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

[rbdavis808]

And we are driving those stupid EU cars here also. Lots of them.

Can we please get more of those stupid EU cars here in the US? Especially their small, affordable (and of course, really stupid) EVs.

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[DuoRivian]

Yes, it’s the “up to” wording that has me cautioned. Seems unnecessary to add if the range is 400 or 434 miles for the $60k trim. Maybe I’m just paranoid but I’ve seen this dog and pony show with many OEMs before. Thank you for sharing the info though. I hope BMW delivers!

Yes your paranoia has hit again. Look at the UK or Canadian configurators and the iX3 50 is the 400 mile (EPA) or 500 mile (WLTP) model that is a dual motor 0-60 4.6s with a range of around 400 mile. They are using up to because it has not been fully EPA confirmed. Sounds like more details are out 6th May so we should know then and your mind can be put at rest.
As others have said smaller battery versions are out next year.

Videos from the European event last November clearly show around 3.7 miles per low and it is a 118kW/h battery. That equates to over 400 miles but BMW is fairly conservative.

 

[mellowthecat]

BMW iX3 40 sdrive and xdrive both will start under $55k. The 50 xdrive with 400+ mile range starts at $60k.

Pulled from BMW press release:
"The first-ever BMW iX3 50 xDrive debuts in summer 2026 with a starting MSRP under $60,000 and an estimated range of up to 400 miles, followed in early 2027 by the iX3 40 sDrive and iX3 40 xDrive, both starting under $55,000 with ranges just over 300 miles."

Also supposedly the official EPA figure for 50 xdrive will be 434 miles. It was leaked on BMW site for a couple days.

Going to get myself on a list with the local BMW dealership today. I hate that I have to go through a dealership for the iX3, but I can't deny those numbers are compelling and more compelling than the R2 to be honest.

 

[tivoboy]

Going to get myself on a list with the local BMW dealership today. I hate that I have to go through a dealership for the iX3, but I can't deny those numbers are compelling and more compelling than the R2 to be honest.

I just hope the USA dealers don’t somehow jack up the local surcharges for a car like this.

 

[MaskedRacerX]

They seem to be leading in EV specs for the legacy brands. The new i3 with 440 miles and 400kw charging is another example.

It just leaked the new iX5 will have a 147kwh battery pack.

Holy shit, if our iX had that sized pack, given how it constantly beats the EPA spec, it would do 410-420 miles, with the more efficient iX5, that's over 450, and like real, regular driving, proper highway speeds.

 

[TexasBob]

They seem to be leading in EV specs for the legacy brands. The new i3 with 440 miles and 400kw charging is another example.

It just leaked the new iX5 will have a 147kwh battery pack.

Oh man... that sucks. I was just thinking I could ignore the iX5 which is half neue klasse and half CLAR. But with 400 miles of range I and going to have to take it seriously. hrumpf

 

[tivoboy]

Bjorn managed to drive the car ~ >540 miles, with the last 45 at sub 0% on the display, so >475 done regular driving.

 

[Great Gatsby]

I just hope the USA dealers don’t somehow jack up the local surcharges for a car like this.

They will. Specially while supply is limited. That alone has me not considering the iX3 as much as I realistically should. We've seen this with just about every coveted vehicle on release.

I fully expect stupid $10k-$25k markups while supply is hot.

 

[AlphaSnowbordergirl]

I was pointing out that the regulation is stupid and unnecessary. We can't make vehicles pedestrian proof. If you get hit by a 4,000 lbs vehicle, it is going to be bad. Should the government mandate foam on the front of all vehicles? Maybe they can put air bags on the front instead. Stupid. Accidents happen. We don't need to regulate everything.

The changes increase chances of survival. That's the point. The compromise is, we do a little regulation here to increase survival on these accidents, and you get to still drive a 4,000lbs weapon with 650 hp. And honestly, rolling back regulations during the Regan era led to a lot of issues we have now. You can't trust people will do the right thing. You can trust them to do the easy and/or profitable thing.

 

[mellowthecat]

They will. Specially while supply is limited. That alone has me not considering the iX3 as much as I realistically should. We've seen this with just about every coveted vehicle on release.

I fully expect stupid $10k-$25k markups while supply is hot.

You own a BMW, so you probably know better than me, but I would have thought with new car inventory at their highest level since pre-covid the markups would not be astronomical. I checked some of my local BMW dealerships and their inventory, and it looked like the markups on their EVs were in the $2 to $3K range

 

[Jeremy3292]

I just hope the USA dealers don’t somehow jack up the local surcharges for a car like this.

Yeah that is an issue for sure. Gunna be at least $65k from any dealer

 

[Jeremy3292]

I think the BMW iX5 is more of a direct competitor to the Rivian R2 than the iX3 is. The iX3 is so squished and wagon like the room and space has to be way worse than the R2. But BMW is going with this squished look now anyways which is disappointing.

 

[manitou202]

You own a BMW, so you probably know better than me, but I would have thought with new car inventory at their highest level since pre-covid the markups would not be astronomical. I checked some of my local BMW dealerships and their inventory, and it looked like the markups on their EVs were in the $2 to $3K range

Where are you seeing this? If anything, you can get BMW EVs (i4, iX) for well under MSRP.

If dealers markup the iX3 initially (most will not) it will end quickly as production ramps up. The two dealerships I've dealt with in the past have always been MSRP or less for all BMWs outside of some really rare limited edition models like the M3 CS. They just have a list, and you wait until it's your turn to order.

The fear of markups is way overblown.

 

[Great Gatsby]

You own a BMW, so you probably know better than me, but I would have thought with new car inventory at their highest level since pre-covid the markups would not be astronomical. I checked some of my local BMW dealerships and their inventory, and it looked like the markups on their EVs were in the $2 to $3K range

From my experience, marks ups have been what the market can bear. A $60kish, 400 mile EV is very attractive and has not really existed in the U.S. With current gas prices, I'm sure all they are foreseeing a line of buyers and limited supply in 2026, so I'm sure dealerships are salivating to line their pockets accordingly.

Toyota and Lexus were limiting their supply (IMO on purpose) of the new Sequoia and GX respectively a few years back which allowed dealership to add $10K-$15k to the asking price. It was absurd. My dad ran into the issue when the last generation Corvette was released and their was no inventory in sight.

It's an unfortunate feature of the dealership model. There is nothing stopping them from squeezing every last dollar of their latest, hottest vehicle. I have no stomach for it so if I see that behavior, I'm likely passing on the BMW and Volvo altogether for now.

 

[Great Gatsby]

Where are you seeing this? If anything, you can get BMW EVs (i4, iX) for well under MSRP.

If dealers markup the iX3 initially (most will not) it will end quickly as production ramps up. The two dealerships I've dealt with in the past have always been MSRP or less for all BMWs outside of some really rare limited edition models like the M3 CS. They just have a list, and you wait until it's your turn to order.

The fear of markups is way overblown.

It might vary by region. Mark ups a real thing, at least in the Southeast from my experience. I'll be more than happy to be wrong, but only time will tell.

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