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

[DuoRivian]

Folks on this thread keep saying $60k iX3--have you ever configured and bought a BMW? $60k will absolutely not be a fully loaded 650hp version that is equivalent to the LE R2 Performance in features. There will be more than a $10k difference when comparing apples to apples. The $60k price will probably not even be spec'ed to R2 Premium.

No one has said it will be the same spec and the Premium vs Performance is the same equipment, just different suspension and more power.
The BMW is lower spec (no glass roof, no rear heated seats or filled front seats) but then has much greater range and charging speed. So people can choose what is inporrant to them.
Volvo is well specified and comparable to the Premium for spec (with 21 speaker system so maybe even higher spec) and has the power in the P10 model equivalent to the Premium. So yes Volvo and BMW are $5k or so more expensive. Let’s see how much paint and interior color options are since the gap could reduce depending upon what you want.

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[VegasWeezy]

Folks on this thread keep saying $60k iX3--have you ever configured and bought a BMW? $60k will absolutely not be a fully loaded 650hp version that is equivalent to the LE R2 Performance in features. There will be more than a $10k difference when comparing apples to apples. The $60k price will probably not even be spec'ed to R2 Premium.

I can only base it on the listed prices on the BMW UK site, along with configuring it to my liking with options and pricing. I can also only assume, as has been stated by several people previously, that pricing in the US is roughly equivalent to the listed prices in the UK.

From the BMW UK website, the listed base prices are:
iX3 50 xDrive: $58,755
iX3 50 xDrive M Sport: $61,255
iX3 50 xDrive M Sport Pro: $62,755

After configuring each trim to my liking (paint, interior, wheels, etc.), the prices are:
iX3 50 xDrive: $61,155
iX3 50 xDrive M Sport: $62,555
iX3 50 xDrive M Sport Pro: $63,955

Base pricing and options may vary when it arrives in the US. But based on the above analysis, the "around $60k" description is pretty accurate. And the options don't push the price astronomically, but a similar like for like performance (M Sport Pro) with even more options selected than those I chose, could push the price to the $65-70k range.

 

[mr2]

many people lease their cars and it's where BMW always has an advantage - IX3 after initial hype will be available for ...$700/month, while Model Y P is 900+/month. and R2 probably will be 900 /m as well

 

[windblowlc]

many people lease their cars and it's where BMW always has an advantage - IX3 after initial hype will be available for ...$700/month, while Model Y P is 900+/month. and R2 probably will be 900 /m as well

When R1S lease is $899 there's little chance R2 will be $900.

 

[MaskedRacerX]

Folks on this thread keep saying $60k iX3--have you ever configured and bought a BMW?

Yep. We're on our 4th one

Also, as mentioned above, BMW leases are generally stellar, so you almost get an effective extra $10K-15K in "leasing power" over other makes (like Rivian).

 

[TexasBob]

Just saw this on Inside EVs. It is the result of the Consumer Reports 70 mph range test.

(FWIW I do not put a lot of weight on the CR reviews but this is just a test so...)

 

[mr2]

Example offer: New 2026 R1S Dual with Large battery with a vehicle price of $83,990, a monthly lease payment of $1,029, and $8,924 DUE AT SIGNING.

Amount due at signing includes $7,000 capitalized cost reduction (incl. $500 deposit), first mo. payment, $895 acquisition fee, and $0 security deposit.

$1029/month effectively is $1400 per month counting all fees. BMW leases $120K IX for $999.

 

[MaskedRacerX]

Example offer: New 2026 R1S Dual with Large battery with a vehicle price of $83,990, a monthly lease payment of $1,029, and $8,924 DUE AT SIGNING.

Amount due at signing includes $7,000 capitalized cost reduction (incl. $500 deposit), first mo. payment, $895 acquisition fee, and $0 security deposit.

$1029/month effectively is $1400 per month counting all fees. BMW leases $120K IX for $999.

Yeah, our '24 iX was right at a $100K MSRP, lease was $0 down, ~$815/month for 36 (10K/year) with tax

 

[Bullwinkle]

Yep. We're on our 4th one

Also, as mentioned above, BMW leases are generally stellar, so you almost get an effective extra $10K-15K in "leasing power" over other makes (like Rivian).

Car Wow review is pretty middling.

 

[VegasWeezy]

Car Wow review is pretty middling.

That's funny, because my take away was that he was actually very impressed with the iX3. He had some minor gripes about it, and didn't love the exterior design, but overall gave it a really positive review.

The interesting bit in his review was about the efficiency. His efficiency was quite bad and way below the stated or expected efficiency of the iX3. Every other reviewer that I've seen live with the car for a bit, has reported the opposite. The others seemed quite pleased with the efficiency and range. Very odd.

 

[Bullwinkle]

That's funny, because my take away was that he was actually very impressed with the iX3. He had some minor gripes about it, and didn't love the exterior design, but overall gave it a really positive review.

The interesting bit in his review was about the efficiency. His efficiency was quite bad and way below the stated or expected efficiency of the iX3. Every other reviewer that I've seen live with the car for a bit, has reported the opposite. The others seemed quite pleased with the efficiency and range. Very odd.

I agree...just a little less glowing than some of the other reviews

 

[DuoRivian]

I agree...just a little less glowing than some of the other reviews

What will be interesting is reviewers like himself, MKBHD and Doug who will review the R2, iX3 and EX60 what is their relative ranking and do they all agree one of these is the best.

 

[TexasBob]

Long story but Rivian has our Dune in for a week (!) to repair some no-recall / recall having to do with the coolant system. So they gave me a new 2026 BMW flagship X7 40 to drive (Enterprise). Well this is the first time I have ever spent any time in a BMW X (since I sold my hated 540 back in 2005). So I was excited to take the wheel.

My verdict after one day: What an unmitigated, irredeemable P... O... S...

BMW should be embarrassed to put this cr@p on the road. It rides like a floaty boat that reminds me of a 1977 Pontiac Bonniville I owned once at a particularly bad financial season long ago. It cannot handle parking lot speed bumps. The brakes suck, coming to a head jarring stop. The software is... OMG awful. The android auto competes with the BMW stack. It is half-assed physical and touchscreen - they actually managed to achieve the worst of both worlds. It is stupidly underpowered and unresponsive (ICE, what can you say). The ADAS does not even have acc. It is the 1970s plain old cruise control, no kidding. The cabin design is 1975 old man chic. The windows and pano roof are freaking magnifying glass heating systems with zero heat rejecting film and the AC cannot keep up. I mean who buys this mess?

All I have to say is, having spent the past few months very excited and promoting the Neue Klasse ix3 and iX5 and M3, is if this is any indication of the cr@p they put out, they can keep it and no amount of fast charging and long range will ever help make it into my garage. I would be embarrassed to own this and it is going back tomorrow. I am going to swap it for a Camry or something.

 

[DuoRivian]

Long story but Rivian has our Dune in for a week (!) to repair some no-recall / recall having to do with the coolant system. So they gave me a new 2026 BMW flagship X7 40 to drive (Enterprise). Well this is the first time I have ever spent any time in a BMW X (since I sold my hated 540 back in 2005). So I was excited to take the wheel.

My verdict after one day: What an unmitigated, irredeemable P... O... S...

BMW should be embarrassed to put this cr@p on the road. It rides like a floaty boat that reminds me of a 1977 Pontiac Bonniville I owned once at a particularly bad financial season long ago. It cannot handle parking lot speed bumps. The brakes suck, coming to a head jarring stop. The software is... OMG awful. The android auto competes with the BMW stack. It is half-assed physical and touchscreen - they actually managed to achieve the worst of both worlds. It is stupidly underpowered and unresponsive (ICE, what can you say). The ADAS doe not even have acc. It is the 1970s plain old cruise control no kidding. The cabin design is 1975 old man chic. The windows and pano roof are freaking magnifying glass heating systems with zero heat rejecting film. I mean who buys this mess?

All I have to say is, having spent the past few months very excited and promoting the Neue klasse ix3 and iX5 and M3, is if this is any indication of the crap they put out, they can keep it and no amount of fast charging and long range will ever help make it into my garage. I would be embarrassed to own this and it is going back tomorrow. I am going to swap it for a Camry or something.

Not sure you can compare a several year old (design wise) large ICE SUV with a new, smaller EV SUV.

 

[Great Gatsby]

Long story but Rivian has our Dune in for a week (!) to repair some no-recall / recall having to do with the coolant system. So they gave me a new 2026 BMW flagship X7 40 to drive (Enterprise). Well this is the first time I have ever spent any time in a BMW X (since I sold my hated 540 back in 2005). So I was excited to take the wheel.

My verdict after one day: What an unmitigated, irredeemable P... O... S...

BMW should be embarrassed to put this cr@p on the road. It rides like a floaty boat that reminds me of a 1977 Pontiac Bonniville I owned once at a particularly bad financial season long ago. It cannot handle parking lot speed bumps. The brakes suck, coming to a head jarring stop. The software is... OMG awful. The android auto competes with the BMW stack. It is half-assed physical and touchscreen - they actually managed to achieve the worst of both worlds. It is stupidly underpowered and unresponsive (ICE, what can you say). The ADAS doe not even have acc. It is the 1970s plain old cruise control no kidding. The cabin design is 1975 old man chic. The windows and pano roof are freaking magnifying glass heating systems with zero heat rejecting film. I mean who buys this mess?

All I have to say is, having spent the past few months very excited and promoting the Neue klasse ix3 and iX5 and M3, is if this is any indication of the crap they put out, they can keep it and no amount of fast charging and long range will ever help make it into my garage. I would be embarrassed to own this and it is going back tomorrow. I am going to swap it for a Camry or something.

It is also downright tight inside for a vehicle of its size. I considered it briefly but after sitting in one for all of 3 minutes, the decision was made to skip it. Really does not feel a flagship SUV.

I do think the NK vehicles are a step in the right direction and actually utilize the space provided on a dedicated EV architecture. Hopefully we see this pay dividends in the iX5, but only time will tell. They are also using brand new software for these NK vehicles in line with other software defined vehicles.

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