BMW iX3 review

The iX3 is garlanded in heaps of equipment, and it's cheaper to buy than the rivals from Mercedes, Jaguar and Audi. But then, it is slower.

BMW says the options list is 'carefully curated'. In other words, there isn't much choice. Just four exterior colours – black, grey, white or blue. Hopefully later on as supplies ease up there will be more.

As mentioned the Premier Edition was £58,850 with the Pro pack adding another £3,000. Post-facelift they’re known as M Sport and M Sport Pro with prices starting at £60,970 and £63,970 respectively. Both have electric seats, LED headlights, adaptive damping, a glass roof, and the full driver assist pack. Adding Pro gives adaptive lights, self-parking, gesture control, better sound, keyless entry and BMW's superb HUD.

Because it's more efficient than rivals, has a smaller battery and can accept high charge power, the on-road journey times should be quick. Start at full after an overnight charge, stop after 220 real-world miles at a 150kW charger, and you'll have added about 180 real-world miles in half an hour. That'll complete a 400 mile trip.

BMW gives figures on full-life CO2. If you run it on green electricity, then the total for manufacturing, driving and recycling is a 60 per cent cut in CO2 compared with an X3 20d. Yes it takes more CO2 in manufacture, but after two years' driving you're ahead overall of the diesel. Even on EU average electricity (which is less green than the UK's) the cut is still 30 per cent. The cobalt and lithium are fully audited for fair production, and cobalt use is cut by about two-thirds versus last year's electric BMWs.