The Neue Klasse Sets a New Benchmark for Electric Luxury SUVs

This thing moves

That’s all well and good, but the iX3’s special sauce is in the way it drives. Without getting too deep in the weeds, the iX3 is BMW’s most technologically advanced car yet, and by a long shot. It’s got four high-performance computers — BMW calls ’em “superbrains” — that manage different vehicle functions. And one is solely dedicated to the drivetrain and handling dynamics.

Put plainly, this computer has ultra-fast processing power. What you experience from behind the wheel is an electric SUV that’s both quicker to react while being smoother across the board — like when you finally empty the trash on your MacBook after too many months (or years) of neglect and your laptop suddenly runs a little bit better.

Winding through the gorgeous Spanish countryside, the iX3 drives with prominent verve. There’s pep in its step, from the lightness and directness of the steering to the way the electronic shock absorbers smooth out pavement imperfections. The iX3 genuinely feels sprightly — quite a feat considering this SUV is likely to weigh just shy of 3 tons.

You can customize various driving settings like steering heft and powertrain response, though I honestly think the iX3 works best when left to its own devices. Sport mode lets you feel the full punch of the electric motors, accompanied by nifty space-age sounds (which, don’t worry, you can turn off). But to me, the iX3 feels best in its Efficient setting; there’s more than enough power for daily driving, plus you don’t lose any of the good steering feel or suspension balance. The iX3’s regenerative braking — where the car recuperates drivetrain energy to slow the car down — works a treat in Efficient mode, with easy-to-modulate one-pedal driving.