3 Minutes
Top Gear names the new BMW iX3 Car of the Year 2026
Although deliveries of the 2026 BMW iX3 haven't begun, the electric crossover has already claimed a major accolade: Top Gear’s Car of the Year. The British magazine tested the NA5-generation iX3 ahead of its spring launch and praised its clean exterior lines, minimalist cabin and — perhaps most surprisingly — the excitement of driving a large, heavy EV.
What impressed reviewers
Top Gear highlighted several aspects that set the new iX3 apart:
- Elegant, refreshed styling that modernizes BMW’s SUV look
- A stripped-back, minimalist interior that feels premium and focused
- Driving dynamics that remain engaging despite the vehicle’s size and mass
"It’s rare to see a heavy electric SUV described as genuinely fun to drive," Top Gear wrote, capturing the awkward but welcome balance BMW has achieved between refinement and dynamism.
New battery tech and platform implications
A major technical story behind the iX3 is BMW’s introduction of new round battery cells. While the iX3 debuts these cells, BMW plans to extend the technology widely: future EVs built on the CLAR platform are expected to adopt the round cells, with next-generation battery hardware likely appearing in the iX5 (2026), iX7 (2027) and iX6 (2028). BMW has described this as part of a broader battery evolution toward greater energy density and packaging efficiency.
Neue Klasse and the wider model offensive
The iX3 also kickstarts a large wave of product updates. BMW has announced roughly 40 new or refreshed models arriving through late 2027 under its Neue Klasse strategy. Not all will be electric — the lineup will include gasoline and diesel variants updated with BMW’s new design language — but EVs play a central role.
Mini, Rolls‑Royce and Alpina are also expected to benefit from technologies and design cues introduced by the iX3, underscoring its influence across the BMW Group.
Looking ahead: i3 sedan, next 3 Series and M models
Among the most anticipated launches is the i3 sedan, a sleeker, lower-roofed EV sibling to the iX3 arriving in 2026. Though it will use a different architecture, BMW says the i3 and the next 3 Series — due a few months after the i3 — will be closely related in look and engineering. Lighter weight and a lower center of gravity should make the i3 a more engaging drive; Top Gear expects it to be the more thrilling of the two.
BMW will also expand performance options: an electric M3 is set for 2027, while a traditional inline-six M3 is still in development for a likely 2028 debut, reportedly featuring xDrive and a two-pedal automatic configuration.
Highlights:
- Top Gear awards iX3 2026 Car of the Year
- New round-cell batteries debut, set to trickle through BMW Group
- i3 sedan and updated 3 Series follow in 2026
The iX3’s early accolade signals BMW’s growing confidence in blending dynamic driving, new battery tech and a refreshed design language as it transitions into the Neue Klasse era.
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