We headed north of Bangkok to put BMW’s all-new 2026 iX3 50 xDrive M Sport through its paces.

The new iX3 is the first taste of BMW’s next generation of electric cars, bringing together the company’s new Heart of Joy control system, rear-biased xDrive all-wheel drive, Panoramic Vision, Operating System X and a completely new approach to BMW’s electric future.

The iX3 xDrive50 packs 469hp and 645Nm, weighs more than 2.3 tonnes and can sprint from 0-100km/h in 4.9 seconds. On the road, its suspension does a remarkably good job of keeping that considerable mass under control. But it was on track where things got really interesting. Throw the iX3 into the slalom and it starts behaving less like a hefty electric SAV and more like the BMW we know and love. It corners remarkably flat, feels rear-biased and most importantly – it remains genuinely engaging to drive.

2026 BMW iX3 xDrive50 M Sport 108.7kWh Review: The Electric Essence of Joy

So, has BMW managed to build an electric SUV that still has some driving soul? After driving it in Thailand, our answer is a resounding YES!

Watch our first drive of the 2026 BMW iX3 50 xDrive M Sport and let us know what you think of BMW’s electric future.