2023 BMW IX1 vs 2022 BMW IX3

What's the difference?

The world is full of shock brand announcements.

Remember the time Coke suddenly changed its cola recipe? Or when Apple decided to take on Nokia with iPhone? Nobody saw those coming.

We all know how the latter turned out and even the former eventually became a marketing masterstroke.

Now here's another super-surprise – a German electric luxury SUV that’s actually comparatively inexpensive. And not stingily equipped. Yep, we’re talking about the iX1.

Based on the really rather impressive third-generation X1, it decisively undercuts similarly-specified rivals from Mercedes-Benz (EQA, EQB) and Genesis (GV60).

But is the Bavarian EV SUV worth paying that little bit extra for against (only very slightly) cheaper alternatives like the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, Tesla Model Y, Polestar 2 and Volvo XC40 Recharge?

Let’s see.

Close to a decade ago BMW took a swan dive into the fully-electric car pool, with the i3, a compact, lightweight hatch, that although long gone from the Aussie market, remains in production. It features an exotic carbon passenger cell, and is pitched at a niche, city-dwelling audience. 

The decision makers in Munich have decided to draw the curtain on it in mid-2022, because they’re moving from the EV springboard to the high tower.  

Yep, BMW says it will be offering around 12 fully electric models worldwide by 2023, with several arriving here soon. And this is the first zero tailpipe emissions BMW X SUV model to arrive in Australia, the mid-size iX3.

Like its X3 siblings it lines up against traditional European SUV rivals, only this time there’s an electric motor rather than a combustion engine under the bonnet. Think Audi e-tron, Jaguar I-Pace, and Mercedes-Benz EQC.