The upcoming BMW iX3 electric SUV has surpassed its official U.S. range estimate by a significant margin during a controlled road test, the company said, highlighting continued gains in EV efficiency as competition intensifies in the segment.
BMW conducted the test on a pre-production iX3 along a deliberately selected 1,007.7-km (626-mile) route across Europe designed to avoid highways and maintain lower driving speeds. The SUV completed the journey using a 108-kWh battery pack, finishing with 2% charge — roughly 12 miles — remaining. The result effectively exceeded the model’s 400-mile EPA estimate by about 200 miles.
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“This is most definitely promising news for folks who mainly drive their cars inside cities,” the original article noted, underscoring conditions favorable to efficiency such as lower speeds and consistent regenerative braking.
The test was conducted without climate control or in-car entertainment systems, a setup that contributed to energy savings but does not reflect typical daily driving. EPA estimates incorporate a mix of highway and city conditions, which generally reduce efficiency for electric vehicles compared with urban-only use.
The iX3 carries a WLTP rating of roughly 500 miles, higher than its U.S. estimate due to differing test methodologies. The model is scheduled to arrive in Europe in the spring, with a U.S. release expected in mid-2025.