BMW iX3 Drives 436 Miles in Edmunds Test, Beating Its EPA Rating

The 2027 BMW iX3 50 xDrive covered 436 miles on a single charge in Edmunds’ real-world EV range test, according to Electrek. The test car wore 22-inch summer tires, a setup the EPA rates at 392 miles, so the SUV beat its official figure by 44 miles.

That result makes the iX3 the longest-range luxury electric SUV Edmunds has tested so far. It went further than the 2027 Volvo EX60, which managed 352 miles, and the Mercedes-Benz GLC Electric at 392 miles.

How Edmunds runs its range test

Edmunds drives each EV on a loop of 60% city and 40% highway roads at an average speed of 40 mph. Drivers stay within 5 mph of the posted limit, and the climate control sits on auto at 72 degrees. The goal is a range number closer to what owners see in everyday use than the EPA label provides.

The iX3 also used less energy than BMW’s official rating. Edmunds measured 28.3 kWh per 100 miles, against an EPA estimate of 32 kWh per 100 miles.

EPA range depends on the wheels you pick

The iX3 runs on BMW’s sixth-generation eDrive system, an 800-volt design, with a 108.7 kWh battery. Its official range changes noticeably with wheel and tire choice:

• 20-inch summer tires (no-cost option): 434 miles, 118 MPGe combined
• 20-inch all-season tires (standard): 383 miles, 102 MPGe
• 21-inch summer tires: 398 miles, 105 MPGe
• 21-inch all-season tires: 399 miles, 105 MPGe
• 22-inch summer tires: 392 miles, 104 MPGe

Buyers who keep the standard all-season setup get the lowest rating, 383 miles. MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent) is the EPA’s measure of how far an EV travels on the energy contained in a gallon of gasoline.

Charging speed and prices

The iX3 accepts DC fast charging at up to 400 kW. Electrek reports it can go from 10% to 80% in about 21 minutes, or add about 185 miles in 10 minutes. Another figure in the same report puts the 10-minute gain at 170 to 185 miles.

The 2027 iX3 50 xDrive can be ordered now in three trims:

• Sport: from $61,500
• M Sport: from $64,000
• M Sport Professional: from $65,500

The cabin uses BMW’s Neue Klasse interior design, with a Panoramic Vision display that runs the full width of the windshield and a 17.9-inch central screen running Operating System X. A 3D head-up display is optional.

What it means for EV shoppers

Range anxiety still shapes how Americans view electric cars. In a nationally representative survey cited by Electrek, BMW found that 73% of respondents said 75 miles of range or less covers their daily driving. Even so, 42% said they would need at least 300 miles before considering an EV, and 53% said they would be more likely to consider one if it could add about 150 miles in 10 minutes.

The iX3 clears both of those bars in its official ratings, and the Edmunds result shows a gap in the buyer’s favor between the EPA label and real driving. The tested car used the 22-inch summer tires, while the standard 20-inch all-season setup carries the lowest EPA rating in the lineup.

Source: Electrek