Cheaper BMW iX1, iX3 and i4 EVs announced

BMW Australia is going gangbusters on (relatively) affordable EVs, announcing a trio of new battery-electric model variants, all priced under the Luxury Car Tax threshold for fuel-efficient vehicles.

The new EVs in question are the BMW iX1 eDrive20, i4 eDrive35 and iX3 M Sport, which will retail from $78,900, $85,900 and $89,100 plus on-road respectively and will arrive in the final quarter of 2023 and first quarter of 2024.

Starting from the cheapest of them, the 2024 iX1 eDrive20 is the only one of the three new models not arriving this year and was revealed in Munich overnight as the new entry point into BMW’s EV range.

The small electric SUV’s opening price positions it exactly $6000 below the established iX1 xDrive30, with most of the savings being found in the powertrain since the newcomer features a 150kW/247Nm singe-motor arrangement compared to the eDrive30’s dual-motor system.

The two models share the same 67kWh battery pack and, while the eDriv20 lacks the outright power and performance of its stablemate, it makes up for the deficit with a superior 475km effective range – versus 400km.

Standard equipment highlights for the cheapest BMW EV include 18-inch alloys, dual-zone climate control, adaptive LED headlights, dual-screen curved display, smartphone mirroring, a head-up display, automatic tailgate, wireless phone charging and Comfort Access.

A 12-month Chargefox subscription is also included in the price, just as it is with the BMW i4 eDrive35.

The third member of the local mid-size electric fastback family, the i4 eDrive35, is powered by a rear-mounted 210kW/400Nm motor and draws current from a 70kWh battery pack, making it less powerful than the i4 eDrive40, which offers 250kW/430Nm outputs and an 84kWh battery.

Zero-100km/h is dispatched in a claimed six seconds flat, while the cruising range is pegged at up to 430km, but it should be noted the smaller battery can’t be DC fast-charged at quite the same power as the more expensive i4s (180kW versus 200kW).

Standard gear for the new cut-price Tesla Model 3 rival includes 18-inch alloys, LED headlights, active cruise control, head-up display, three-zone climate control, Sensatec upholstery, power-adjustable sport front seats, ambient lighting, automatic tailgate and wireless phone charging and mirroring.

The BMW iX3 was the Bavarian brand’s first mass-produced EV and continues to be a stalwart of the local portfolio, especially now the upcoming new entry-level M Sport variant costs almost $16,000 less.

Featuring the same 210kW/400Nm powertrain as the established iX3 mid-size electric SUV, the M Sport’s significantly lower asking price is afforded entirely by its reduced standard kit list compared to the loaded eponymous flagship.

Headline hear comprises 19-inch alloys, M Sport package, metallic paint, a panorama glass sunroof, Comfort Access, heated and leather-upholstered sport seats, adaptive suspension and BMW Parking Assistant.

The M Sport’s more modest specification yields a marginally lighter kerb weight than its stablemate, which in turn frees up an extra kilometre of driving range (up to 461km) but has no effect on claimed 0-100km/h performance (6.8sec).

“BMW Australia has dramatically broadened its fully electric vehicle portfolio with the announcement of three new variants for introduction to the market,” said BMW Australia today.

“When the i4 eDrive35 and iX3 M Sport arrive at the end of this year, BMW will have 12 variants across six fully electric models in its line-up.

“By next year, the BMW Group anticipates that at least one in five of the company’s new vehicles should have a fully electric drivetrain. The following year it should be one in four, and in 2026, one in three.”

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