Forget China! 805km EV driving range, super-fast charging and next-gen tech: 2026 BMW iX3 finally revealed and it’s coming to Australia soon to battle the Porsche Macan, Polestar 4 and Audi Q6 e-tron

BMW is taking its electric car technology to the next level with the reveal of its new-generation iX3 EV.

While only detailing one of the model grades so far, the new-gen iX3 offers all-electric driving range of up to 805km on the WLTP testing cycle. That puts it in front of each of its perceived rivals.

The German carmaker revealed the all-important electric SUV in its home city of Munich, days ahead of the 2025 IAA Munich motor show.

The iX3 is the first of BMW’s so-called Neue Klasse, a group of models with shared underpinnings that will also include a sedan to sit alongside the next-gen 3 Series.

This production-ready iX3 was previewed by the Vision Neue Klasse X concept revealed in May last year.

It represents such massive change over the outgoing iX3, which was based on an internal combustion engine platform and built in China, that BMW says the new version “offers a leap in progress over its predecessor of the same name that extends far beyond a conventional model replacement”.

The iX3 50 xDrive is the first grade confirmed for Australia and it features two electric motors - one on each axle - with total outputs of 345kW and 645Nm. This ensures all-paw grip and a brisk 0-100km/h dash time of 4.9sec, just 0.3sec slower than the turbo-petrol X3 M50.

The new-gen iX3 uses the sixth generation of BMW’s eDrive tech that kicked off with the iconic i3 hatch. It includes a high-voltage battery with cylindrical cells that improves charging speed by 30 per cent over the old model.

That battery has a “usable energy content of 108kWh” which makes for the EV driving range of up to 805km.

The new architecture has a maximum charging rate of 400kW, which, using an 800-volt DC charging station, would theoretically allow you to add 350km of charge in just 10 minutes, or to recharge from 10 to 80 per cent in 20 minutes.

AC charging at up to 11kW will take about 11 hours to get from zero to 100 per cent battery capacity.

It also has vehicle-to-load functionality for bi-directional charging. Something BMW Australia will reveal more about soon.

The new iX3 uses four high-performance computers - BMW calls them “Superbrains” - that control driving dynamics, automated driving, multimedia and other comfort functions. The unit for driving dynamics is called the “Heart of Joy”, according to the brand. The software architecture underpinning this is capable of faster and more frequent over-the-air updates.

In terms of dimensions the new iX3 measures 4782mm long, 1895mm wide, 1635mm tall and with a 2897mm wheelbase. It is longer (+48mm), wider (+4mm) and lower (-33mm), and has a longer wheelbase (+33mm) than the outgoing iX3.

The new iX3 debuts BMW’s new design language that will soon be seen across its entire model range.

As per the concept it has a new take on BMW’s iconic headlight signature, with vertical LED units, while the famed kidney grille is inspired by BMWs from the 1960s. It uses light instead of chrome elements.

Other features include flush door handles, chunky wheel arches and wide, slimline tail-lights.

BMW has adopted a minimalist, horizontal, wrap-around theme for the interior design and it features large windows and a panoramic sunroof, the latter featuring “climate comfort glazing” that generates ambient light.

It also has a ‘floating’ console and ‘BMW HypersonX’, a soundscape with new driving sounds, sound effects and signals.

BMW’s new Operating System X is its most advanced system yet, and has a high degree of personalisation and digital services. It powers the Panoramic iDrive and Vision which displays information at the bottom part of the windscreen and it runs from A pillar to A pillar, measuring 43.3 inches.

That’s on top of a 3D head-up display and the 17.9-inch central display angled towards the driver.

BMW’s new electric baby will be built at a BMW factory in Hungary and production kicks off later this year.

Australian BMW fans will have to wait until mid-2026 to get their hands on the new SUV.

The previous-generation iX3 proved a hit for BMW in Australia. The outgoing model is no longer on sale as production ended in China earlier this year so if you’re after a mid-size BMW electric SUV between now and mid-2026, the recently refreshed iX is your best option.

The iX3 was priced from $91,000 before on-road costs before it was discontinued in Australia. The current new-gen X3 line-up ranges from $86,800 for the entry petrol grade, topping out at a tick under $130k for the turbocharged M50 performance model.

Pricing for the iX3 is unclear but expect it to get a price bump compared to the previous model. Given the plug-in hybrid X3 is priced at $104,800, it could start around $110,000.

There are a lot more competitors now in the medium electric SUV segment than when the original iX3 launched in 2021.

Back then Audi didn’t have any electric SUVs of that size and now it has two - the Q4 and Q6 e-tron. Mercedes-Benz has the boxy GLB and there’s the Genesis GV70 and Lexus RZ.

Other rivals include the Porsche Macan, Polestar 4 and Cupra Tavascan.