The best BMW iX3 SUV car review

The best BMW iX3 SUV lease deals

The UK’s automotive market is now awash with some great choice SUVs for our personal and business leasing customers to consider as their next eco car. Indeed, some are now finding it difficult to select the right option - should we (or the business) prioritise the range of the vehicle, the charging capability, the aesthetics or the price?

With pure electric cars, there are added facets to consider in conjunction with a suitability assessment. While some of those first-time EV customers may be concerned, all of these relevant tools are set out on our e-car lease website free of charge. These simply, and accurately, help any customer identify everything they need to know before committing to a deal. And getting to grips with this now is ever more important, with a swathe of great crossover and 4x4 type vehicles due in 2022 and 2023.

Before we discuss the iX3, it may be worth noting that BMW announced a brand-new EV to their product suite - the iX1 . This new smaller SUV will be based on the X1 platform and now features on the BMW website for reservations. But will the iX1 have a good range? The usable 64.7 kWh lithium-ion battery will offer just under 200 miles in colder climates with warmer temperatures making way for 265 miles of driving on a full charge.

The 11 kW AC charging rate allows for 7 hour 0 - 100% charging times with the 130 kW DC rapid charge facilities allowing 30-minute 10 - 80% charging times. And not unlike its bigger iX3, this new compact SUV will allow for 0 - 62 times of 5.7 seconds, top speeds of 112mph and power of 230 kW (or 308hp).

Not unlike their other brands, this will be launched with a Sport / xLine / M Sport. While we will cover more in our BMW iX1 lease deals section, it is worth noting that the BEV format is not yet available to order and is only anticipated to be fully-customisable for an order towards the end of 2022. But for a customer who might need a zero-emission BMW but considers the iX3 too big, this could be the ideal solution.

But is the BMW iX3 the leading electric SUV / Crossover in the UK?

But what is the iX3 - is it bigger than an X3? The iX3 is just a fully-electric X3, so in terms of space and looks, the two propositions are almost identical. Unlike Tesla with their Model Y competition, the external and internal aesthetics are somewhat familiar (and European).

While Tesla are recognised as being the foremost manufacturer of electric car solutions, some customers find their appearance to be bland and austere, which is why options like the BMW are so popular. But it isn’t just Tesla who are an alternative; you also have the Audi e-tron, Mercedes EQC and Jaguar I-Pace to consider for you or the fleet. The “there isn’t enough choice for electric vehicles” statement just doesn’t have any credence anymore. If anything, customers have too much choice!

But what makes the perfect EV and will the iX3 fulfil this? As at June 2022, our industry is facing some interesting challenges relating to parts shortage, microchip shortages, rising fuel costs and energy prices. Customers are having to re-think what their vehicle choice will be and how this will fit into their lifestyle. The e-car lease team are seeing more interaction and investigation within our website, as many consumers are seeking to get to grips with the value (or lack of value) which a BEV may offer. And while business customers have slightly different company car tax and Whole of Life considerations compared to our PCH customers, there are some shared observations which everyone must consider:

Range - how far will the car travel on a full charge - this is often one of the first queries which many customers have. But in providing an answer, we make it clear that there never is just ONE RANGE to use. The way in which an EV will perform will depend on driving conditions, external temperature and behaviours. For example colder climates, higher speeds and harsh acceleration will exhaust the battery far more than careful driving in warmer temperatures. For some cars, the difference between the lowest and highest possible range can be seismic. Taking the iX3, this will cover around 170 miles on a motorway in colder weather compared to the 235 miles in urban conditions. In warmer climates this increases to 215 miles on a motorway and 345 miles in cities. Remember that a battery will operate more efficiently in warmer weather. Using our “Living with your …” tools you can clearly see these for each BEV we offer;
Charging Capability - as important (if not more) is the charging capability of an EV. Each vehicle will allow for both AC and DC Charging; effectively AC will reflect charging at home or work with the DC reflecting destination and service station rapid chargers. Not all EVs are equal and so for those customers who are likely to charge away from home / work, we do stress that charging capability and speed is something which needs careful consideration. In our Electric Vehicle Comparison tools we set out the rapid charge capabilities for each EV to lease on our website in highest to lowest order. For the iX3 this can charge at 11 kW AC for 8 hour 0 - 100% charge times with the measured 155 kW DC rapid charge allowing for 30 minute 10 - 80% charge times. But as technology is increasing we are seeing better rapid charge capabilities, with the Genesis, Tesla and Kia EV6 SUV options capable of 200 kW DC+. Why is rapid charge so important? If your car is capable of 15 minute 10 - 80% charge times, this is somewhat more convenient than 30 - 40 minute experiences!
Energy Efficiency - while range and charging are key EV metrics, the “efficiency” of the vehicle is also worth consideration. Because of vehicle weight, size, aerodynamics and battery quality, the miles per kWh you can achieve from each vehicle will vary. For example, a Tesla Model 3 is stated to offer 4.1 miles for every kWh compared to the iX3 with 3.2 miles for every kWh. In some ways, this is a good comparison for your BEVs in the same way MPG is used for combustion options. This is where we educate customers with our unique charge cost tools and cost per mile, as we set out exactly what your vehicle will cost in energy throughout the contract. With our website, and expert team, able to provide finance and maintenance figures, we are able to predict the Whole of Life costs on the arrangement except for the motor insurance and the charge point solution. Please note that we currently work with RightCharge and we can introduce you, or the business, to them for a charge point solution; and
Price - not every EV will cost you the same per month. Because of the way in which the contract hire and leasing market operates, much of what we offer on the website is priced according to the purchase value (less any discounts), Residual Value (RV) and any other offer or incentive we can utilise. To enable an instant quotation, we allow the customer to select a 2, 3 or 4 year term with mileages of between 5,000 to 20,000 per annum and with varied initial rental / deposit options. Because of the current market in 2022, limited supply is leading to lower discounts and higher costs but there is still some variation between the different options available in the UK.

Ready to lease your iX3? Whether you need something in stock or if you wish to bespoke a factory order deal, just get in touch with the e-car lease experts. As we only lease EVs, our website and team can offer comparison vehicles in conjunction with some of the most robust information for ensuring this is a suitable transport solution.

BMW iX3-E Electric Estate 210KW M Sport Pro 80kWh 5dr Auto (Pure Electric Vehicle)

In terms of the car shown, the BMW iX3-E Electric Estate 210KW M Sport Pro 80kWh 5dr Auto (Pure Electric Vehicle), this is based on the following configuration:

Sophisto Grey Metallic paint
Vernasca leather - Oyster with grey stitching
Aluminium rhombicle with pearl chrome interior trim
20" M aerodynamic alloy wheels in M bicolour style 890
Mode 3 charging cable (Suitable for Public charging and home wallbox charger – Fast charging)

BMW-iX3 E-Electric Estate 210KW M Sport Pro 80kWh 5dr Auto Electric Car Leasing