China’s BMW iX3 And i3 Aren’t Just Longer. They’re Better

• BMW has officially unveiled the stretched iX3 and i3 for China, with much roomier back seats.
• They don’t just have a longer wheelbase, they also feature additional changes and features.
• Unlike previous long-wheelbase models, BMW plans to export these two China-made EVs to other Asian markets.

BMW wants to woo Chinese EV buyers away from locally made models with new long-wheelbase versions of the iX3 SUV and i3 sedan. But aside from the obvious benefit of having more rear legroom, these two China-specific models also have other changes that make them better than the standard-wheelbase versions that the rest of the world gets.

Firstly, both ditch the pop-out door handles that motor out of the doors when you unlock the vehicle. Their handles are still flush, but are of the mechanical variety with a recess that allows you to easily pull them. This change was surely made because China is cracking down on flush electronic door handles, making them illegal on new cars as of next year. But it’s a welcome change I wouldn’t mind seeing here, as pop-out door handles are needlessly complex.

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Source: BMW

The i3 L with the M Sport pack also gets an M logo behind the rear door quarterlight, on the C-Pillar, which apparently lights up when you unlock the car. This seems like a strange decision for such a minimalist and understated car, but there was surely reasoning behind BMW making this China-specific change. Chinese buyers tend to like light-up elements more than Western buyers, at least according to automakers.

Riding on a wheelbase of just over 118.1 inches (3 meters) versus 114 inches (2.9 meters) in the regular model, the i3 L should offer significantly more legroom for rear passengers. For reference, that’s a longer wheelbase than in the i5, which sits one size class above the i3.

The estimated CLTC range is 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) compared to 900 km (560 miles) WLTP for the standard-wheelbase i3 we get here in Europe. 

The longer wheelbase, clearly visible from the side with the larger rear doors, also doesn’t negatively affect the vehicle’s look. It may actually add a dash of extra elegance to its side profile, and the rear door doesn’t look disproportionate in relation to the front, which is something some stretched cars suffer from.

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Source: BMW

The iX3 SUV features similar changes to the i3, but BMW went further inside the vehicle. It gets extra physical seat controls, making it easier to adjust. The rear seat is not only roomier thanks to the wheelbase extension, but the seats themselves have more padding and recline further than in the standard iX3. The iX3 L also gets two-tone interior themes, which aren’t available for the standard model.

Just like the sedan, the extra overall length and the larger rear doors don’t affect the proportions of the iX3 L, and its taller body actually helps hide the increased length better; the stretch is less noticeable than in the i3, at least in photos.

BMW will build the long i3 and iX3 locally in China, but they will also be sold in other markets. BMW has confirmed that the iX3 L will be available in India, Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia, and possibly in other markets in the future. But it probably won’t reach Europe or the U.S., which get their Neue Klasse EVs from the new factory in Hungary, not China.