BMW facelifts its all-electric iX3 SUV

Even though it hasn’t officially arrived in Malaysia (or even the UK) yet, it’s been so long since the iX3 was revealed BMW has had to give it a little tweak to keep it looking fresh. The new car has the same specs as before – 74 kWh (usable) battery, 150kW charging, up to 460km of range, 282bhp – but it looks sharper courtesy of new lights and bumpers. 

The kidney grille is bigger (obviously), as is the lower air intake. Meanwhile the headlights have been slimmed-down so the iX3 more closely resembles BMW’s other new EVs, the i4 and iX. 

The first iX3s arrive in the UK later this year where prices start at £59,730 (RM350k) for the M Sport version and rise to £62,730 (RM370k) for the M Sport Pro. It is not, therefore, a competitor to the likes of the Volkswagen ID.4, Skoda Enyaq iV and Audi Q4 – it’s too expensive. The iX3 will instead rival the Jaguar I-Pace, Mercedes EQC and Audi e-tron. 

To the reasonable standard spec, Pro adds a HUD, fancy stereo, gesture control for the infotainment system, more parking aids, keyless entry and the ‘IconicSounds Electric’ artificial soundscape BMW developed with Hans Zimmer. 

Interestingly, the pre-facelift iX3 has been on sale in Singapore since July. Although there has been no word as to whether BMW Malaysia will follow suit, the group's decision to launch the updated Mini Electric here earlier this year is an encouraging sign. Though the decision will ultimately rest on the long-awaited government policies and tax structures surrounding the sale of EVs in Malaysia.