BMW iX3 launched in Malaysia – facelifted electric SUV arrives in Inspiring, Impressive trim, RM317k-RM336k

BMW iX3 launched in Malaysia – facelifted electric SUV arrives in Inspiring, Impressive trim, RM317k-RM336k

Days after spec sheets of the new BMW iX3 had been leaked online, BMW Group Malaysia has made it official by finally launching the electric SUV here. The second electric model being introduced this year, the car provides a more affordable alternative to the larger iX, using the X3 as its base.

UPDATE: The BMW iX3 has a new 2022 tax-free price, from RM307,160 to RM345,800, which is up to RM11,200 lower than the 2021 launch price.

As has already been made known, the car arrives in Inspiring and Impressive variants priced at RM317,360 and RM336,360 respectively, on-the-road without insurance. These figures include the sales and service tax (SST), meaning that deliveries will only begin next year after the exemption ends on December 31 – although it may well get extended again.

A two-year, unlimited-mileage warranty comes as standard – as usual, you can upgrade to a five-year warranty and service package, which bumps up those prices to RM330,800 and RM349,800. You can also opt for a Power Package, which adds a 22 kW BMW i Wallbox and a BMW i Standard Charging Cable and is priced at RM5,000 (without installation); with this, the iX3 is priced from RM322,360 to RM341,360 with the two-year warranty and from RM335,800 to RM354,800 with the five-year warranty and service pack.

In Malaysia, the first 30 customers will get the Power Package free with their purchase of the iX3, along with complimentary installation of the i Wallbox up to RM2,000 and one year of access to the BMW charging network worth RM240. Both variants are identical mechanically, powered by a rear-mounted electric motor delivering 210 kW (286 PS) and 400 Nm of torque. So equipped, the iX3 will get from zero to 100 km/h in 6.8 seconds before hitting an electronically-limited top speed of 180 km/h.

The car is also fitted with a 73.8 kWh lithium-ion battery that provides a range of between 453 and 461 km on the WLTP cycle. Charging the iX3 takes around seven and a half hours using the maximum AC charging power of 11 kW; alternatively, you can juice the battery through a DC fast charger at up to 150 kW, filling it up to 80% in just 32 minutes.

The iX3 arrives in Malaysia in facelifted form (before the regular X3 gets its nip and tuck) and thus gets slimmer trapezoidal headlights, a larger conjoined grille and pincer-style three-dimensional taillights. Having previously been offered without the M Sport package, the sportier look is now fitted as standard, adding a large hexagonal centre air intake, L-shaped corner inlets, body-coloured cladding and a large rear diffuser.

The changes are even more pronounced inside, with a new angular dashboard that borrows elements from the G20 3 Series, including the ergonomic clustered switchgear. The centre touchscreen is larger at 12.3 inches across, part of the now-standard BMW Live Cockpit Professional that also adds a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.

Spec sheets for iX3 M Sport Inspiring, click to enlarge

There’s no large curved display panel to be had here, unlike in the iX; the car retains the use of BMW Operating System 7 instead of the newer eighth-generation software. As part of the M Sport package, the iX3 also receives an M Sport steering wheel, sports seats and black headlining.

In terms of specs, there aren’t a great deal of differences between the two variants. The base Inspiring model already comes well-equipped with adaptive LED headlights, 19-inch Style 842 aerodynamic alloy wheels, Vernasca leather upholstery, a stitched Sensatec faux leather-wrapped dashboard, brushed aluminium interior trim with Pearl Chrome finishers and galvanised silver switchgear.

Also fitted are keyless entry, push-button start, adaptive dampers, power-adjustable front seats with heating and driver’s side memory, triple-zone automatic climate control, a Qi wireless charger, a panoramic glass sunroof, parking assist with the Reversing Assistant, a 12-speaker, 205-watt sound system, a reverse camera and a hands-free powered tailgate.

Spec sheets for iX3 M Sport Impressive, click to enlarge

The Impressive model adds Laserlight headlamps, staggered 20-inch Style 890 M alloys, a head-up display, acoustic glass front side windows, gesture control, a 16-speaker, 464-watt Harmon Kardon sound system, a 360-degree camera system and IconicSounds Electric synthetic driving sounds – the latter developed in partnership with renown composer Hans Zimmer.

Impressively (no pun intended), both variants come with the Driving Assistant Professional package, adding a full complement of active safety features. These include autonomous emergency braking, evasive steering assist, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, lane centring assist, blind spot monitoring, traffic sign recognition, emergency stop assist and adaptive high beam.

The iX3 also comes as standard with an acoustic warning for pedestrians and Active Protection. The latter is BMW’s version of Mercedes-Benz’s Pre-Safe that primes the seat belt pre-tensioners and closes all windows if the car detects an imminent collision. Browse full specifications and equipment of the BMW iX3 on CarBase.my.

GALLERY: BMW iX3 facelift official global photos

Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.

Learn more:

Certified Pre-Owned - 1 Year Warranty

10% discount when you renew your car insurance

Compare prices between different insurer providers and use the promo code 'PAULTAN10' when you make your payment to save the most on your car insurance renewal compared to other competing services.

Car Insurance

Jonathan Lee

After trying to pursue a career in product design, Jonathan Lee decided to make the sideways jump into the world of car journalism instead. He therefore appreciates the aesthetic appeal of a car, but for him, the driving experience is still second to none.

 

Comments

  • Bieight8 on Oct 25, 2021 at 10:17 am

    Buying an EV but need to pay extra for charging box is ridiculous….

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 14
    • digidigi on Oct 25, 2021 at 2:23 pm

      Nah do u know some people stay in high rise , so they giving option of not bundle together

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 0
    • Billy on Oct 25, 2021 at 2:25 pm

      now the bill will goes to TNB…

      untunglaa

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
      • RyanT on Oct 25, 2021 at 3:20 pm

        Newton’s first law : energy gain = energy loss…
        Bear in mind, nothing is free

        I don’t want to find charging stations and queuing for hours with my family in car at R&R…it just doesn’t make sense to me

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 9
  • digidigi on Oct 25, 2021 at 10:35 am

    only 30 units available ? Gonna be sold out today

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 1
  • Likely this is a CBU China unit hence the competitive pricing. Singapore’s IX3 also distributed by Sime Darby comes with the same bells and whistle at a competitive price coming in from BMWs China plant, so this looks the same. Tesla did the same strategy in SG as well getting the model 3 from Shanghai Gigafactory, undercutting other premium luxury models by a significant margin.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 2
  • Kudos BMW on Oct 25, 2021 at 11:36 am

    Thank you BMW Malaysia for making the difference between the two cosmetic. Love how safety features are standard between the two making this the best value BMW in Malaysia. Let’s hope this becomes the norm for other models in the future because sometimes people don’t want to spend money to get the top spec just for the safety tech. Not everyone cares for the bigger wheels/laser lights etc as these two are nice to have but not really necessary imo. Can’t wait to see this in the flesh.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 18 Thumb down 0
  • IGP Mom on Oct 25, 2021 at 12:39 pm

    PDRM should get some EVs as polis escort cars,

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 6
  • Semi-Value (Member) on Oct 25, 2021 at 10:30 pm

    30 units? lol gone la.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • lord_jagganath on Nov 18, 2021 at 10:05 am

    I have determined the regular readers of this news outlet have zero reading comprehension skills. BMW has come up with a relatively good value vehicle, at a reasonable cost.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
 

Add a comment

required

required