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

[DuoRivian]

Dude, chill out. It is like you are taking this personally.

I am just skeptical it can actually meet the 400 mile claim. As you said, they typically don't exaggerate, so maybe I shouldn't be skeptical. But I am.

And it is interesting they say "up to".

The upto covers the different tire sizes. So yes one configuration will get 400 and then the other sizes get somewhere in the 380-400 range which is good and somehow defies your skepticism.
Not taking it personally just surprised some armchair engineering second guessing a well respected company with the vehicle already in production and reviewed by independent people.
No-one ever said 400 miles highway, it is 400 miles EPA which is a pretty good proxy for normal day to day usage. Either way this is a good vehicle that will take a bite out of R2 sales.

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[Just Passing By]

I think the Subaru Outback should be on your list. It's a VERY common sight in my neck of the woods.

I considered including some Subaru models along with other manufacturer's candidates but I didn't want to over-estimate the market size in order to make my point about Rivian's total available market for premium off-road capable vehicles. There are indeed a significant number of additional off-road capable vehicles that will overlap with the R2 price range, although some may debate whether they would be considered premium, and they usually start at well below the R2 intro price, further confusing the comparison.

 

[beaker]

BMW is just absolutely determined to make their cars as ugly as possible

 

[mkhuffman]

The upto covers the different tire sizes. So yes one configuration will get 400 and then the other sizes get somewhere in the 380-400 range which is good and somehow defies your skepticism.
Not taking it personally just surprised some armchair engineering second guessing a well respected company with the vehicle already in production and reviewed by independent people.
No-one ever said 400 miles highway, it is 400 miles EPA which is a pretty good proxy for normal day to day usage. Either way this is a good vehicle that will take a bite out of R2 sales.

Still seems you are taking it personally when all I am saying is I am skeptical the version people will want to buy is the 400 mile version. Maybe the one motor, stripped down model will hit 400 EPA. That is the "up to", IMO.

Or I could be wrong, and the fully optioned, dual motor 463 HP model will hit 400 EPA. Whatever. When they prove it, I will believe it.

And that will be great for the industry, for BMW and for the BEV market. I want every BEV to get 500 miles of highway range in the winter, because when that happens. ICEVs won't be able to compete in any capacity.

If BMW can build a $60k 400 mile model that is nicely optioned with two motors and 463 HP, that is a good thing. Maybe, maybe that is what is happening. Maybe. Or maybe not. I want to see the proof.

 

[DuoRivian]

Still seems you are taking it personally when all I am saying is I am skeptical the version people will want to buy is the 400 mile version. Maybe the one motor, stripped down model will hit 400 EPA. That is the "up to", IMO.

Or I could be wrong, and the fully optioned, dual motor 463 HP model will hit 400 EPA. Whatever. When they prove it, I will believe it.

And that will be great for the industry, for BMW and for the BEV market. I want every BEV to get 500 miles of highway range in the winter, because when that happens. ICEVs won't be able to compete in any capacity.

If BMW can build a $60k 400 mile model that is nicely optioned with two motors and 463 HP, that is a good thing. Maybe, maybe that is what is happening. Maybe. Or maybe not. I want to see the proof.

Not sure your point. The one version being built now (the 50 dual motor 108kWh battery model) get 400miles EPA with certain wheel configurations. Other lower powered versions will follow and single and dual drive with smaller batteries. They will most likely get in mid 300 range. BMW is starting with their longest range and mid power (M version will be more powerful).

That future is already being built - can understand skepticism when It is projecting out into the future like a Lucid Earth or a Rivian R3 but something already out for order and being delivered in 90 days in Europe and then a few months later in the US is more of a known quantity.
so it is either believing their claims or thinking they are lying - thanks different to skepticism.

 

[Eric9610]

Still seems you are taking it personally when all I am saying is I am skeptical the version people will want to buy is the 400 mile version. Maybe the one motor, stripped down model will hit 400 EPA. That is the "up to", IMO.

Or I could be wrong, and the fully optioned, dual motor 463 HP model will hit 400 EPA. Whatever. When they prove it, I will believe it.

And that will be great for the industry, for BMW and for the BEV market. I want every BEV to get 500 miles of highway range in the winter, because when that happens. ICEVs won't be able to compete in any capacity.

If BMW can build a $60k 400 mile model that is nicely optioned with two motors and 463 HP, that is a good thing. Maybe, maybe that is what is happening. Maybe. Or maybe not. I want to see the proof.

I believe that most (90%) if not all the iX3 will be ordered as a base configuration with no options. You will have some come in fully loaded in the mid 60k range but like everything else most buyers are not like forum members. This is intended to be a mass market car.

 

[emoore]

Still seems you are taking it personally when all I am saying is I am skeptical the version people will want to buy is the 400 mile version. Maybe the one motor, stripped down model will hit 400 EPA. That is the "up to", IMO.

Or I could be wrong, and the fully optioned, dual motor 463 HP model will hit 400 EPA. Whatever. When they prove it, I will believe it.

And that will be great for the industry, for BMW and for the BEV market. I want every BEV to get 500 miles of highway range in the winter, because when that happens. ICEVs won't be able to compete in any capacity.

If BMW can build a $60k 400 mile model that is nicely optioned with two motors and 463 HP, that is a good thing. Maybe, maybe that is what is happening. Maybe. Or maybe not. I want to see the proof.

I agree. I don't believe that a luxury car company is going to have the cheapest and nearly the highest range EV of anyone on the planet (outside of China). Just doesn't seem possible. I think their long range version will come in at 350 EPA miles (not the overly optimistic WLTP estimate) for over $65k.

 

[Eric9610]

I agree. I don't believe that a luxury car company is going to have the cheapest and nearly the highest range EV of anyone on the planet (outside of China). Just doesn't seem possible. I think their long range version will come in at 350 EPA miles (not the overly optimistic WLTP estimate) for over $65k.

The EPA estimate is 400 miles listed on BMW USA website as seen here. The WLTP is 500...

Also, this is for the DM version...

 

[emoore]

The EPA estimate is 400 miles listed on BMW USA website as seen here. The WLTP is 500...

Also, this is for the DM version...

Yeah it’s just estimated. We will see when the real EPA actually tests the BMW.

 

[Eric9610]

Yeah it’s just estimated. We will see when the real EPA actually tests the BMW.

I believe BMW is claiming 500 miles on WLTP and that would equate out to 435 miles on EPA. Watch the car will have 425. Usually, the way publishing EPA standards works is they take the average of the 2 lowest tests. Since BMW has not done the official test expect the number to go up.

 

[emoore]

I believe BMW is claiming 500 miles on WLTP and that would equate out to 435 miles on EPA. Watch the car will have 425. Usually, the way publishing EPA standards works is they take the average of the 2 lowest tests. Since BMW has not done the official test expect the number to go up.

Like I said, I’ll believe it when I see it. Even Tesla can’t meet the EPA estimates. Doubt BMW will do any better.

 

[mkhuffman]

The EPA estimate is 400 miles listed on BMW USA website as seen here. The WLTP is 500...

Also, this is for the DM version...

From your link, "up to" does not mean the version they will be selling first will be 400. Does it? Nope.

 

[DuoRivian]

From your link, "up to" does not mean the version they will be selling first will be 400. Does it? Nope.

Yes it does. The 50 (dual motor model) will have upto 400 miles on EPA testing for $62k (my estimate including destination). Not sure why two people are so adamant that a vehicle already in production and reviewed cannot possibly get 400 miles of real world range and be close to $60k.

Not sure why they keep saying we will see when the EU configurator is already and running, reviews are in and BMW has a press release out - so suggestions it will be 350 miles is bizarre thinking not support by anything other than a deeply pessimistic and skeptical nature. Let’s revisit when the US configurator goes live in Q1 and they (or I) can admit they were wrong.

 

[DuoRivian]

Like I said, I’ll believe it when I see it. Even Tesla can’t meet the EPA estimates. Doubt BMW will do any better.

Well it isn’t long until you will see it but whether you admit as much is an open question given your extreme skepticism despite real world data.

 

[mkhuffman]

Yes it does. The 50 (dual motor model) will have upto 400 miles on EPA testing for $62k (my estimate including destination). Not sure why two people are so adamant that a vehicle already in production and reviewed cannot possibly get 400 miles of real world range and be close to $60k.

Not sure why they keep saying we will see when the EU configurator is already and running, reviews are in and BMW has a press release out - so suggestions it will be 350 miles is bizarre thinking not support by anything other than a deeply pessimistic and skeptical nature. Let’s revisit when the US configurator goes live in Q1 and they (or I) can admit they were wrong.

Its all good, and I hope there are no hard feelings.

Here is what I think "up to" means:

It will be like the long-range version of other BEVs, which typically have the smallest number of motors in the lineup, and the most efficient wheels. If there is a single motor version of the iX3, I think that is the one that will be the "up to 400" they are referring to. And it will have wheels and tires that are ugly and that most people don't want. The first model released is not planned to be the most efficient version, and people will spec it so it is not the most efficient version of even that one.​

It is possible they will do something like Rivian does in the Tri, and disconnect one motor, leaving a single motor for more efficient driving. But even my Tri-motor does not achieve the same level of efficiency of the dual motor R1. It gets close, but not quite (per Rivian, anyway).

EPA requires testing in the default condition of the vehicle, so unless the iX3 defaults to single motor mode, it will have to be tested with both motors engaged. Which is not likely to be the most efficient configuration, and most likely not the one that hits 400 miles of EPA range.

Anyway, this horse is dead. Let's come back here after the real EPA results are released and see who ends up being right. I am not saying it is impossible for the iX3 to be rated at 400 miles EPA range, I am just very skeptical the first model released will be that one, and it will be in a configuration most people will want to buy.

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