BMW has been teasing us with teasers and bits and pieces about its next-gen EV platform, the NeoClassic, for a full two years now—that I admit I’ve been a little swooned by the hype. I saw the dashboard-filling displays, talked to engineers about the completely redesigned active safety suite, and even got behind the wheel of a prototype machine.
All this for the launch of a crossover SUV, usually the biggest shock of the entire automotive category. But after spending the better part of a day fiddling around with the final version of the IX3, I’m surprised to say that it was all worth it. This small (ish) SUV is truly a game-changer on multiple fronts, a major step forward for BMW’s electrification efforts, and a machine that could be good enough to beat declining EV sales.
For automakers, platforms are key. They are basic elements that allow the relatively quick and cheap development of multiple new models by completely innovating basic elements such as chassis, engines, suspension and software. The NuClass (German for “New Class”) is BMW’s latest and greatest new platform, intended to form the basis of an upcoming series of EVs.
The IX3 is the first of these, a compact SUV roughly the same size as BMW’s current X3, offering the same amount of cargo and space for five passengers. This new platform lowers the battery and pushes its two motors to the front and rear. None of this is novel in the EV space, but most of BMW’s previous EVs have relied on platforms designed for internal combustion. It’s better for EVs from the start.
There’s a usable 108.7-kilowatt battery pack, which powers a pair of motors that, combined, deliver 463 horsepower and 476 pound-feet of torque through all four wheels. Maximum range will be 400 miles (EPA testing has not yet been completed), 40 more than Tesla’s longest range Model Y.
BMW engineers told me that the key is really the IX3’s new electrical architecture, which includes more efficient motors and silicon carbide inverters. It also fast-charges up to 400kW if you can get a plug with enough juice. Anyway, it will be a NACS plug, as it will be BMW’s first to support a Tesla-style connector.
A quick look inside the IX3’s cabin reveals the SUV’s biggest tech upgrade: the pillar-to-pillar panoramic vision display. Think of it like an ultra-wide screen heads-up display that acts as a gauge cluster on the left, but has six customizable sections in the middle and on the right where you can display anything from performance information to what you’re playing on Spotify.
Never quite enough, the IX3 also features an original 3D heads-up display that goes beyond panoramic vision, plus a 17.9-inch, 3,340 x 1,440 rhomboid-sized touchscreen for good measure. The display is overloaded and a bit overwhelming the first time you get into the car, but I found it smooth enough to be distracting. If it all seems a little too much for you, it’s easy enough to disable the more elaborate or attention-grabbing display sections.
The in-car experience is paired with an upgraded My BMW app that not only lets you remotely park the car from outside and get a 3D view of the car’s interior or exterior. You can even queue up playlists on your phone or give your passengers the controls to do the same from their own devices.
To experience the more significant tech upgrades, though, you need to get behind the wheel.
Taking back control from many of today’s advanced active safety systems in cars can sometimes feel like wrestling. Often, a strong yank of the wheel is required to override the lane-centering system, which can result in an annoyingly bumpy experience for your passengers.
The IX3, on the other hand, is designed to be completely seamless. If you have BMW’s Highway Assistant enabled, it will propel itself forward in most situations on the highway, but can reach for the wheel and grab you whenever you want. There’s no resistance to overcome it, and if you let go, the car takes off again.
Even if you want to change lanes, the car can help you there. When prompted, look in the mirror and the car will automatically change lanes. Or, if you grab the wheel and turn yourself in, the car will automatically signal the turn for you.
BMW’s system will also be active if you hit the brake pedal. You can come to a complete stop if you want, then release the brakes and the car will easily bring itself back up to speed. The system stays engaged until you turn it off – or hit the brakes more aggressively – working with you against you.
This new security system feels a little strange at first. It took me a while to figure out when it was on and when it was off. But, after a few minutes on the highway, I got into the groove of things. It really felt like it was working collaboratively with the car instead of constantly turning the system on and off. The hands-off system also worked cleanly, smoothly moving through traffic.
It wasn’t until I hit some secondary country roads that I realized just how good the IX3 was to drive. This dual-motor setup means full-time all-wheel drive, but the power split between the two motors depends on which drive mode you’re in. Personally, the car feels safe and secure in regular drive mode. Drive as aggressively as you want and it just has a calm, predictable nature that makes it easy to point in the right direction without too much input from the driver.
To experience the more significant tech upgrades, you need to get behind the wheel
Switch to sport, though, and the tail juts out a bit under hard acceleration, making the IX3 feel like a traditional, rear-wheel-drive BMW. It’s not a rocket ship, but it’s quick and the suspension strikes a great balance between predictable, comfortable handling and sporty response. Even the steering feels sharp and has respectable feedback, just like an old BMW.
In many ways, this all-new package feels like a return to form, a new SUV that keeps driving and safety at its core but mixes in enough luxury and refinement to retain its premium cachet. But it’s certainly not a fire success. For one thing, there’s the look. BMW has been pushing the boundaries with many of its latest designs, and the IX3 is certainly a great style. After initially hating it, I have to admit that after a day behind the wheel I quickly warmed to the IX3’s appearance, especially when viewed from the rear.
Even if you like the style of an SUV, there’s still the question of cost. BMW has yet to set official pricing for the 2026 BMW IX3, only that it will start around $60,000. That makes it at least $10,000 more than a base, gas-powered X3 SUV. With federal EV incentives no longer in play, that delta may be hard to stomach for many buyers.
But, despite sharing most of the name, these two SUVs feel worlds apart. With plenty of range and an abundance of range, handling and comfort, charging beyond the limit, the EV is the clear play for those with room in their budget.
Photography by Tim Stevens
