BMW iX3 1000 km Highway Test: Real Range and 800V Charging in Portugal
Published: 09/05/2026
1,000 km in 8h55 with two stops — the test that reset the benchmarks
A thousand kilometres of highway, cruise control locked at 120 km/h, two charging stops along the way. Total time: 8 hours and 55 minutes. It is the best result Bjørn Nyland has ever recorded for any electric SUV — and the new BMW iX3 50 xDrive set it in roughly 0 °C ambient temperatures on 21-inch wheels, meaning the worst conditions you could realistically pick.
For a buyer in Portugal, this translates into something concrete. The BMW iX3's real-world highway range is more than enough to do Lisbon-Porto on one charge with battery to spare, and when you do need to stop, the stop is short. Worth checking the numbers before writing this off as another press release.
How the BMW iX3 set a new highway range benchmark
The test ran at 75 mph (about 120 km/h) with adaptive cruise active throughout. Average consumption came in at 26.7 kWh/100 km — high, but expected at near-freezing temperatures and on the larger 21-inch wheels that hurt aerodynamics. Cold weather alone is estimated to have cost 5 to 10 minutes of total time versus a mild day.
In separate tests at 15-18 °C and a 123 km/h average, consumption dropped to 21.5 kWh/100 km. That works out to roughly 505 km of real highway range on a single charge. In milder weather, getting close to 595 km in optimistic conditions is plausible.
WLTP figures land between 679 and 805 km depending on trim and wheel choice. The US EPA estimate is up to 400 miles (around 644 km), and the Chinese CLTC cycle claims 900 km — theoretical, but they hint at how much margin the platform has.
What 800V architecture means for charging the iX3
The big change versus the previous iX3 is the new Neue Klasse platform and its 800V electrical architecture. In practice, the result is simple: it charges very fast, and it keeps charging fast for longer.
Recorded results:
- 400 kW peak (755 V × 530 A) on the first stop
- 350 kW held at 17% state of charge, 325 kW at 40%, 250 kW at 50%
- Another test recorded 347 kW as early as 8% SoC and over 300 kW until 45%
- 10 to 80% in about 21 minutes
- More than 370 km of range added in just 10 minutes
For Portuguese drivers, this fixes the biggest pain point of long trips: the stop stops being a lunch break and becomes a quick visit to the bathroom. On Portuguese motorways with Ionity or other 350 kW chargers (A1, A2, A6), the iX3 uses nearly all the available power.
BMW iX3 50 xDrive (NA5) full specs
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Platform | Neue Klasse (dedicated EV) |
| Usable battery | 108.7 kWh NMC cylindrical |
| Gross battery | 115.0 kWh |
| Electrical architecture | 800 V |
| Power | 345 kW (469 hp) |
| Torque | 645 Nm |
| Drivetrain | AWD dual motor (xDrive) |
| 0-100 km/h | 4.9 s |
| Top speed | 210 km/h |
| WLTP range | 679-805 km |
| Max DC charging | 400 kW |
| 10-80% DC | about 21 min |
| AC charging | 11 kW (22 kW optional) |
| V2L | 3.7 kW AC |
| Heat pump | Standard |
| Length | 4,782 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,897 mm |
| Kerb weight | 2,360 kg |
| Boot | 520 L (1,750 L max) + 58 L frunk |
| Towing (braked) | 2,000 kg |
Lisbon to Porto, no stress: the Portuguese scenario
The A1 motorway between Lisbon and Porto is 313 km. Even in the worst case from Nyland's test — 26.7 kWh/100 km at 0 °C — the iX3 50 xDrive does the full trip with plenty of battery left to drive across the city at the other end. On Lisbon-Faro via the A2 (278 km), it is even easier: one charge covers a round trip with short pauses, or a one-way run with no stop at all.
Anyone doing Lisbon-Porto-Lisbon on the same day needs one stop of about 20 minutes somewhere along the way. On a 350 kW Ionity charger, the iX3 recovers more range in those 20 minutes than many EVs gain in 40.
Price and Portugal launch timeline for the new BMW iX3
European prices already announced give a useful reference: €70,900 in Germany and €70,501 in the Netherlands for the 50 xDrive. UK pricing starts at £53,250 for the single-motor iX3 40 and £58,755 for the 50 xDrive. Germany has already raised prices €2,000 from launch.
In Portugal, as a pure EV, the iX3 qualifies for:
- ISV exemption (Portugal's vehicle registration tax — a meaningful saving versus equivalent combustion models)
- IUC exemption (annual road tax) for the first year and a reduced rate after
- Tax benefits for company cars and fleets: VAT deductibility and lower autonomous taxation
Starting from the German base of €70,900 and adjusting for the local market, expect the iX3 50 xDrive to land in Portugal somewhere between €73,000 and €78,000 once it reaches the official network. UK deliveries start in spring 2026, and Portugal should follow shortly after.
BMW iX3 versus Tesla Model Y and the other rivals
In comparative testing reported by Electrifying and BMW Blog, the iX3 50 xDrive matches the road-trip times of the Tesla Model S Long Range and the Zeekr 7X Performance — but with lower consumption. It beat the Mercedes EQS 450+ and the new Mercedes CLA in equivalent runs.
Direct rivals in the premium electric SUV segment are the Tesla Model Y, Audi Q6 e-tron, Mercedes EQE SUV, Polestar 3 and the upcoming Volvo EX60. Versus the Model Y, the iX3 wins on cabin finish, charging speed and real highway range. The Model Y is still cheaper. Versus the Q6 e-tron, the iX3 has the edge in efficiency and charging speed.
Frequently Asked Questions
In real-world tests at 120 km/h with 0 °C ambient temperature and 21-inch wheels, the BMW iX3 50 xDrive consumed 26.7 kWh/100 km, translating to roughly 455 km per charge. In milder conditions (15–18 °C) at an average of 123 km/h, consumption drops to 21.5 kWh/100 km, unlocking around 505 km of real highway range — enough to do Lisbon to Porto on a single charge with battery to spare.
Just two. In Bjørn Nyland's test, the iX3 50 xDrive completed 1,000 km in 8 hours 55 minutes at a steady 120 km/h cruise, requiring only two charging stops — the best result ever recorded for an electric SUV on his channel. On Portuguese routes such as the A1 Lisbon-Porto-Braga or A2 Lisbon-Faro, this means in practice a single real stop for a typical weekend trip.
The Neue Klasse 800V architecture enables peaks of 400 kW (755 V × 530 A) and sustains very high power for much longer: 350 kW at 17% state of charge, 325 kW at 40%, and 250 kW at 50%. On Ionity 350 kW chargers (available on Portugal's A1, A2 and A6 motorways) the iX3 uses virtually all available power, completing 10–80% in around 21 minutes and adding more than 370 km of range in just 10 minutes.
BMW Portugal has not published final pricing yet, but based on European launch figures the iX3 50 xDrive starts at €70,900 in Germany and €70,501 in the Netherlands, while the single-motor iX3 40 starts at roughly €60,000. Portuguese pricing is expected in the €70,000–€85,000 range for a well-equipped 50 xDrive, with the added benefit of full ISV exemption for 100% electric vehicles and reduced IUC road tax.
The iX3 50 xDrive matches the Tesla Model S Long Range's 1,000 km trip times and beats the Mercedes EQS 450+ and the new Mercedes CLA, with class-leading highway efficiency. Versus the Tesla Model Y, the iX3 offers a larger usable battery (108.7 kWh vs ~75 kWh), 800V architecture and 400 kW peak charging vs the Model Y's ~250 kW — a clear advantage on Portuguese motorways, although Tesla's Supercharger network remains denser than Ionity in some corridors.
Is the new BMW iX3 Neue Klasse worth the wait?
For anyone who drives motorways regularly — Lisbon-Porto, Porto-Algarve, business runs across the country — the iX3 50 xDrive solves the two classic EV complaints: real range and stop time. 800V is no longer a luxury feature; it is what separates an EV SUV that is genuinely useful on long trips from one that still demands careful planning.
Price remains the filter. At €70,000-plus, it plays in a league where buyers expect serious finish, technology and comfort — and Neue Klasse is BMW's biggest update of the last decade. If you are shopping the segment, the official Portuguese price announcements and local press drives over the coming months are worth tracking.