2027 BMW iX3 First Look

This new electric SUV is a window into BMW's future.

James Riswick | 

Sep 5, 2025 | 3 min read

BMW

It is also a game changer for BMW. Arriving in the summer of 2026 with a starting price of around $60,000, the 2027 iX3 will be the first vehicle to use BMW's Neue Klasse platform, which introduces technologies that the automaker will apply to nearly 40 new or updated vehicles by 2027. The iX3's design language, BMW Panoramic iDrive tech interface, "software-defined" electronics architecture, and driving dynamics will find their way into other future BMW vehicles.

BMW

Plenty of Range and Power for the 2027 BMW iX3

Although there will be additional variants, including a rear-motor-only model, the first model to roll off the assembly line in Debrecen, Hungary, will be the dual-motor, all-wheel-drive iX3 50 xDrive. It produces 463 horsepower and 476 pound-feet of torque, and BMW claims it'll hit 60 mph in 4.7 seconds.

BMW also estimates that the 50 xDrive will travel 400 miles per charge using the EPA's testing standards, and will recharge at an astonishing maximum rate of 400 kilowatts (kW). Currently, only the Tesla Cybertruck could surpass that at 500 kW.

At 400 kW, the iX3 could add about 230 miles of range in 10 minutes using an 800-volt DC charging station. It is also compatible with 400-volt DC stations, but recharges at a slower rate.

BMW

The 2027 BMW iX3 Gets BMW Panoramic iDrive

The iX3's Panoramic iDrive technology provides a holistic overview of human-car interaction, featuring a multifunction steering wheel, 17.9-inch center touchscreen, an available 3D head-up display, and — most notably — a full-width band across the bottom of the windshield (called Panoramic Vision) that shows pertinent information.

BMW claims to have developed the system using customer feedback, data from more than 10 million vehicles, and usability studies involving more than 3,000 customers. It'll be interesting to see how this radically new concept performs.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity will be included, and BMW said that data from media titles and navigation route guidance will show in the Panoramic Vision display. The new BMW Operating System X supports sophisticated personalization and technologies such as a digital key, in-vehicle gaming, and other connected services.

The optional Highway Assistant hands-free driving system functions on limited-access highways. Adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assist (where the driver's hands stay on the wheel) is standard.

BMW

How Big Is the 2027 BMW iX3?

Most of the iX3's exterior dimensions are within an inch of the gas-powered BMW X3. Even the wheelbase is only 1.3 inches longer. BMW did not release interior dimensions, but it's possible that differences in the EV's architecture could result in greater cabin space than the X3.

The two certainly look different, as the iX3 adopts the Neue Klasse design language highlighted by skinny, vertically arranged kidney grilles. They're evocative of those used on the classic BMW 2002. Time will tell if this adaptation will be considered similarly classic.

The new 2027 BMW iX3 appears to be a promising EV, but the Panoramic iDrive system's user experience could be this electric SUV's make-or-break element.

James Riswick

James Riswick has been testing cars and writing about them for more than 20 years. He was the senior reviews editor for Autoblog and previously served multiple editor roles at Edmunds. He has also contributed to Autotrader, Car and Driver, Hagerty, J.D. Power, and Autoguide Magazine. He has been interested in cars forever; his mom took him to the Toronto Auto Show when he was 18 months old and he has attended at least one every year since (OK, except in 2020). When he's not testing the latest cars, he has a babied 1998 BMW Z3 in James Bond blue, a 2013 Mercedes-Benz E350 Wagon, and a 2023 Kia Niro EV.