[thebishman]

This early review of a prototype iX3 doesn’t address things such as interior quality obviously, but the driving dynamics sound superb:

https://www.topgear.com/car-reviews/...pe/first-drive

https://www.carmagazine.co.uk/car-re...ix3-prototype/

[ggalanis]

Originally Posted by KRS_SN

The IX has a nice interior for an EV the 19/20 x5/7 interiors imo were nicer.

The materials and fit/finish in the iX are as good if not better than what I had in my 2019 X5. The leather is great and doesn't make me miss the merino leather from my X5, and all the normal touchpoints feel good. They could do better with the door bins but the same was true of my X5. The only spot that they very visibly cheaped out on was the plastic on the lower part of the center console. It is not a big deal, and not something you really touch often, but wrapping it in leather or some other soft touch material would have been nice. My X5 had the extended leather which covered a part of the side of the transmission tunnel up front. It was a nice touch for those who would rest their right knee on it but not really needed otherwise since you'd never really touch that area. Still the fact it was there made a difference in perceived luxury. I wish they had found a way to use the wood in more than one spot.

The rest of the differences I feel are about styling. I liked the styling of my X5. I like the iX too, but took me longer to warm up to the iX look. However I am not sure the X5 look would work well in the more airy cabin of the iX but it would be worth a try. They went all in for that airy look and feel and sacrificed things like the sportiness of the front seats (even though I personally like them) to achieve it. Even though if I had to pick one to live with forever, I prefer the styling of the X5, I like how spacious the iX feels in comparison.

[deutsch100]

Originally Posted by ggalanis

The materials and fit/finish in the iX are as good if not better than what I had in my 2019 X5. The leather is great and doesn't make me miss the merino leather from my X5, and all the normal touchpoints feel good. They could do better with the door bins but the same was true of my X5. The only spot that they very visibly cheaped out on was the plastic on the lower part of the center console. It is not a big deal, and not something you really touch often, but wrapping it in leather or some other soft touch material would have been nice. My X5 had the extended leather which covered a part of the side of the transmission tunnel up front. It was a nice touch for those who would rest their right knee on it but not really needed otherwise since you'd never really touch that area. Still the fact it was there made a difference in perceived luxury. I wish they had found a way to use the wood in more than one spot.

The rest of the differences I feel are about styling. I liked the styling of my X5. I like the iX too, but took me longer to warm up to the iX look. However I am not sure the X5 look would work well in the more airy cabin of the iX but it would be worth a try. They went all in for that airy look and feel and sacrificed things like the sportiness of the front seats (even though I personally like them) to achieve it. Even though if I had to pick one to live with forever, I prefer the styling of the X5, I like how spacious the iX feels in comparison.

I so completely agree with you. Obviously since I am on iX #4, I like them , but from 2004 to 2017 I had 7 X5s. The X5 to me, each generation, is the model that BMW has never "screwed up".

I too wish the iX could have used more wood in the interior, and offered a few different wood options. Also, the material on the doors gets marked white easily, especially if one regularly uses sunscreen. The area between the front seats should absolutely be covered in a better, softer and more upscale material.

I think I prefer the overall look of the X5, but the iX also makes me smile when I see it in my garage or I approach it in a car park

[ggalanis]

Originally Posted by thebishman

This early review of a prototype iX3 doesn’t address things such as interior quality obviously, but the driving dynamics sound superb:

https://www.topgear.com/car-reviews/...pe/first-drive

https://www.carmagazine.co.uk/car-re...ix3-prototype/

Thanks for the links.

Unless BMW messes something important up with the iX3, it is likely going to be what replaces my iX when it is released. Not because we are unhappy with the iX in any meaningful way, just new car itch. If the iX3 doesn't float our boat, then we'd wait for the iX5 and see how it compares but the truth is we don't need something as big anymore.

Based on the two links, my main concern right now would be the firmness of the suspension due to the crummy roads around here.

[exxxviii]

Originally Posted by deutsch100

I too wish the iX could have used more wood in the interior, and offered a few different wood options. Also, the material on the doors gets marked white easily, especially if one regularly uses sunscreen. The area between the front seats should absolutely be covered in a better, softer and more upscale material.

My iX interior beefs that make it look Honda Accord to me:

1. Plastic dash trim and door trim (no wood).
2. Pleather texture looks basic, like one of the worst I have ever seen and obviously fake. (I do not have the leather, because I did not like the colors. But every other car I have seen with plastic textiles looks better than the iX.)
3. Door fabric looks basic and gets dirty.
4. Dash stitching adds luxury, but it is offset by the basic pleather grain (again, other cars look better).
5. Seat stitching pattern is basic; premium cars have more interesting stitching patterns and sometimes contrasting piping. The side stitching pattern on the leather seats looks out of place in pre-LCI cars. The look of the leather sport seats is hugely improved in the LCI leather.
6. The seats are weird looking and don't look premium. (The bizarre head rest shape reminds me of the Thumb-Thumbs in Spy Kids.
7. The 2nd row seats should be motorized up and down - Hyundai does that.
8. Unspecial headliner (again, everyone else in the premium class offers Alcantara).

Don't get me wrong, I love the car. And I love the futuristic design. But the interior design is nothing close to the plush luxury vibe in cars like the i7 and X7. (I have not been inside an X5 in a very long time, so I have no basis for comparison.)

Stuff I love about the iX interior:

1. Open, spacious design.
2. Crystal controls (the seat buttons are poorly located, but they look cool).
3. The screen design is perfect.
4. The B&W grill designs and lighting look righteous.

[NomoTesla]

Originally Posted by exxxviii

My iX interior beefs that make it look Honda Accord to me:

1. Plastic dash trim and door trim (no wood).
2. Pleather texture looks basic, like one of the worst I have ever seen and obviously fake. (I do not have the leather, because I did not like the colors. But every other car I have seen with plastic textiles looks better than the iX.)
3. Door fabric looks basic and gets dirty.
4. Dash stitching adds luxury, but it is offset by the basic pleather grain (again, other cars look better).
5. Seat stitching pattern is basic; premium cars have more interesting stitching patterns and sometimes contrasting piping. The side stitching pattern on the leather seats looks out of place in pre-LCI cars. The look of the leather sport seats is hugely improved in the LCI leather.
6. The seats are weird looking and don't look premium. (The bizarre head rest shape reminds me of the Thumb-Thumbs in Spy Kids.
7. The 2nd row seats should be motorized up and down - Hyundai does that.
8. Unspecial headliner (again, everyone else in the premium class offers Alcantara).

Don't get me wrong, I love the car. And I love the futuristic design. But the interior design is nothing close to the plush luxury vibe in cars like the i7 and X7. (I have not been inside an X5 in a very long time, so I have no basis for comparison.)

Stuff I love about the iX interior:

1. Open, spacious design.
2. Crystal controls (the seat buttons are poorly located, but they look cool).
3. The screen design is perfect.
4. The B&W grill designs and lighting look righteous.

EV drivetrain costs far more than ICE. I don't know what BMW's cost would be, but replacing the pack outright costs more than the car itself. With these kinds of economics, sacrifices have to be made somewhere.

[exxxviii]

Originally Posted by NomoTesla

EV drivetrain costs far more than ICE. I don't know what BMW's cost would be, but replacing the pack outright costs more than the car itself. With these kinds of economics, sacrifices have to be made somewhere.

I get it. But my observation is cheaper MSRP cars like the Nissan Ariya, Audi Q8, Cadillac Lyriq, Cadillac Optiq, M-B EQB SUV, etc. look a crapton more premium, plush, and luxurious than the iX. The iX total package blows all those away by a lot. But its interior is massively lacking in comparison and is a lot more Honda- or Toyota-like.

[ggalanis]

My thoughts on some of your points:

Originally Posted by exxxviii

Plastic dash trim and door trim (no wood).

The plastics used here feel fine to me and seem like they will wear well.

Originally Posted by exxxviii

Pleather texture looks basic, like one of the worst I have ever seen and obviously fake. (I do not have the leather, because I did not like the colors. But every other car I have seen with plastic textiles looks better than the iX.)

Haven't seen the non leather options. They should have offered more leather color options for sure.

Originally Posted by exxxviii

Door fabric looks basic and gets dirty.

I find it looks fine, but yes it gets dirty.

Originally Posted by exxxviii

The 2nd row seats should be motorized up and down - Hyundai does that.

A nice to have for sure. Same with reclining rear seats.

Originally Posted by exxxviii

Unspecial headliner (again, everyone else in the premium class offers Alcantara).

With the pano glass, I don't feel it is as important to have a special headliner material since there wouldn't really be much of it. I couldn't even tell you what it feels like in my iX. If more of it was covered, like in a steel roof iX, then it is more important for it to look nicer.

[EV Fan]

Originally Posted by thebishman

This early review of a prototype iX3 doesn’t address things such as interior quality obviously, but the driving dynamics sound superb

Those are enthusiastic reviews, and it continues to be high on my list when my iX lease expires in mid-2027. My two main questions:

- Will the displays "work?" I rejected Tesla off the bat because I don't want to drive from an iPad, and the iX3 makes a major move away from a traditional instrument panel. It sounds well thought out, but I have to drive it to know.

- What will be the effect of tariffs? If it's hit with a 25% upcharge in the US it'll likely be uncompetitive, so a lot will ride on how BMW manages that.

[darylp310]

Originally Posted by ggalanis

Thanks for the links.

Unless BMW messes something important up with the iX3, it is likely going to be what replaces my iX when it is released. Not because we are unhappy with the iX in any meaningful way, just new car itch. If the iX3 doesn't float our boat, then we'd wait for the iX5 and see how it compares but the truth is we don't need something as big anymore.

Based on the two links, my main concern right now would be the firmness of the suspension due to the crummy roads around here.

Great to see this preview of the Neue Klasse iX3! Very exciting. In the link above, Thomas does mention that they were riding on the base suspension, so I imagine there will be an air suspension option also available for people who want a cushier ride. Look forward to learning more over the coming months!

[KRS_SN]

Originally Posted by ggalanis

The materials and fit/finish in the iX are as good if not better than what I had in my 2019 X5. The leather is great and doesn't make me miss the merino leather from my X5, and all the normal touchpoints feel good. They could do better with the door bins but the same was true of my X5. The only spot that they very visibly cheaped out on was the plastic on the lower part of the center console. It is not a big deal, and not something you really touch often, but wrapping it in leather or some other soft touch material would have been nice. My X5 had the extended leather which covered a part of the side of the transmission tunnel up front. It was a nice touch for those who would rest their right knee on it but not really needed otherwise since you'd never really touch that area. Still the fact it was there made a difference in perceived luxury. I wish they had found a way to use the wood in more than one spot.

The rest of the differences I feel are about styling. I liked the styling of my X5. I like the iX too, but took me longer to warm up to the iX look. However I am not sure the X5 look would work well in the more airy cabin of the iX but it would be worth a try. They went all in for that airy look and feel and sacrificed things like the sportiness of the front seats (even though I personally like them) to achieve it. Even though if I had to pick one to live with forever, I prefer the styling of the X5, I like how spacious the iX feels in comparison.

The leather covered bits are good. Dashboard is better. Its roomier and open. The rest of the areas outwith the leather covered seats and dash are a mix of fabric and plastic, not nice.
But these areas don't come into the field of view immediately when driving so its fine. Its when you're sat inside and parked for a while that you notice these especially things like the headliner.

[ggalanis]

Originally Posted by exxxviii

Unspecial headliner (again, everyone else in the premium class offers Alcantara).

Originally Posted by KRS_SN

Its when you're sat inside and parked for a while that you notice these especially things like the headliner.

Just to be sure we are talking about the same thing (I will try to take a look at the headliner when my wife brings the car back home because I really can't remember what it looks or feels like), do you guys have the option S4AA "Headlining Anthracite" on your builds like on mine?

[Maverick241]

Another iX3 review.

They mentioned no air suspension

[Maverick241]

Originally Posted by EV Fan

Those are enthusiastic reviews, and it continues to be high on my list when my iX lease expires in mid-2027. My two main questions:

- Will the displays "work?" I rejected Tesla off the bat because I don't want to drive from an iPad, and the iX3 makes a major move away from a traditional instrument panel. It sounds well thought out, but I have to drive it to know.

- What will be the effect of tariffs? If it's hit with a 25% upcharge in the US it'll likely be uncompetitive, so a lot will ride on how BMW manages that.

Depends on where it is made. Rumor is Mexico for the US market. Other than the projected dash the center touch screen has a lot of tesla vibes. Supposedly this may be the new interior design language for all new redesigned models going forward ICE included.

[exxxviii]

Originally Posted by ggalanis

With the pano glass, I don't feel it is as important to have a special headliner material since there wouldn't really be much of it. I couldn't even tell you what it feels like in my iX. If more of it was covered, like in a steel roof iX, then it is more important for it to look nicer.

Originally Posted by ggalanis

Just to be sure we are talking about the same thing (I will try to take a look at the headliner when my wife brings the car back home because I really can't remember what it looks or feels like), do you guys have the option S4AA "Headlining Anthracite" on your builds like on mine?

Drat, I cannot find my detailed build sheet. The one I have does not list S4AA.

The key to the Alcantara headliners is not looking up. It is that you see the material on the A Pillars in your forward view. The faux suede is a plush, premium luxury look always in front of you. My car has the black, open weave material like on the fronts of the door panels. (My wife's car has gray Alcantara, and it is sweet!)

[ggalanis]

Originally Posted by exxxviii

Drat, I cannot find my detailed build sheet. The one I have does not list S4AA.

You can look up your vin on mdecoder.com like I did.

[exxxviii]

Originally Posted by ggalanis

You can look up your vin on mdecoder.com like I did.

AWESOME! Thanks.

I do have "S4AA Headlining Anthracite" as well."

[ggalanis]

Originally Posted by Maverick241

Another iX3 review.

They mentioned no air suspension

Thanks for posting the link and thanks to hb for another great, in depth video.

This and the other reviews seem to give the car very high praise. I like the look of the panoramic vision screen but we'll see how practical it is in the flesh. Will be very curious to know the price point vs interior materials/luxuriousness. If they strike the right balance, they will likely get my money again.

[KRS_SN]

Originally Posted by ggalanis

Just to be sure we are talking about the same thing (I will try to take a look at the headliner when my wife brings the car back home because I really can't remember what it looks or feels like), do you guys have the option S4AA "Headlining Anthracite" on your builds like on mine?
Attachment 3753861

Mine is anthracite too.

[ggalanis]

Originally Posted by exxxviii

AWESOME! Thanks.

I do have "S4AA Headlining Anthracite" as well."

Attachment 3753980

ok then nothing special going on in the iX headliner so yes it could be nicer.

[javapro]

Originally Posted by ggalanis

Just to be sure we are talking about the same thing (I will try to take a look at the headliner when my wife brings the car back home because I really can't remember what it looks or feels like), do you guys have the option S4AA "Headlining Anthracite" on your builds like on mine?
Attachment 3753861

Anthracite headliner is the standard non-alcantara one on the iX. The same applies to the X5.

[darylp310]

Originally Posted by Maverick241

Another iX3 review.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuJFOEj519I

They mentioned no air suspension

You might be right that this model will never have air suspension. I forgot that the iX3 is supposed to be a lower end model to compete against the Model Y, so they probably need to streamline things to keep the cost down.