Car of the Year Awards 2022: Best electric SUV to drive

It may not be a sports SUV, but if you’re an enthusiastic driver, the BMW iX3 will put a bigger grin on your face than any of its electric SUV rivals.

Sure, its 0-62mph time of 6.8sec isn’t in the Tesla league, but performance is both prodigious and instantaneous. Under acceleration, it even serenades you with a soundtrack by composer Hans Zimmer.

But much more important than sheer power is how the iX3 handles. The steering is precise and there’s lots of grip from the tyres, and with less body lean than the Audi E-tron, Jaguar I-Pace or Mercedes EQC, the iX3 feels more nimble, and therefore more fun, than any of those cars.

What’s more, thanks to standard-fit adaptive suspension, when you’re done scything around country lanes, you can press a button for a smoother journey home. And since its official range of 285 miles beats those of the E-tron and EQC, the fun can last that little bit longer

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