Half a year on from its official debut, the 2026 BMW iX3, codenamed NA5, is shown at the ongoing 2026 Bangkok International Motor Show (BIMS 2026) in right-hand-drive form, and is on sale in Thailand in a sole iX3 50 xDrive variant priced from 3,599,000 baht (RM435,903).
Visually being the Vision Neue Klasse X brought to production reality, the NA5 iX3 carries over the illuminated kidney grille, the ‘valleys’ on the bonnet and tailgate where each logo resides, and the lack of visible rubber along the window/belt line.
In terms of size, the NA5 is close to the current G45 X3, with the new model measuring 4,782 mm long, 1,895 mm wide and 1,635 mm tall, or slightly longer, but narrower and lower than the G45 (4,755 mm long, 1,920 mm wide, 1,660 mm tall).
The 50 xDrive specification means a dual-motor powertrain providing all-wheel-drive, comprised of an asynchronous motor (ASM) in front producing 167 PS and 255 Nm, while the rear axle gets an electrically excited synchronous motor (EESM) motor with 326 PS and 455 Nm. Combined, its outputs are 469 PS and 645 Nm, good for a claimed 0-100 km/h time of 4.9 seconds and a top speed of 210 km/h.
This is on a first-for-BMW, 800-volt electrical architecture that enables up to 400 kW DC charging, for a claimed 10-80% recharge time of 21 minutes for its NMC battery with 108.7 kWh usable capacity (116 kWh gross capacity); this architecture enables peak charging rate to be sustained for up to five minutes.
As for home charging, up to 11 kW AC is supported by the onboard charger, or optionally upgradeable to 22 kW AC. Conversely, the V2L capability for powering external devices is rated at up to 3.7 kW. Fully charged, the NA5 iX3 offers up to 805 km of range on the WLTP testing standard.
Key to the driving dynamics of the NA5 iX3 is what BMW calls the Heart of Joy, a “superbrain” management system for the vehicle’s drivetrain, brakes, energy recuperation and steering sub-functions that processes information up to 10 times faster than conventional control units, according to BMW.
For autonomous driving, the Motorway Assistant feature allows drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel for prolonged periods when on open highways, without having alerts to regain manual control of the steering every few minutes.
On the other hand, when minor steering or braking inputs are required when adaptive cruise control is switched on, Symbiotic Drive allows these minor corrective inputs to be made without fighting the driver or switching off from autonomous driving completely.
Inside, the NA5 iX3 brings a significant change from the cabins of BMW models prior to this, with the Panoramic iDrive 17.9-inch central screen and the Panoramic Vision display that spans the width of the windscreen at its base, from pillar to pillar. Using the “Hey BMW” voice prompt summons the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant, for access to navigation, communication, entertainment, and vehicle control.
Cabin upholstery for the NA5 iX3 in the Thai market is a choice of black, as pictured, or Castanea, with contrasting sections and stitching in silver. In terms of storage, the NA5 iX3 has luggage capacity of up to 1,750 litres, and a further 58 litres in the frunk.
In Thailand, the NA5 BMW iX3 is offered in Ocean Wave Blue metallic (pictured), Black Sapphire metallic, Polarised Grey metallic, Space Silver metallic, M Brooklyn Grey metallic, and Alpine White, with the aforementioned interior upholstery colour pairing of black and Castanea. The 2026 iX3 is priced in Thailand from 3,599,000 baht (RM435,903).
