BMW slashes $10,000 from iX3 electric SUV

BMW Australia has cut the price of its iX3 electric mid-sized SUV by $10,000, following a price rise on most of its other models this week.

The BMW iX3 now costs $104,900 before on-road costs, making it $5500 cheaper than the related X3 xDrive30e plug-in hybrid (PHEV).

The price cut pulls the iX3 closer to its recently introduced iX1 smaller electric sibling, which retails for $82,900 plus on-road costs in either xLine and M Sport trim levels.

This iX3 cut follows Tesla’s recent decision to reduce the price of its top-selling Model Y SUV earlier this month, by up to $3400. The Performance now costs $94,900. Another competitor around this price point is the faster but less upmarket Kia EV6 GT at an expected $99,950.

In Australia the BMW iX3 is only available in one spec grade. Power comes from a single-motor electric drivetrain featuring a 210kW/400Nm e-motor on the rear axle fed by an 80kWh lithium-ion battery pack.

The iX3 has a claimed range of 460km according to the stricter WLTP test cycle. It can be DC fast-charged at up to 150kW, and AC charged at up to 11kW.

It’s worth noting the BMW iX3, Tesla Model 3, and Tesla Model Y are all made in China, which is now the fourth-largest vehicle import source for Australia according to the latest VFACTS industry sales data.

In fact the five top-selling electric vehicle (EVs) here in 2022 were all sourced from China.

The iX3 was the 10th top-seller in Australia last year with 593 examples sold.

It was outsold by the Tesla Model 3 (10,877 sales), Model Y (8171), BYD Atto 3 (2113), Polestar 2 (1524), MG ZS EV (1119), Hyundai Kona Electric (1096), Volvo XC40 Recharge (983), Hyundai Ioniq 5 (756), and Mercedes-Benz EQA (624).

BMW Australia’s EV range currently comprises the iX1, iX3 and iX SUVs, and the i4 and i7 passenger cars.

MORE: Everything BMW X3