t class leading for sure, but it rides beautifully, has a wonderful interior, is rated at 285 mi range, and at $38k with 20k miles I won’t take a beating if I do end up moving to either the BMW or the R2. First roadtrip coming up in a couple.e of weeks, just received the Tesla Supercharger adapter which I may or may not need.

 

[Bullwinkle]

Thankfully the front is much better than the ix buck tooth but the interior design of the display is super distracting to me.

The kidney grill, separated from its purpose of cooling in bygone BMWs, still looks goofy, albeit less goofy than the iX.

 

[Bullwinkle]

The iX3 will absolutely be cross-shopped with the R2. The price will be similar and they are both premium mid-size SUV EVs.

I think the BMW's price will be 20% more than R2. I do like the display that runs under the windscreen. I wish Rivian would add a heads-up display. Displays behind steering wheels or to the right are problematic.

 

[Bullwinkle]

These look amazing, but that steering wheel is horrendous

The clipped corners of the main GUI are also horrendous. What function do they serve?

 

[Bullwinkle]

iX3 and the Scout Traveler squeezing Rivian in the middle. Scout will have real off-road chops, >350 mlies range, 800V charging, and starts under $60k (and Rivian electronics / software). R2 will struggle if they have cheaped out on the range or if the charging curve is disappointing. The 400V is not a deal killer in itself. Even at 200kw, you can go from 10-80% in 20 minutes on a 100 kwh battery (with a perfectly flat charge curve). We will have to see what sort of black magic LG and Rivian have up their sleeve to get a decent ~350 miles of range and good charging. Holding out (a little) hope.

Agreed, the 300-mile range goal post has moved to 350 over the past year. I assume Rivian has been working hard on a better charging curve.

 

[Bullwinkle]

IMO, the competition is quickly offering 800v charging as the standard. Ie you can get 800v charging capability without paying more.

Rivian decided to stick with 400v for cost reasons. But, the possible mistake is that the industry is quickly evolving to 800v faster than Rivian might have anticipated.

But, the possible mistake is that the industry is quickly evolving to 800v...

 

[ATLRivvy]

Yep. In a free market, consumers should buy what is best for their needs. Totally agree.



I didn't notice that. Well, he can buy Canadian in order to support his fellow citizens, I guess. LOL.



It seems like buying American supports your neighbors who are employed here, in this country. Why would any citizen not want to support their neighbors and buy what they make? Baffling.

I do think the best product should win. If a product imported from outside our borders is better, I will buy it, assuming the value is worth the price I have to pay. But.

But I do think there is value in supporting our industrial base. Like Rivian. I will choose Rivian over a foreign competitor unless the value difference is significant. I think supporting the people who build Rivian trucks (who are my neighbors) provides a lot of value to our economy, and to me personally.

I will pay more for a Rivian over a BMW produced in Germany because I value that connection with my fellow citizen. It is so sad you do not feel the same way.

FYI - but if you actually care about this, then you need to be thinking more about specific producers and models (even foreign brands) than “buying American”.

High-volume cars are all manufactured across a global supply chain and for many they are at-most “assembled” in their domestic market. For instance, if you “bought American” with a 2021-2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E then you would have bought a Mexico-assembled car with a South Korean battery, a Canadian operating system and parts content from around the world.

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