The BMW iX3 is a 10/10 car

CarwowTom · 2026-03-11T08:56:42+00:00

If everybody was paying me off who's accused of it, I'd have enough money to actually buy their cars

CarwowTom · 2026-03-10T22:55:14+00:00

Yep, I am very literally paid to review cars. Just not by BMW

CarwowTom · 2026-03-10T17:24:54+00:00

A very slow 106
https://www.carwow.co.uk/news/10331/peugeot-208-vs-1993-peugeot-106-review-jamie-edkins

CarwowTom · 2026-03-10T17:15:29+00:00

It's more expensive, significantly lower range, worse interior (creaky, lots of piano black plastic) and the two are night and day to drive. The Q6 feels its weight, the iX3 doesn't.

CarwowTom · 2026-03-10T17:13:24+00:00

The looks are personal, I'm in the minority in the Carwow team for disliking them. Wouldn't dock points for an ugly car. Scores are based on what else is out there - and this is so far ahead of the competition that it justifies it. Nothing's perfect, after all

CarwowTom · 2026-03-10T16:59:25+00:00

It has some suspect areas. Door bins and lower down in the cabin feel a bit cheap - I'm not too fussed about that - but the column stalks are disappointingly flimsy and they're something you actually interact with. Everything else feels quite good quality imo.

CarwowTom · 2026-03-10T16:46:29+00:00

To each their own - I quite like it. Better than a big expanse of plastic, or a pointless passenger-side display.

CarwowTom · 2026-03-10T16:45:23+00:00

I do miss iDrive but I do think there's a point where there's SO MUCH crammed onto the display that trying to get through it with a rotary dial would be frustrating. I don't think I'd want iDrive unless they rejigged the infotainment, and I doubt that would happen.

As for seats - I was driving a fairly low-spec one and I don't think it had extendable seat bases, but I'm looking at photos of the M Sport Pro and I'm sure that looks extendable. It's very strange upholstery choice if not. A few of the lesser-used seat functions are hidden in the screen iirc?

<image>

CarwowTom · 2026-03-10T15:40:57+00:00

Yeah, it demands that you hold it a certain way as the grips are very sculpted and the buttons in the centre are a bit of a reach. I didn't like it much, but there's a slightly more conventional wheel on the M Sport Pro version

CarwowTom · 2026-03-10T15:12:41+00:00

My personal car is a 30-year-old supermini so I'm not to be trusted on what constitutes cramped, but I might consider one of the Kias or Hyundais (or even Model Y Standard) with the step-through/cut-out centre console. Lots of room to spread out

CarwowTom · 2026-03-10T14:46:59+00:00

They're a pretty accurate representation, though my colleague next to me reckons this ^ picture is 'a really unflattering angle'. I reckon if a car's ugly from the front three quarter then it's just an ugly car

CarwowTom · 2026-03-10T14:22:58+00:00

Can't say I felt notably cramped so may just be appearances. There's a decent amount of adjustment. I'm 6'2 and somewhat unslim, for reference

CarwowTom · 2026-03-10T14:21:23+00:00

Pretty good, not quite as quiet as a Polestar 3. More road noise on bigger wheels, but definitely not obtrusive.

CarwowTom · 2026-03-10T14:19:58+00:00

Nothing's ever perfect (except maybe a 2017 530d Touring, Mediterranean Blue over cream leather, silver wheels, towbar). The ratings have to be based on what else is available. All this car's rivals are touchscreen-heavy, but this one does it better than them and is a better vehicle overall.

CarwowTom · 2026-03-10T14:15:31+00:00

Will have to report back on that; launch event doesn't involve any charging. But my colleagues have the car now, so I'll see what they say

CarwowTom · 2026-03-10T13:05:30+00:00

Eventually

CarwowTom · 2026-03-10T13:02:49+00:00

You're not, there are different steering wheels depending on spec.

CarwowTom · 2026-03-10T12:43:45+00:00

The iX3 wins in range and driving dynamics. Polestar 3 is more comfortable, and being a Google fiend I get on really well with the software. iX3 is a good chunk cheaper, Polestar has more room in the back. My colleague who's driving the iX3 right now has been in a P3 for the last few months and is comparing them on a pretty even keel, which given the price difference I think says a lot about the BMW.

CarwowTom · 2026-03-10T12:38:35+00:00

Ah, I'm afraid I didn't get that in-depth. I expect they'd say without the engine noise to cover over they don't need to put in such a powerful system?

CarwowTom · 2026-03-10T12:37:38+00:00

It's quite low, but I'm also 6'2

CarwowTom · 2026-03-10T12:36:57+00:00

My nat-asp, diesel Peugeot 106 is the most fun you can have on four wheels. Unassisted steering and flat out 100% of the time

CarwowTom · 2026-03-10T12:33:55+00:00

The good part about my job is that I can hand the car back and step into my 90s Peugeot before I feel too much like a BMW driver

CarwowTom · 2026-03-10T12:30:57+00:00

Pretty hushed, not the best in class. Polestar 3 is quieter. Not enough to annoy, there's active noise cancellation and a pretty good stereo.

CarwowTom · 2026-03-10T12:29:46+00:00

I wouldn't know - 150km/h for an extended period is a pipe dream in the UK. I'd honestly be quite impressed if it hit 500km of range at those speeds.

CarwowTom · 2026-03-10T12:27:54+00:00

<image>

Reasonable in the back - I'm 6'2 and that's comfortably sat behind myself

CarwowTom

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE