BMW’s new iX3 drove 485 miles, the longest-range EV in NAF test

BMW’s new iX3 beat out the competition, driving 485 miles on a single charge, making it the longest-range EV during Motor and NAF’s summer range test.

BMW iX3 wins NAF’s EV range test, achieving 485 miles

As the first Neue Klasse EV, BMW promised the new iX3 would be a game-changer, delivering a 30% improvement in driving range and 30% faster charging speeds.

With orders now open in the US and Europe, the new BMW iX3 is already showing what it’s capable of.

During this year’s summer EV range test, held by the Norwegian Automobile Federation (NAF) and Motor Magazine, the BMW iX3 50 xDrive drove further than any other model, achieving a driving range of 485 miles (781 km) on a single charge.

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While it wasn’t quite enough to top the record of 517 miles (832 km) achieved by the Lucid Air last summer, it’s still slightly higher than its official WLTP range of 478 miles (770 km).

Placing second was Lucid’s electric SUV, the Gravity, which achieved 447 miles (720 km) on a single charge.

The Mercedes-Benz CLA 350 4Matic came in third (675 km/419 mi), followed by the Mercedes-Benz GLC 400 4Matic, XPeng X9, Polestar 3, Mercedes-Benz GLB 350 4Matic, Toyota C-HR+, Kia EV4, and Hyundai IONIQ 9.

All of them started their journey in Oslo with a fully charged battery, traveling as far as possible until they ran out of power and could no longer maintain the speed limit.

Drivers use regenerative braking throughout the trip, mostly during the first loop through Oslo, and then adaptive cruise control as needed. In addition, all vehicles are driven in normal mode.

While they didn’t rank in the top 10, several new EVs beat their official WLTP range figures, including the XPeng X9 (+11.4%), Kia EV2 (+5.4%), Hyundai Inster (+3.5%), and Kia PV5 (+1.8%).

While the real-world driving range is helpful, NAF’s test is not just about which EV can travel the farthest. It’s more to prove which vehicles live up to their manufacturers’ claims.

BMW opened orders for the new 2027 iX3 50 xDrive in the US last month, starting at $61,500 with an EPA-estimated driving range of up to 434 miles.

After opening orders in Europe in September, BMW’s CEO, Oliver Zipse, said the new iX3 received over 50,000 orders in its first six months on sale, roughly a third of the brand’s total.