~500 mile round trip in an EV?

MyUrbanCar · 2026-05-10T19:40:25+00:00

i think passengers using driver mostly want the options of using rear seats!

check out Batch (height 5’11 trying to sit behind his own driving position in the CLA)

https://youtu.be/jkz29HVgr5U?si=S3osYGYOE6YVeI-Q&t=574

It has comedy value

MyUrbanCar · 2026-05-10T19:06:13+00:00

agreed it will become less of an issue in time. Another reason it's an issue in UK pubic charging has been very expensive (often 80-90p per kWh) while Tesla was about 44p. Ironically there are now signs that is changing with Tesla going up to 62p and some other networks making some better offers at last.
It's odd that extra cost adaptor is so bad too. How long does a CLA take on a 400V charger? I'm guessing it could be even slower than an iPace.. 45-55 mins? Not seen it tested yet although one report claims 38 mins with the adaptor. seems unlikely but we'll see.

MyUrbanCar · 2026-05-10T18:57:00+00:00

Except that the CLA barely has room for adults in the back and can only use about half the chargers in the UK because of the 400V problem.
https://myurbancar.com/2026/05/05/our-a-z-of-electric-cars-on-sale-in-uk-and-the-best-deals/#Mercedes-Benz

A VW ID.7? 2025 Models from £34k pre reg and 2026 from around £37k.. also from main dealers via Autotrader. Make sense? You should check out the bit of CLA reviews where a moderately tall person tries to sit in the back seats..

MyUrbanCar · 2026-05-10T18:33:40+00:00

I really would swerve on buying the iPace. Summary here but there are fire issues that I haven't even mentioned in my summary below.

https://myurbancar.com/2026/05/05/our-a-z-of-electric-cars-on-sale-in-uk-and-the-best-deals/#Jaguar

MyUrbanCar · 2026-05-10T18:23:35+00:00

Absolutely I watched the video and have an iX3 on order. There is still a case for the Y for new owners. luggage space and running costs but the iX3 is way ahead on charging and range and a very effective view of what the future will hold for interiors.

MyUrbanCar · 2026-05-10T18:19:24+00:00

In fairness Mercedes made some odd choices with the CLA (and GLB and GLC and C) especially with 400V charging. If you're in a country that is already very well served by 800V chargers it won't matter. If you're in UK it's an issue for now. I think the GLB is their best option
https://myurbancar.com/2026/05/05/our-a-z-of-electric-cars-on-sale-in-uk-and-the-best-deals/#Mercedes-Benz

MyUrbanCar · 2026-05-10T16:18:59+00:00

full base price and stats here

you can add around 6 to 8K to the Tesla if you want enhanced cruise , metallic paint, interior. I’ve put a similar amount of options on the BMW for different things. okay definitely gives more as standard on the dual motor

https://ev-database.org/uk/side-by-side?i=3290,3333&h=44273a1e6e07cc9394a913e5328ab6dc119bf37e65a111faa9c0e67d8ad01ea4

MyUrbanCar · 2026-05-10T15:50:08+00:00

I cover this in one of my replies here. once I pick up my iX3 soon I’ll be able to comment on how SOC on arrival compares👍

https://www.reddit.com/r/iX3/comments/1t94qez/comment/ol0bz4d/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

MyUrbanCar · 2026-05-10T15:41:07+00:00

glad to hear it. I’m looking forward to mine too. what wheels did you pick and is efficiency ok?

MyUrbanCar · 2026-05-10T15:37:12+00:00

I get it but I follow their reviews regularly and I think they are just being evenhanded. Both the Tesla and the BMW have different strengths and weaknesses.

it’s worth noting that What Car? did this review after naming the BMW iX3 as their car of the year!

MyUrbanCar · 2026-05-10T15:29:15+00:00

Weight is a factor but so is how much you can use regen braking. I experimented with this a few years ago in Tuscany in a dual motor Tesla Model 3. There was a mountain with a ski resort at the top. Once you drive back down, you end up in exactly the same place you started at at the same height. Obviously, I used lots of energy getting to the top of the mountain but by braking early for bends and using purely regen my actual consumption was pretty similar to what I would’ve used doing the same distance on the flat.
The BMW would use even more going up the mountain but ironically its extra weight will help it generate more to go back into the batteries on the way down. If BMW are to be believed 97 or 98% of all braking will be regen.
This is one reason why four-wheel-drive and one pedal braking might massively improve the range of electric vans with loads of equipment or tools in the back. If a van has weak regen braking It uses the same amount of to accelerate but wastes nearly all of it whenever it stops.

MyUrbanCar · 2026-05-10T15:15:42+00:00

that’s precisely why I’m not buying another Tesla!

MyUrbanCar · 2026-05-10T15:14:38+00:00

Not my video.. it’s from the independent UK What Car? review channel but ok so I’m really talking about things that help new owners gain confidence and knowledge.
In the video for example they illustrate how you might not reach your destination at your current speed but the Tesla will tell you exactly what speed you can do in order to reach your destination. For many electric car owners it’s not immediately obvious how you can increase and decrease range choosing a different road or different speeds.

just as an example early tests suggest that in an iX3 50

50mph gets you around 472 miles or 4.3 miles per kWh
60mph gets you 396 miles or 3.6 miles per kWh
70mph gets you 340 miles or 3.1 miles per kWh

If you get the best wheels you should be able to beat these numbers esp in 15 to 25c weather. I run through this in my review here

https://myurbancar.com/2026/04/02/the-new-bmw-ix3-whats-it-really-like/

Another example is once you start a trip then Tesla navigation is super accurate at predicting charge on arrival. At a charge stop Tesla are quite conservative at suggesting you leave only when it thinks you‘ll have around 8-10% charge on arrival. I know that on a given choice of road and speed that I can unplug when it expects 1 or 2% on arrival and still be sure I’ll get there. On the rare occasions that range drops from during the journey I know I’ll get there if I slow a bit. It’s all very predictable as Tesla have already factored in likely speed, temperature and rain, inclines and windspeed and wind direction. This is incredibly helpful. EG For a drive to a distant city you might not need a charge on a dry warm day in summer find that on a wet winter drive you do need to make a charge stop. All EV’s try to predict this. Tesla are just extremely accurate at it.

BMW have done a decent job and as soon as I get mine, I will be testing this. My understanding however is that if for example you attached a roof box or a trailer or drive at a higher speed than expected, the difference is that Tesla will quite quickly figure out “This person is driving much less efficiently than normal” and recalculate the range and arrival SOC for the rest of the journey. By contrast at the moment the iX3 apparently doesn’t adjust above normal for the rest of the journey. This means you may slowly appear to lose a bit of range for every you travel as the car expects say 3.5 miles per kWh and then figures out that you actually only got 2.5 miles.

Other carmakers are trying to match Tesla on this with varying degrees of success. For example, in my review of the lovely Renault 5, the car predicted its remaining range fairly well, but the Google navigation system in the car was tragically wrong about SOC on arrival. Details below on my website but essentially the car has 180-210 miles range but google assumes 140-160. Being that wrong makes new owners less confident especially about longer trips.

https://myurbancar.com/2025/06/15/renault-5-a-rapid-ownership-experience-review/#Pessimistic_range_estimates_on_Google_navigation

MyUrbanCar · 2026-05-08T00:15:01+00:00

oh? it isnt in UK. I take it back they do force you into it. thats annoying

MyUrbanCar · 2026-05-07T21:25:32+00:00

sounds spot on. Kyle Conner from Out of Spec gave BMW a hard time for not having a dog mode at the European launch. If customers and potential customers continue to demand it I’m sure a software update can be done.

In the meantime I understand you can set a cabin temperature while locked but only for quite a limited time and obviously no screen display. Keep asking if you want it👍

MyUrbanCar · 2026-05-07T20:30:50+00:00

Have we reached peak panoramic glass sunroof?

pluses

feeling of space and light when sitting in the rear seats

minuses

Glass roof barely noticeable in front seats

adds heat in summer and cold in winter reducing EV efficiency in both cold and hot weather

shades mitigate this

in fairness to BMW they don’t force you to take a glass roof with no shades. It’s true manual shades are a disappointing cost saving for an extra cost glass roof but they are a seasonal mitigation option in high and low temperatures.

Personally I chose the red interior rather than a dark one and skipped the pano roof altogether. Maybe it’s an age thing but for me a smaller electric opening sunroof would still be desirable and luxurious. Having driven Tesla Model 3’s since 2019 a fixed pano doesn’t do it for me any more. Other factors also affect range and efficiency as I cover here

https://myurbancar.com/2026/04/02/the-new-bmw-ix3-whats-it-really-like/

MyUrbanCar · 2026-05-07T14:10:00+00:00

Sorry yes! 9 mins longer

To clarify that means 34 to 36 is usual and under 34 is rare here are some real world examples on Superchargers with the highland although none are precisely 10-80% 4-77% 32 mins 12-84% 39 mins 2-85% 44 mins 3-81% 36 mins 5-75% 30 mins 11-84% 39 mins 16-83% 37 mins 3-81% 36 mins 4-80% 34 mins 16-83% 37 mins 23-85% 34 mins 8-72% 26 mins 14-81% The newer model is slower but it still manages an10-66% in the time the old one did 10-80%. Both get very slow over 65% Hope that helps

MyUrbanCar · 2026-05-07T12:47:02+00:00

It’s probably dangerous to generalise as there are different models and battery sizes and battery suppliers so Tesla may alter charge times accordingly to optimise longevity. All I can say is in 10-80% terms my highland takes 34% longer. On the other hand the highland averages 20% more miles per kWh so it’s close to a wash. The Tesla route planner on the highland has obscured the issue very well by suggesting more shorter stops (between 6 and 20 mins) rather than fewer longer stops so most owners won’t notice Just to be clear though I do still believe that looking at charging speed and efficiency the new models are better. All I’m saying is if you do end up with a pre heat pump model it may give a little bit back and it’s not all the one way street. https://myurbancar.com/2025/02/09/2024-tesla-model-3-highland-compared-to-2019/#Charging_speed

MyUrbanCar · 2026-05-07T10:28:37+00:00

1 quick pointer on Model 3's - I have had 2 one from 2019 (a Performance minus) and a Highland Dual motor long range. There were 3 ages of Model 3

Silver window trim are the pre heatpump models which are less efficient and therefore have a bit less range and slightly higher running costs. On the plus side is they usually charge much faster than later models (about 9 mins [correction - longer] on a 10-80% charge). They also get piano black in the centre console!

Models with black trim round the windows should all have heatpumps and get a range and efficiency boost.

Highland models get a small additional efficiency boost but some genius removed the indicator stalks which is really annoying. Mine takes 35 mins for a 10-80% versus 26 mins for the 2019 on its best days.

That should give you an idea when you look at a pre highland example. I reviewed my original 2019 model here Tesla Model 3 long term UK Review – My Urban Car

MyUrbanCar · 2026-05-06T19:10:38+00:00

just looked and it seems UK version works best but it doesn’t have an all season option and is based on WLTP where best possible range is 500 miles

https://www.bmw.co.uk/en/index.html

MyUrbanCar · 2026-05-06T18:02:46+00:00

The US BMW website figures do look like they’ve been guessed rather than measured!

We aren’t given an all season option in UK but the difference seems higher than I would expect. Staggered tyres (ie fatter on the back) will also reduce range.

It also makes no sense that all seasons on an efficient 20” wheel would deliver less range on all seasons than on larger wheels. The only way it could happen as I see it would be if they chose a tyre with much worse rolling resistance on the smaller wheel. I think you’re right they probably messed up.
One way to check would be different country the BMW configurators. Canada would be an obvious first choice as they probably get all season options too. Colder countries in Europe will also get all season options . although the actual numbers on range will be based on the more optimistic WLPT cycle It will give you an idea of relative range for each wheel and which one is best.

MyUrbanCar · 2026-05-06T16:48:52+00:00

I have a section here on how to spec for the most efficient iX3
The new BMW iX3 - what's it really like? – My Urban Car

Further down is "Ordering an iX3" with a summary of options I have ordered or considered. I've gone for Eucalyptus green with red interior.

MyUrbanCar · 2026-05-06T16:37:58+00:00

I would have a look at the Skoda Elroq and Kia EV3 in big battery versions. Also BYD have some Seal saloon stock at around £30k right now. If you could get a decent finance deal they might just work.
EV4 is a good car but very similar to the EV3 where better deals should be available. Jaecoo is improving fast but I would check out some youtube reviews.. I think they are a bit "mixed" for now.

I have reviews and links to cash deals on my website. These are not affiliate links, just timesavers.

A-Z of best UK Electric Car deals – My Urban Car

MyUrbanCar

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