Talking BMW today, the best-selling German luxury brand after displacing Mercedes-Benz as the top luxury import last year. BMW has had a good degree of success with its EV range, and I recently drove the iX3 M-Sport SUV, the electric version of its best-selling mid-size X3 SUV, introduced earlier this year at $89,100, joining the more expensive iX3 M-Sport Pro. The iX3 M-Sport not as well equipped as its Pro stablemate but on first impression nicely packaged retaining the same powertrain – utilising an 80kWh battery to power a 210kW/400Nm electric motor driving the rear wheels only through a single speed transmission – offering a driving range of up to 460kms. The iX3 M-Sport features some nice M- Sport touches like high-gloss roof rails, M leather steering wheel and illuminated door finishes with BMW M inscription, leather trim and a panoramic glass sunroof. Only real give-away to the dearer Pro model is smaller 19-inch alloy wheels and the lack of a head up instrument display. The interior packaging first class, great seats, plus a 12.3-inch instrument cluster and same size infotainment screen, the latter very intuitive. But, just a space saver spare wheel. Warranty, five-years/unlimited km. drive details next. I’m David Berthon.

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