China’s New BMW iX3 Has A Better Interior Than The Global Model

China’s long-wheelbase tradition may have started with sedans, but SUVs have also been stretched to maximize interior space. The first Neue Klasse model from BMW to receive the LWB treatment is the new iX3, which joins the combustion-powered X3 already offered locally with an extended wheelbase.

Much like its gasoline counterpart, the fully electric iX3 gains a significant interior upgrade over the global version. It’s not just about the added rear legroom, as BMW has made several other changes for the Chinese market. Rear passengers benefit from a more comfortable seating position, with longer, thicker seats that offer greater recline.

Surprisingly, especially for a vehicle aimed at China where screens dominate, the iX3 ironically features more physical controls than the international model. While heated rear seat buttons will also appear on the standard-wheelbase version, the front cabin adds even more hard keys. The passenger has quick-access controls for seat adjustments, complemented by a legrest for extra comfort.

Other upgrades include this nice two-tone upholstery, enhanced ambient lighting, fancier speaker grilles, and a wireless charging pad integrated into the rear center armrest. Of course, the most obvious improvement is rear legroom, thanks to a 108-millimeter (4.2-inch) wheelbase stretch to 3,005 millimeters (118.3 inches). The completely flat floor clearly indicates a platform designed exclusively for EVs.

On the outside, the longer doors make it clear this iX3 is larger in China, where new regulations forced BMW to drop the global model’s pop-out door handles at the last minute. To comply, the electric crossover adopts a conventional handle design seen on several models, including the X3. A similar last-minute change has also been applied to the long-wheelbase i3 sedan.

Traditionally, BMW’s stretched SUVs and sedans were sold exclusively in China, but that’s no longer always the case. This new iX3 will reach other markets as well, though not key regions like Europe or North America. Meanwhile, the standard-wheelbase iX3 has yet to go on sale in the United States, with deliveries expected to begin this fall.

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Source: BMW

Motor1’s Take: Offering both iX3 variants globally would be ideal, but it’s easy to see how that could become a logistical challenge. It would also add costs that BMW would have a hard time justifying. Still, official images suggest most markets are getting the short end of the stick, as the long-wheelbase model appears to feature a notably more upscale interior.

Beyond the X3 and iX3, BMW has also stretched the X1/iX1 and X5 in China, and plans to do the same with the next-generation X5 debuting this summer. That model will also spawn the first-ever electric iX5, and a larger interior seems likely, giving buyers in China yet another advantage. As before, these new models should be significantly cheaper than their international counterparts, despite being bigger and more upmarket.