BMW IX3 vs Nissan Patrol

What's the difference?

The BMW iX3 50 xDrive is a seriously quick electric SUV that earns points for its family practicality, while its impressive range could go a long way towards easing range anxiety. The ride isn’t always as settled as I’d like, but for the most part, this is a well-executed premium EV.

The Nissan Patrol Warrior is a very capable 4WD, it’s a refined, comfortable all-rounder with plenty of potential as a touring vehicle.

PremCar’s work here – as on the Navara – has made a good 4WD even better.

All of that conversion work, engineering upgrades and fitment of accessories is the kind of sensible work an experienced 4WDer would apply via the aftermarket. The bonus here is that it’s all factory-backed and covered by a 10-year/300,000km warranty, albeit with conditions. 

If you can cope with the fuel bills, this big V8 4WD remains a refreshingly old-school style of off-roader – relying more on sheer grunt than touchy tech – and the latest round of cabin updates has added more appeal to what is already a very appealing vehicle.

BMW has done a really good job with the iX3's styling. It’s distinctly futuristic without falling into that pillowy, blob-like look that some EVs have. The LED light signatures are gorgeous, although the illuminated kidney grille, from some angles, gives off bucktooth vibes. The rear indicators are also far too small.

The optioned 22-inch alloys are enormous and look fantastic, but are they worth the extra coin? Because in the EV world, size does matter and the larger the tyre, the bigger the hit to the driving range (in this case, roughly between 8-10 per cent).

Inside, BMW has avoided the same-same, slightly sterile feel of some EV cabins. There’s plenty of personality here, with the burgundy two-tone synthetic leather, stepped dashboard and seriously flashy displays bringing plenty of wow factor. The knitted accent panels across the dashboard add some welcomed warmth and texture to what could otherwise be a very tech-heavy cabin.

The Nissan Patrol Warrior is 5269mm long (with a 3075mm wheelbase), 2079mm wide, 1990mm high and it has a listed kerb weight of 2858kg. It’s 94mm longer and 84mm wider than the Ti.

Though this latest round of range updates have been mostly limited to the multimedia system, that’s a-okay because this Warrior has more than enough heavy-shouldered presence on- and off-road and not simply because it’s a chunky behemoth.

While other large 4WDs, such as the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series, have bowed to contemporary-taste pressure and become a bit softer around the edges, the Warrior retains some of the blocky stature of 4WDs past.

Inside, the interior has benefitted from the new bigger multimedia system which sits atop the dash and dominates real estate up front. The interior feels slightly fresher than in previous iterations, but still comfortably familiar.

The front row is spacious, and the sport seats offer plenty of adjustment to get comfortable. The massage function is particularly good when you’re sitting in a school pick-up line or waiting for the car to charge. Access is also easy, thanks to the comfortable step-in and step-out height.

There are a few storage options up front, including a shelf underneath the centre console, a couple of cupholders and drink bottle holders in the doors. Both the centre console and glovebox are on the shallow side, but I love the dual phone holders and the way they’re angled so you can still see your phone screen when you need to.

Charging options are good, with a 12-volt socket, two USB-C ports and a ventilated wireless charging pad. A second charging pad for your co-pilot would have been nice, though.

The displays look a little overwhelming at first, but the panoramic display is surprisingly intuitive to use while driving. In fact, I found it made the 3D head-up display feel somewhat redundant. The multimedia system is highly customisable and easy to navigate once you’ve spent some time getting familiar with it. Wireless Apple CarPlay was also easy to connect, and Android Auto is available too.

The rear row is just as spacious as the front, with a flat floor that will make middle-seat passengers happy. There’s also enough width for three kids to sit comfortably. The seats are firm but supportive, and I like the height of the centre armrest.

Storage back here isn’t quite as generous, with two cupholders and door-bin storage essentially covering the options. The hard seat backs are easy to clean, though, and my son was a fan of the rear climate controls, directional air vents and two USB-C ports.

There are three top-tether anchor points and two ISOFIX child-seat mounts, while the 40/20/40-split rear seat adds some useful flexibility when you need to carry a mix of passengers and cargo.

The boot offers up to 520 litres of capacity with all seats in use, which is plenty for a big grocery haul or a road trip’s worth of luggage. There’s a handy netted pocket on the side and a hard cargo cover, although, unsurprisingly for an EV, you only get a tyre repair kit rather than a spare wheel. The powered tailgate is also a welcome convenience.

Rounding everything off is a 58L frunk which houses all the charging cables.

The Warrior cabin is essentially a Ti interior – as such, it’s roomy and plush, with expanses of soft-touch surfaces. Due to plenty of ‘Warrior’ touches and the most recent updates as noted earlier, the cabin feels made-over yet instantly recognisable. 

The centre console is no longer the confusion of buttons, dials and knobs it previously was and there are plenty of storage spaces for driver and front passenger – glove box, cupholders, bottle holders in the doors etc – as well as some concealed spaces (with pop-up lids) for keys, phone and other everyday carry gear.

Second-row passengers get comfortable seats, as well as two USB charge points, and temperature and fan controls in the back of the centre console. Those in this row also have access to the back of the centre console. 

There are cupholders in the fold-down armrest, map pockets in the seat backs and bottle holders in the doors. 

Second-row seats have a top tether point and an ISOFIX point on both outer seats.

Third-row seats are flat and hard compared to the other positions and, in terms of space, are better suited to children or adults for brief stints.

All three rows get air con – there are roof-mounted vents – and there are handy storage spaces in the third row, but no cupholders. 

The third row has one top tether child seat anchorage point. 

The rear cargo area has load tie-down points and a 12V socket, as well as tyre-changing tools under the floor. The new full-sized spare tyre is underslung at the rear.

With the third-row seats in use, boot space is listed as 467L. With the third row stowed away, there’s a claimed 1413L of cargo space. With the second and third rows stowed there’s a claimed 2623L.

The Nissan Patrol Warrior is a eight-seat 4WD wagon with a price-tag of $105,660, before on-road costs.

Standard features include a 12.3-inch touchscreen multimedia system (with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and sat nav), as well as a new 7.0-inch driver dash display, wireless charging and an off-road monitor.

Other features onboard include front and rear parking sensors, a 360-degree camera view and a tyre-pressure monitoring system.

The more than $15,000 worth of carried-over Premcar conversion work, upgrades and fitment of accessories include a re-engineered version of Nissan’s 'Hydraulic Body Motion Control' (HBMC) system, a 50mm total suspension lift with new springs front and rear increasing vehicle height to 1990mm (+50mm over the Ti), and increased ground clearance to 323mm (+50mm) and wheel track to 1735mm front and rear (+40mm).

Warrior-specific suspension modifications include not only the Warrior-tuned HBMC (front and rear) but front Warrior red springs, rear Warrior multi-rate red springs and Warrior rear bump-stop.

Exterior changes carried over into this Warrior iteration include a red Warrior-branded bash plate, front Warrior-embossed bumper valance, a black grille, Patrol Warrior decals, black side mirror caps, plus an upgraded exhaust system with bi-modal valve and a unique exhaust tip.

There's also a black flare kit (with grained finish), Warrior towbar (towbar cross member, tongue, harness only, all modified to fit the new, bigger full-size spare), two rear recovery points, Warrior rear bumper valance (with grained finish) and a black chrome tailgate Warrior badge.

The Warrior wheel and tyre package is the Yokohama Geolandar 15 All Terrain tyres (295/70R18) on 18 x 9 J cast-aluminium Patrol Warrior black machined-face alloy wheels.

The Patrol Warrior has a specially modified space for a full-size alloy spare wheel.

Inside, carried-over Warrior-specific touches include an Alcantara Warrior embossed garnish, clear-coated gloss black centre console and centre multimedia fascia as well as leather-accented and Alcantara door trim.

Exterior paint choices include 'Gun Metallic', 'Moonstone White', 'Brilliant Silver' and 'Black Obsidian'.

What you get in a Warrior for the price compares favourably, especially when cross-shopped with something like a GMC Yukon Denali, another eight-seat 4WD wagon with a V8 – as its price-tag is $174,990, excluding on-road costs. 

The new BMW iX3 is built on an 800-volt platform and features a dual-motor all-wheel-drive set-up producing up to 345kW of power and 645Nm of torque. It can sprint from 0-100km/h in just 4.9 seconds, so in a nutshell, it’s pretty darn powerful and fast.

It might not be segment-leading when it comes to outright performance, but there’s certainly no shortage of grunt for a family SUV.

The Warrior has a 5.6-litre V8 petrol engine producing 298kW and 560Nm, matched to a seven-speed automatic transmission.

This solid combination lacks a dynamic edge, but the Warrior produces such a supremely relaxed and assured delivery of power and torque – it feels almost lazy – that you forgive it for not being the zippiest thing around.

The Patrol has full-time four-wheel drive with high- and low-range and a rear diff-lock.

The iX3 has a massive 108.7kWh lithium-ion NCM battery and a WLTP driving range of up to 805km. With the optional 22-inch alloys, that range does take a hit in our test vehicle, dropping to around 740km, which is still very good.

With my average consumption sitting at 15.5kWh/100km, I’ve actually beaten the claimed energy consumption of 18.8kWh/100km. That’s after a mix of highway and urban driving throughout the week, which is seriously impressive for a large, powerful electric SUV.

The iX3 has a Type 2/CCS charging port and can accept up to 22kW on an AC charger and a hefty 400kW on a fast DC charger. Finding a charger capable of delivering that much power will be the real challenge, but if you do, BMW claims a 10-80 per cent charge in just 21 minutes. That’s excellent charging performance and makes longer road trips considerably easier.

However, it does lose marks for missing out on vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality. BMW Australia says the iX3 is equipped with the hardware for V2L, but the company is waiting on approvals for the required accessories before it can be rolled out to Australian versions. In other words, it's coming soon.

The Nissan Patrol Warrior has an official combined cycle (urban/extra-urban) fuel consumption figure of 14.4L/100km.

I recorded 21.4L/100km on this test. I did a lot of high- and low-range 4WDing – but the Patrol was never working hard.

The Patrol has a 140L fuel tank capacity, so going by our on-test fuel-consumption figure you could reasonably expect a full-tank driving range of about 654km.

The iX3 50 has plenty of power and torque to satisfy when you need to plant it on a hill or overtake. Power is delivered smoothly in Efficient mode, but it definitely feels more dynamic when you switch to Sport.

The suspension is nicely balanced around town and through corners, but occasionally the car feels a little unsettled on an uneven open road. This is where you start to wonder whether those big tyres are doing the car any favours.

The steering is lighter than expected, although you do get used to it after a couple of days. The car can also feel heavy when you need to stop quickly, to the point where the brakes can feel a smidge spongey. Otherwise, they’re responsive enough.

The cabin is impressively quiet around town, although road noise, again, likely helped along by those big tyres, creeps in a little more on the open road. To be clear, it’s only more noticeable by EV standards; this is still a quiet car compared with a combustion-powered SUV.

Visibility is quite good from my driving position, and I like the commanding view overall. SUVs do rule the roost in this regard. There are four regenerative braking levels, including B mode for one-pedal driving, and I’ve kept it on either level three or B throughout the week.

I also like that you can still creep at lower speeds in B mode, and the 360-degree camera is exceptionally clear. The way the camera view moves with the steering wheel takes a beat to get used to, though. If you're a little unsure, you can activate the parking assist function, and the car will park itself.

This latest update is cabin-centric so it’s brought no powertrain changes or any improvements to 4WD mechanicals or driver-assist tech. And that’s fine because the Warrior is pretty darned impressive, as is.

On-road and on dirt tracks, it’s all smooth sailing. The Patrol Warrior is tighter and more composed than its standard stablemates, and that's mostly due to its upgraded suspension and HBMC system.

HBMC acts as a sway bar and sway bar disconnect equivalent and combines with the Aussie-tuned suspension to rein everything in when you're on bitumen and loosen everything when you're on dirt or off-road. 

The Patrol as standard is a nice wagon to drive, but the Premcar work undertaken to create the Warrior – all the conversions and upgrades – have made it that much better. 

On the open road you have the opportunity to appreciate just how comfortable and refined the Patrol Warrior is. 

And as for 4WDing, well, the Warrior is a Patrol at heart so it has reliable four-wheel drive mechanicals, plenty of torque over a broad rev range and a rear diff lock. 

There's more ground clearance in the Warrior over the Ti at 323mm (+50mm ), so approach (40 degrees) and departure angles (23.3 degrees) are an improvement over the standard Patrol.

The Warrior’s tyres – Yokohama Geolandar 15 All Terrain tyres (295/70R18) – are bigger and offer more grip, so they provide plenty of traction on terrain where a standard Patrol may struggle. 

Premcar has modified the towbar position to accommodate the new bigger full-size spare wheel and tyre.

Another good thing is the fact the Patrol Warrior has two recovery points at the rear.

The HBMC system, which performs so seamlessly on-road, provides more articulation off-road, as well as a bit more wheel travel through difficult terrain.

And, as I’ve noted before on other tests, one of the impressive points about Premcar’s work here – the conversions, the modifications, the engineering upgrades and the fitment of accessories – is that it’s all the kind of common-sense upgrades an experienced 4WDer would apply to their Patrol. 

But, even in something this impressive, the news is not all good.

The Warrior is a big vehicle and at 2858kg you have to drive it with that in mind, all the time. It fills the trail and with its wider wheel track, you have to be focused on wheel placement, even more so than usual.

The bi-modal exhaust is awesome, but those exhaust caps (underneath the Warrior's right-hand side step) are too vulnerable to damage.

They compromise the vehicle's ramp-over angle, so you have to drive with careful consideration, especially if the Warrior rocks even slightly to the right-hand side going up or down a steep rocky hill, because there’s a risk of grinding those exhaust tips against rock steps, dirt or a tree stump. 

The Patrol is a towing platform of note and towing capacities remain as 750kg (unbraked) and 3500kg (braked).

The Warrior's GVM (gross vehicle mass) at 3620kg is 120kg more than the Ti Patrol’s.

The Nissan Patrol range does not have an ANCAP safety rating because it has not been tested.

That said, as standard it has dual front airbags, front-side and curtain airbags that cover all three rows, as well as two ISOFIX points and two top tether points in the second row.

Driver-assist tech includes AEB, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning/intervention, blind-spot warning/intervention and adaptive cruise control.

The iX3 is covered by a five-year/200,000km warranty, which is a fairly typical term at this end of the market. You can also pre-purchase a six-year servicing plan for $2420, which is a reasonable cost for a vehicle in this price bracket.

Maintenance is governed by BMW’s Condition Based Servicing system, so the car will tell you when it’s time to head in for a service. Depending on how you drive it, expect servicing to be required somewhere between 12 and 24 months.

All new Patrols have a 10-year/300,000km warranty when the vehicle is serviced with Nissan and the Premcar work is covered for the same amount of time – with the same conditions applied.

Five years of roadside assistance also applies – with the same conditions.

Servicing is scheduled at 12 month/10,000km intervals, and capped price service rates apply for five years. That means each of the first five services will cost you $499.