2021 BMW iX3 now on sale in Malaysia – two variants of fully-electric SUV available, from RM317,360

A couple of months ago, BMW Malaysia confirmed that the all-electric duo of the i4 and iX3 will join the iX here in the local market as the Bavarian outfit ramps up its electrification plans in the country. Today, the iX3 has officially been launched as a fully-electric alternative to the familiar X3, as well as a slightly more affordable alternative to the iX for buyers in search of a premium German SUV minus the good old combustion engine. 

Two variants of the iX3 are offered at launch, namely the 'Inspiring' and 'Impressive' models which are both sold in M Sport trim. The 2021 BMW iX3 M Sport Inspiring kicks things of with a base price of RM317,360 while the iX3 Impressive, which benefits from bigger 20-inch wheels, BMW Laserlight and Harman Kardon audio amongst other niceties, starts from RM336,360. 

These are base prices that only include a basic two-year warranty, mind you; the Extended Warranty & Service Package which offers comprehensive coverage for five years costs an additional RM13,440 while a 'Power Package' that bundles in a BMW i Wallbox charging outlet and charging cable is an additional RM5,000. All in, the iX3 M Sport Inspiring and iX3 M Sport Impressive will set you back RM335,800 and RM354,800 respectively, with the current SST exemptions factored in. 

Regardless which variant you opt for, the Malaysian-spec iX3 is powered by a 286bhp electric motor capable of 400Nm of torque. This propels the iX3 to 100kph from a standstill in just 6.8 seconds while top speed is capped at a relatively modest but perfectly useful 180kph. Both models pack a 73.8kWh lithium-ion battery good for up to 461km of range on the WLTP cycle. That's more than enough to do a KL-to-Penang run on a single charge, with some clicks to spare to real-world disparities. The battery itself is covered for eight years or 160,000km, whichever comes first. 

As for charging, doing so at home via a Type 2 AC connection takes approximately seven and a half hours, while DC fast charging support allows drivers to recover 80 percent charge in just 32 minutes via a 150kW fast charger. 

What are your thoughts on dropping over RM300k on a fully-electric BMW SUV in Malaysia?