BMW iX3 Under the Microscope: 238 Kilometers of Range After 15 Minutes
The demanding '10% Challenge' test simulated a real highway trip and revealed how much the German electric SUV has advanced in charging speed and range.
The demanding '10% Challenge' test simulated a real highway trip and revealed how much the German electric SUV has advanced in charging speed and range.
How many kilometers can you actually add while grabbing a coffee at a highway rest stop? The YouTube channel Out of Spec Roaming decided to find out with the new BMW iX3, subjecting it to a rigorous test called the '10% Challenge'. The results show that it is one of the most impressive electric SUVs when it comes to charging speed and usable range on the open road.
The test concept is simple but extremely demanding. The car arrives at the charger with only 10 percent battery charge. It then charges for exactly 15 minutes, after which it hits the highway, driving at a constant speed of 120 km/h. The test ends the moment the battery drops back to the initial 10 percent. The goal is to simulate a typical long-distance scenario: a short break and then continuing the journey.
Orders for the new iX3, according to available information, have already filled production capacity for the entire 2026 model year, which says enough about customer interest. But the factory-declared range is one thing, and real-world highway performance is quite another.
During the test, the new iX3 demonstrated the full power of BMW's Neue Klasse charging technology. It reached a maximum charging power of 407 kW, and maintained a value of around 400 kW until the battery reached approximately 20 percent charge. The charging curve remained impressive later on: at 30 percent, power was around 360 kW; at 40 percent, it dropped to approximately 250 kW; and at 50 percent, it still held a respectable 200 kW.
The final result was that in just 15 minutes, the battery was charged from 10 to 65 percent, with an average charging power of 257 kW. Given that this is a battery with a net capacity of 108 kWh, such charging speed significantly reduces time spent at rest stops. BMW officially states that charging from 10 to 80 percent takes 21 minutes, and the test results suggest that this figure is realistically achievable under optimal conditions.
The most important data came after disconnecting from the charger. With an 65 percent battery charge, the iX3 managed to cover 238 kilometers at a constant speed of 120 km/h before the indicator dropped back to 10 percent. The average consumption during the test was 24.3 kWh per 100 kilometers.
Based on these results, it is estimated that a fully charged iX3 could cover around 468 kilometers under the same highway conditions. An even better indicator for planning longer routes comes from BMW's data on charging to 80 percent: after 21 minutes at a fast charger, the car could, according to the test results, cover around 326 kilometers before the battery drops back to 10 percent.
The combination of a large battery capacity, extremely high charging power, and solid highway efficiency clearly shows why the new iX3 is positioned as one of BMW's most important electric models in recent years.
