MOTORS
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FOR ALL You can do it... you really can ‘go electric’ without limitations. This month we discover BMW’s iX3, an entirely electric vehicle that’s easy to live with, engaging to drive and compromise-free... Words: Rob Davis.
THE ENCOURAGEMENT is everywhere. We’re all being told that we need to get into electric vehicles to address climate change; ditch the diesel and get past petrol. But if doing so involves making compromises and fretting about running out of charge mid-journey, adoption of plug-in electric cars will be slow. Whilst plug-in hybrid vehicles bridge the gap, the fact is, they remain a poorer compromise, with much more limited electric ranges and poor fuel economy thanks to the fact that a typically smaller combustion engine has to lug around the extra weight of the electric constituent of the car; the batteries, a motor and so on. To make the leap towards the necessity of electric car ownership, we need vehicles that
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provide compromise-free electric motoring, and so it’s with staggeringly good timing that BMW releases this, the iX3. It’s phenomenal. Conventional looking – still smart though – great value, a well-reconciled family motor that will enable you to make the move to electric motoring and never look back. Unlike BMW’s odd-looking i3 electric car, the iX3 is much more recognisable as being a mid-size SUV with a big boot and four seats. It’s well-equipped, quick and offers excellent range, alleviating any worry about being dependent on regular recharging. Let’s start with the iX3’s powertrain, which is roughly akin in terms of performance to
