Rival: 2026 BMW iX3 reviews are impressive... R2 has its work cut out

[DuoRivians]

did you decide what you are going to do?

I’m not in the market for either car. But if I were, I’d highly lean toward the iX3

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[Eric9610]

The best offer on current iX3 orders will be MSRP. No discounts will be offered as long as alocations are sold out.

 

[Zathras]

I think that's being a bit short-sighted. I believe that BMW is one of the few that is learning from past mistakes and is actually giving it 100% with their Neue Klasse. They have the basics down:

• 800V architecture
• 400 kW charging
• 400-mile EPA range
• NACS (for U.S. market)
• Customizable one-pedal driving
• Looks like a pretty efficient use of space (other than the laughable frunk)

All the other stuff is going to come down to a matter of preference for styling inside and out and how much you're willing to spend. And as far as service is concerned, I have plenty of BMW service centers in my area, and only one Rivian service center. And I can't even PURCHASE a Rivian in my state (NC). I'd have to drive out of state to Virginia (three hours away) to pick up the vehicle (NC will let Rivian have service centers, but not a dealership to sell vehicles).

Don't get me wrong, I'm still going to pick up an R2 (unless the spec that I want overlaps with the iX3), but I'm not so quick to poo-poo the competition.

My biggest diss on the car would be this god-awful steering wheel (which is optional, thank goodness, according to Kyle of OoS).

One look at that interior and I’d say no way. It’s like an Apollo capsule. I’d get claustriphobia. And it’s so over-designed. It’s Wagnerian in scope!

And most Importantly, no forward screen behind the steering wheel. No thanks.

 

[NCSwa]

Must be a west coast thing. ChargePoint and EA are an absolute joke here in the southeast. Absolute trash chargers. EA put their “latest and greatest gen chargers” near me and they never work. Always offline. ChargePoint is mostly L2s and if you do find a DCFC they’re 62.5 kW, always broken, and shouldn’t even exist. Never heard of IONITY. Glad you have good options where you live!

The ONLY reliable chargers are Tesla up and down the entire southeast from my travels. Hell there really aren’t any other choices than Tesla. Couple of 4 stall EA here and there. Maybe an 8 staller in bigger city like Charlotte here or there. EVGO is another one that should just close their business also; joke of a company. IONNA is one new company I REALLY hope succeeds and becomes everywhere like Tesla is. They’re doing it right and seem very legit. Waiting for one to open near me to check out.

I was also not suggesting we shouldn’t be for OEMs doing 800v by default these days now, I’m just agreeing the infrastructure really isn’t there across the USA. Maybe west coast has better options. I visit family in VA and up through DC and there’s nothing that works there either really except Tesla from my experience.

Same, I live in the Charlotte area, and there is basically nothing but Tesla changers, those others barely exist in the South Eastern part of the US. The EA ones aren't even by the interstate, what are they doing?

 

[Zathras]

Same, I live in the Charlotte area, and there is basically nothing but Tesla changers, those others barely exist in the South Eastern part of the US. The EA ones aren't even by the interstate, what are they doing?

Funny you should write that. Because on Youtube it seems. like a lot more charger development is happening on the East Coast, and in the Southeast. I suppose mainly Wal Mart? But California seems to be not expanding as quickly. Maybe because they were ahead in the past?

 

[Husky]

One look at that interior and I’d say no way. It’s like an Apollo capsule. I’d get claustriphobia. And it’s so over-designed. It’s Wagnerian in scope!

And most Importantly, no forward screen behind the steering wheel. No thanks.

I didn't care the the interior design of the iX3, especially that weird steering wheel and the trapezoidal screen. Did Chris Bangle get hired to do the interior?

 

[NCSwa]

Funny you should write that. Because on Youtube it seems. like a lot more charger development is happening on the East Coast, and in the Southeast. I suppose mainly Wal Mart? But California seems to be not expanding as quickly. Maybe because they were ahead in the past?

Charlotte is the fastest growing city in the country currently.

Fastest-Growing Major Cities (Populations 500,000+)
For larger, established metropolitan areas, high growth remains a draw. [1, 2]

• Charlotte, North Carolina: Added 20,731 new residents in the last measured annual period, the highest numeric gain for any U.S. city.

So yeah not sure why they are not building out here more quickly...

 

[Jeremy3292]

Funny you should write that. Because on Youtube it seems. like a lot more charger development is happening on the East Coast, and in the Southeast. I suppose mainly Wal Mart? But California seems to be not expanding as quickly. Maybe because they were ahead in the past?

There are other chargers around but they’re POS stuff. Nothing like you would expect as a baseline standard like 500 amp minimum. No one is doing any serious charger installs other than IONNA, Tesla, and Rivian. Walmart is starting but I’ve yet to see any myself personally. EVGO puts some here and there but they’re not good, similar to EA. The problem is you can’t rely on anyone other than the “big 3” of Tesla, IONNA, and Rivian even if others maybe did one good install around somewhere. Not worth the time to “give it a go” or try to find them. I know the “big 3” are around and good.

 

[TexasBob]

350kw chargers.

 

[Jeremy3292]

350kw chargers.

Plugshare is a horrible resource to source charger specs from, it is only good for "does this charger work" lately. Those of us who actually live here know what is actually 350 kW.

For example below. This charger is 200 amps max output yet says its 350 kW and was in your photo you shared This is the POS stuff they install around here. It's a JOKE. Click through and you'll see more and more and more. Duke Energy installed these everywhere and that's just one example.

 

[TexasBob]

Plugshare is a horrible resource to source charger specs from, it is only good for "does this charger work" lately. Those of us who actually live here know what is actually 350 kW.

For example below. This charger is 200 amps max output yet says its 350 kW and was in your photo you shared This is the POS stuff they install around here. It's a JOKE. Click through and you'll see more and more and more. Duke Energy installed these everywhere and that's just one example.

You can dig through them I would stick with Ionna, Walmart (always excellent in my book), Mercedes. I would run away from EVGO and Chargepoint is banned in my house. But even sticking with 8+ posts on the reliable players there are a half dozen 800V stations. Though for me it is wholly irrelevant how many DCFC stations are near my house because the is literally the ONE place I would never use them.

 

[Great Gatsby]

You can dig through them I would stick with Ionna, Walmart (always excellent in my book), Mercedes. I would run away from EVGO and Chargepoint is banned in my house. But even sticking with 8+ posts on the reliable players there are a half dozen 800V stations. Though for me it is wholly irrelevant how many DCFC stations are near my house because the is literally the ONE place I would never use them.

Shout out to the Mercedes ones, for real. I'd used them twice and they have been excellent. Huge fan!

But yeah I've had enough headaches with EA and EVGO to just forego them altogether. If the powers that be wanted to slow EV adoption, they should advertise for those companies. People would go back to ICE in no time if those were our only options.

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