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

[Eric9610]

Same. We passed on an R1S, a few reasons, but the primary one was what you say below:



100%. SC location is a major consideration. We're in St. Augustine, the closest has been Orlando, won't do 2+ hours. A couple of things changed though, 1) getting a SC in St. Johns County (I think in the Costco area near WGV) and b) we're likely relocating to Orlando.

It's funny, we took in our iX for service, minor fix and general service check, and even the 45 minutes to the closest BMW service center was a little far (it wound up being fun, it was Xmas Eve, no questions asked, they handed over a new iX as a loaner for as long as they had ours).




It's super interesting, but specifically the upcoming M flavor looks to be a little beast. We love our iX, easily top 2 or 3 vehicles we've owned (of 20+ in the last 20 or so years), and realize the iX3 is technically a lower tier, so the final product will make a big difference.

We'd love to pivot and try an R2, love the size, love having something that's "curb proof" (like our Wrangler), won't have SC concerns being < 15 minutes from two in the Orlando area, but on a real wait-and-see.

We also have air suspension in the iX, and after having that, I don't know if I can go back so if the iX3 or R2 don't do it for us, we'll be taking delivery of another iX inearly '27 (M70 this time )

iX will be discontinued when the iX3 is out.

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[DuoRivian]

iX will be discontinued when the iX3 is out.

Is that confirmed since it is the larger vehicle. Maybe an overlap of a model year or two?

 

[macb00kemdanno]

Yeah back in 2015 when we got our first Tesla, the only reason we committed to it was because of the service center 20 min from our house.
Once I find out Rivian built a service center right by the Tesla SC, I felt comfortable buying one.

no way would I own a brand new manufacturer car that I have to drive hours to get serviced

Same. Here in NC, our previous option was to drive to Richmond, VA, or to Atlanta, GA, for Rivian service. Now, they have a service center in Knightdale, NC (about 25 minutes from me) and another they're opening, I think, in Greensboro (about 1.5 hours from me). There's also one in Charlotte, NC that recently opened.

I would still have to travel out of state to Virginia to pick up the new car — because NC won't allow anyone other than Tesla (grandfathered) to sell EVs directly in the state — but that's not as bad as making a 6-hour round trip for service.

 

[MaskedRacerX]

iX will be discontinued when the iX3 is out.

Is that confirmed since it is the larger vehicle. Maybe an overlap of a model year or two?

The iX, according to internal communications (that have made their way online), indicate there will be a MY27, and also showed the EOP for the I20 platform (only used by the iX) as 06/28.

Based on that - and what’s been the general consensus on most BMW sites I frequent - you will have both the iX and iX3 available in overlapping model years, in fact, there might even be a little overlap with the upcoming iX5, which is the intended iX replacement (in terms of size, market segment).

 

[macb00kemdanno]

Pics of the Volvo now out... looks "clinical"

https://www.thedrive.com/news/2027-...-with-400-mile-range-and-reasonable-price-tag

 

[mkg3]

I find this comparison bit odd.

Yes IX3, EX60 and R2 are similar in size and are all EV-SUVs.; however they appeal to very different market segments.

BMW = sporty performance vehicle ("the ultimate driving machine")
Volvo = safety first vehicle
Rivian = Adventure lifestyle vehicle

If anything, BMW and Rivian cross shopping probably makes more sense than BMW and Volvo..

Maybe I've been around so long that the legacy image of these brand is tinting my views....

 

[Sportstick]

I find this comparison bit odd.

Yes IX3, EX60 and R2 are similar in size and are all EV-SUVs.; however they appeal to very different market segments.

BMW = sporty performance vehicle ("the ultimate driving machine")
Volvo = safety first vehicle
Rivian = Adventure lifestyle vehicle

If anything, BMW and Rivian cross shopping probably makes more sense than BMW and Volvo..

Maybe I've been around so long that the legacy image of these brand is tinting my views....

Once there is similarlity in size and price, some degree of initial cross-consideration is a natural fallout as potential buyers then find the vehicle that best aligns with their use case and personal preferences. I don't go on "adventures" beyond driving around our city and am not sure what I need to do to in my vehicle to have a "lifestyle", but Rivian has the right size overall package for me to consider with R2. I am quite flexible on design elements (although glad to see Volvo turned the center screen to landscape.) I am absolutely cross-considering all three mentioned, as although price is not personally relevant, this is the size I want and need. My first filter isn't brand image or 0-60 performance or what anyone else thinks about my brand choice, but rather battery technology. Any vehicles only using NMC/NMA and not offering LFP fall off my list. After that, a test drive, and I'll know which, if any, to take home.

 

[derekmw]

I find this comparison bit odd.

Yes IX3, EX60 and R2 are similar in size and are all EV-SUVs.; however they appeal to very different market segments.

BMW = sporty performance vehicle ("the ultimate driving machine")
Volvo = safety first vehicle
Rivian = Adventure lifestyle vehicle

If anything, BMW and Rivian cross shopping probably makes more sense than BMW and Volvo..

Maybe I've been around so long that the legacy image of these brand is tinting my views....

I think the ones who buy based on those definitions is much smaller than it used to. BMW - yes some buy it for the sporty performance - but I would say the vast majority buy it for the looks/image it portrays.

I think the same is for Rivian too. Many 'wish' they had this active adventure lifestyle - and buy into the Rivian image - but in reality may never (or only once or twice) actually do something outdoor-sy with it. Only a small percentage of the Rivian owners are going to actually do those types of activity in their vehicles.

I may be wrong but that's what I feel I see around here in SoCal. I use mine for surfing every morning - but that doesn't even feel much like 'adventure lifestyle' since all I do is drive to the beach paved parking lot and surf

 

[Sportstick]

I may be wrong but that's what I feel I see around here in SoCal. I use mine for surfing every morning - but that doesn't even feel much like 'adventure lifestyle' since all I do is drive to the beach paved parking lot and surf

Indeed! Once we past the fantasy advertising and online marketing videos, the reality for the majority is that the "adventure" is how many oversized Costco packages can fit in the cargo area. That's real life, not a "style".

 

[DuoRivian]

Pics of the Volvo now out... looks "clinical"

Volvo shot themselves in the foot with the P10 model being AWD and 320 mile range starting at $60k when the BMW iX3 50 will start very close to that but with 400 mile range. Volvo has a P12 model for 2027 which has 400 mile range but no price listed.

 

[macb00kemdanno]

Looks like they have an off-roadish "Cross Country" version

 

[Virtio]

I'm glad to see Dirac on the EX60. Should have decent sound. Anxious to see the specs on the R2 sound system. The R1 system could be better.

 

[macb00kemdanno]

I find this comparison bit odd.

Yes IX3, EX60 and R2 are similar in size and are all EV-SUVs.; however they appeal to very different market segments.

BMW = sporty performance vehicle ("the ultimate driving machine")
Volvo = safety first vehicle
Rivian = Adventure lifestyle vehicle

If anything, BMW and Rivian cross shopping probably makes more sense than BMW and Volvo..

Maybe I've been around so long that the legacy image of these brand is tinting my views....

Who are we kidding? These are all glorified grocery-getter/kids carpool/everyday transport vehicles.

My only reason for reserving the R2 was that I want a Model Y-sized EV that isn't a Model Y. But now we have two new entries that look even better to me (on paper). I don't go off-road, so on-road ride/handling, better efficiency, and a 400-mile range are more appealing to me.

 

[NY_Rob]

Some like me need a vehicle that can also tow a moderate load, in my case a 20ft boat weighing about 3,500lbs. Even if they were somehow rated for that load, there's no way I would consider launching & retrieving our boat on a slippery salt water ramp (where the rear wheels are always partially submerged in salt water for the launch add retrieval) with the BMW or Volvo. The R2 should have no problems with the above task.

To that end, I really wish they would release the tow ratings for the R2 sooner rather than later. My WAG is it's going to be 5,000lbs because of the tire and brake size.

 

[Sportstick]

Volvo shot themselves in the foot with the P10 model being AWD and 320 mile range starting at $60k when the BMW iX3 50 will start very close to that but with 400 mile range. Volvo has a P12 model for 2027 which has 400 mile range but no price listed.

No foot-shot at all. If it's LFP, I'll take it happily for other reasons. I don't need even 300 miles of range and rear wheel drive would have been fine as well. What the BMW offers is superfluous for my/some needs but they are limited to NMC batteries only, so Volvo>BMW for now. Let's see what the R2 final specs turn out to be.

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