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

[mellowthecat]

M Sport includes the basic driver assist package:

• Driving Assistant Plus with Distance Control, Forward Collision Mitigation, Active Blind Spot Detection, and Lane Keeping Assistant

Essentially emergency braking, lane keep, and radar cruise control.

Not sure if you can add the Driver Assist Professional Package after purchasing or not. I'm not a fan of it only lasting 4 years.

looks like the sport comes with it too. My question is, is it only 4 years though. My wife really wants this option

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[DuoRivian]

Impressive that there are four interior colors and all free and the paints are $650 - helps to close the gap with the R2. Also like that the glass roof is not expensive and can be optioned, like the upgraded stereo, by itself.

 

[macb00kemdanno]

434 mile range with 20-inch wheels and summer tires. 399 miles with 21-inch wheels and all season tires.

Very impressive. That should shut up the naysayers earlier in this thread.

 

[r2fb]

I really like the specs and the fact that you don't have to explain what it is a lot but that styling man....I can't get over how ugly they made it compared to last gen X3 which was peak BMW SUV styling for me. The M sport steering wheel is even uglier than the vertical spoke one, looks like 90's GM steering wheels. If the styling between this and the R2 (or anything normal like last gen bmw) was swapped I wouldn't even consider the R2 at all.

Still the battery and the range is very impressive, couldn't care less about self driving beyond regular L2 every car has

 

[Guuma]

iX3 - 30.4 cubic feet
iD.4 -30.3 cubic feet
R2 -28.7 cubic feet

Measured behind the rear seats

Those figures reinforce that then ix3, despite being noticably longer than the id4, doesn't really add much extra storage space. I watched Bjorn's banana box test and the ix3 was underwhelming. I know this isn't the end all be all for measuring, but it's helpful to see how the space can be used. I'll be curious how the Volvo and the R2 stack up. The more squared up trunk makes it seem more useful... Could just be in my head.

 

[TexasBob]

I really like the specs and the fact that you don't have to explain what it is a lot but that styling man....I can't get over how ugly they made it compared to last gen X3 which was peak BMW SUV styling for me. The M sport steering wheel is even uglier than the vertical spoke one, looks like 90's GM steering wheels. If the styling between this and the R2 (or anything normal like last gen bmw) was swapped I wouldn't even consider the R2 at all.

Still the battery and the range is very impressive, couldn't care less about self driving beyond regular L2 every car has

I know it is personal taste, but I have disliked the BMWs for years and the neue klasse language is the first time I've started liking them again

 

[TexasBob]

It is odd that the range numbers on the tires look like this:
20" Summer - 434
20" All Season - 383
21" All Season - 399
21" Staggered Summer - 398
22" Staggered Summer - 392

I wonder if 20" all-seasons are just a bad tire?

 

[Great Gatsby]

I really like the specs and the fact that you don't have to explain what it is a lot but that styling man....I can't get over how ugly they made it compared to last gen X3 which was peak BMW SUV styling for me. The M sport steering wheel is even uglier than the vertical spoke one, looks like 90's GM steering wheels. If the styling between this and the R2 (or anything normal like last gen bmw) was swapped I wouldn't even consider the R2 at all.

Still the battery and the range is very impressive, couldn't care less about self driving beyond regular L2 every car has

Yeah, I was ready to put a deposit down but the look is still giving me pause. I need to see it in person. Some angles just look terrible. Head on and the back have grown on me, but is has an odd profile and certain positions at an angle are kind of terrible. The trapezoid touchscreen is my main issue on the inside. They just do too much. I don't love the X3 design wise either, but better than this for sure. I own a F23 2 series and the exterior is beautiful. It is a car I enjoy looking at. I don't think I'll feel the same way about the iX3. I wish they just kept their design language from the early 2010s. Not too flashy, balanced, recognizably BMW and aesthetically pleasing overall. Once the revised 4 series came out, it has been mostly downhill design wise for BMW IMO

They are still making amazing cars though but the iX3 just poses the questions if specs can surpass a divisive design. For me, anyway. I think it will sell fine otherwise.

 

[mellowthecat]

It is odd that the range numbers on the tires look like this:
20" Summer - 434
20" All Season - 383
21" All Season - 399
21" Staggered Summer - 398
22" Staggered Summer - 392

I wonder if 20" all-seasons are just a bad tire?

I don't get this either. in theory those 20's AS should be going just as long as the 21's AS

 

[mr2]

too expensive and too slow. In 6 month BMW will do 10% off and subsidized leases.

 

[Jeremy3292]

So it seems like the $60k MSRP pricing was a joke as I thought. This ends up being way more expensive than the R2 it seems. $10-$15k more for the same features compared to R2 Premium at $54k. Obviously the big battery is the talking point for the higher price. I do very much appreciate the cheap pricing for paint and wheels though. Very reasonable on that end. Can't wait to see what Rivian charges.

 

[Zorg]

It's really $70k+ for a decently equipped car. As expected.

 

[blipit]

434 mile range with 20-inch wheels and summer tires. 399 miles with 21-inch wheels and all season tires.

Very impressive. That should shut up the naysayers earlier in this thread.

434 mile EPA is quite impressive.

In 6 month BMW will do 10% off and subsidized leases.

Yup, Once they are through early adopters. Typical BMW 10+% off plus any incentives will be the norm.

Even with the higher msrp. By end of year I bet lease payment is lower than similar spec R2(minus range of course).

 

[r2fb]

I don't love the X3 design wise either, but better than this for sure.

The current X3 is also incredibly ugly. I was talking about previous gen facelifted model 2022-2025. That was peak BMW

 

[TexasBob]

Updated range model based on all of the new data poured into the model with the R2 for reference.

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