Eschewing oddball looks or any fancy lightweight construction methodologies, the iX3 is as normal as they come. In fact, the only things that mark it out visually from its diesel-fed counterpart are the closed off grille, aero 19-inch wheels, and the smattering of blue highlights.

The same can be said about what’s found underneath. The body shell isn’t much different which lends you to believe that compromises had to have been done to fit the battery pack and electric motor. Not so.

In a bit of clever, BMW engineered the X3 from the get-go to take on a variety of powertrains, including this all-electric one. With that, there are no compromises except for the lower ride height (179 mm versus 204 mm). The battery size itself, at 80 kWh (74 kWh usable) is run-of-the-mill for its segment, but thanks to an energy-dense construction, delivers 460 kilometers between charges; that’s about 10 kilometers more than the Lexus RZ which is equipped with a larger battery and riding on a purpose-built EV platform. That’s all on paper, of course.

In the real-world Philippine setting, the iX3 manages 385 kilometers of range or 5.2 km/kWh (average speed of 18 km/h). Putting that into perspective, that’s about a week’s worth of driving around Manila before any sort of recharging’s required. Weirdly enough, the range readout is pessimistic, but perhaps that’s better than you getting stuck on the road with a dead battery.

Even better than its outright range is that driving this all-electric “Sport Activity Vehicle” feels ridiculously normal. It’s strong, but never brutal. With 286 horsepower and 400 Nm on tap, it gives a strong sense of urgency without threatening to snap necks or regurgitate lunches. In short, it’s an EV made for real people as opposed to YouTubers or TikTokers.

The iX3 may have the classic BMW rear-wheel drive architecture, but don’t expect it to drift or oversteer through corners. Instead, it’s all about being effortlessly agile and fast without becoming out of hand. With steel springs and adaptive dampers, it’s actually fun to toss around, easily belittling its 2.2-ton weight.

Filling a car with heavy batteries rarely does good things to ride comfort, but here, it’s perfectly balanced between body roll and ride suppleness. It rides well even on pockmarked roads like the truck lane on C5. The steering doesn’t offer much in way of feel (the Mazda CX-60 actually does better), but it weighs up naturally and its responses are progressive. At speed, there’s a bit more tire and suspension noise, but anyone used to a combustion engine vehicle will nonetheless give it two thumbs up.

Telling the iX3 apart from the combustion X3 is already hard outside, but it’s even more so inside. If it weren’t for the blue starter button and a few more blue accents, you’d never guess you weren’t behind the wheel of the regular model. But again, that’s the point. Besides, the X3 already has one of the best executed cabins in this price range, so why fix if it ain’t broke?

Ergonomics is tough to fault thanks to a logically arranged dashboard with proper knobs and buttons. The driving position is also spot-on. The iDrive system also remains one of the best in the business and is accessible either via a rotary controller between the front seats or via the 10.25-inch touchscreen. There are electric-specific menus and screens, but otherwise it’s very much standard BMW fare.

It’s worth mentioning at this point that the iX3 is made in China, but not that you can tell. The build quality, materials, and refinement are exactly what you’d get out of the Munich factory, or indeed the US factory where the normal X3 is made.

Now, because the iX3 doesn’t use a dedicated EV platform, there are some compromises when it comes to packaging. Mind you, you won’t complain if this were in a combustion engine vehicle, but compared to its rivals that ride on proper EV platforms, it just can’t hold a candle.

Those in front will have no problem as passengers will be treated to plenty of head and legroom, but the rear could certainly be roomier. Still, two large adults can sit comfortably at the back with knee and headroom to spare. Plus, the rear seats can be reclined too. But add a third passenger and things simply become agreeable (remember, the transmission tunnel of the regular X3’s still there). The same goes for the cargo hold which, at 510 liters, is big, but not as big as its rivals. It’s also smaller than the regular X3. And because of the battery pack, the underfloor storage can only accommodate the tools and tire inflator (the iX3 doesn’t ride on run-flats).

All in, the BMW iX3 is great to drive and is mighty practical for everyday driving. It’s great too for those who’d rather remain incognito. And with a P 4.990-million price tag, it comes across as great value too. The solitary variant comes fitted with the M Sport package that counts features such as 19-inch wheels, a power tailgate, Harman Kardon sound system, and panoramic sunroof as standard. The price tag also comes inclusive of a wall box charger too. Combine that with a lower running cost compared to its diesel-powered counterpart and it’s the pragmatic choice.