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In a Chasing Cars road test covering 740 kilometers (459.8 miles), the gasoline BMW X3 M50 xDrive reached Byron Bay with an estimated 332 kilometers (206 miles) of range left. The electric iX3 50 xDrive traveled 747 kilometers (464 miles) on one charge, but stopped 23 kilometers (14.2 miles) short of the destination.
A BMW X3 M50 xDrive traveled farther without refueling than an electric BMW iX3 50 xDrive in a road test from Sydney to Byron Bay, Australia. The gasoline SUV completed the 740-kilometer (459.8-mile) route with a displayed 332 kilometers (206 miles) of range remaining, while the iX3 covered 747 kilometers (464 miles) on one charge before falling 23 kilometers short of the destination.
As described by InsideEVs, the test was conducted by the hosts of Chasing Cars. They drove the two BMWs on normal routes, used their Eco settings and set climate controls to efficient levels. Both drivers followed speed limits and could stop when needed, making the drive an attempt to reflect an ordinary road trip rather than a controlled laboratory range test.
The iX3 began with a dashboard estimate of 692 kilometers (430 miles) of range, below the route’s total distance. After roughly 30 kilometers, the X3 M50 displayed an estimate of 784 kilometers (487 miles). Those figures were estimates shown by the vehicles, not the final distance each ultimately traveled. The iX3’s early efficiency suggested it might complete the trip, but it finished 23 kilometers short.
The reported final figures show a clear result for this route: the X3 M50 reached Byron Bay and had a displayed 332 kilometers left, while the iX3 traveled 747 kilometers before it could no longer continue on that charge. The supplied report does not say that the cars were driven under identical weather, traffic or road conditions, and it does not provide a full breakdown of energy or fuel consumption.
What the Route Test Shows
For buyers comparing how often they may need to stop on a long drive, the result illustrates the difference between vehicle range and charging or refueling needs. On this particular route, the gasoline X3 completed the journey with a substantial estimated reserve. The electric iX3 covered a long distance on one charge but would have needed a charging stop to reach Byron Bay.
The result is not a universal ranking of gasoline and electric BMWs. It compares two specific versions under one road-trip test, and the X3 M50’s remaining range is an onboard estimate rather than a measured distance subsequently driven. The iX3’s 747-kilometer run is also a test outcome, not a guarantee of that distance in other conditions. For shoppers, the practical takeaway is to compare the exact model, route and driving conditions they expect to encounter.
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The Two BMWs in the Test
The gasoline vehicle was the X3 M50 xDrive, fitted with a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six engine. The source reports output of 393 horsepower and 428 pound-feet of torque and describes the model as a mild hybrid. It characterizes the M50 as the thirstiest X3 available at the time of the report, though the source does not provide a fuel-economy figure for the test.
The electric vehicle was the iX3 50 xDrive. The report gives the iX3 M50’s output as 463 horsepower and 476 pound-feet, but does not clearly identify that higher-output M50 as the exact car used in the range test. The tested model’s reported result was 747 kilometers on a charge, compared with a cited EPA-rated range of 434 miles. The source does not specify the certification configuration or explain how the EPA figure relates to the Australian route and test conditions.
Limits of the Range Comparison
The supplied report does not give the test date, weather, traffic conditions, elevation profile or precise charging and fuel procedures. It also does not say whether both cars carried comparable loads or disclose their measured fuel and electricity consumption. Those details would help readers assess how closely the result might match their own journeys.
The displayed range remaining in the X3 is an estimate, not proof that the SUV would travel exactly another 332 kilometers. The source also does not provide a detailed account of the iX3’s battery state at the end or a measured efficiency dataset. The findings should be treated as the reported outcome of one road test, rather than a controlled comparison of every BMW gasoline and electric model.
What Buyers Should Compare
No follow-up test or additional milestone is specified in the supplied report. For readers making a purchase decision, the next useful comparison is the official range and efficiency information for the exact BMW trims under consideration, paired with routes they actually drive. Drivers should also check where chargers are available along longer trips and account for conditions that can affect real-world range.
Further testing across different routes, seasons and driving conditions could show whether the gap seen here holds more broadly. Until then, the reported conclusion remains narrow: the X3 M50 completed this 740-kilometer trip, while the iX3 came close but required more distance than its single charge covered.
Key Questions
Which BMW traveled farther in the test?
The gasoline BMW X3 M50 xDrive traveled farther without refueling in the reported route test. It reached Byron Bay with an estimated 332 kilometers (206 miles) of range remaining.
How far did the electric BMW iX3 travel on one charge?
The iX3 50 xDrive traveled 747 kilometers (464 miles) on one charge, according to the report. That was 23 kilometers (14.2 miles) short of the 740-kilometer route’s destination distance as stated in the source.
Did the iX3 complete the Sydney-to-Byron Bay drive?
No. It fell 23 kilometers (14.2 miles short) of Byron Bay on the charge used in the test.
Was this a controlled test of all BMW gasoline and electric models?
No. The report describes one road test of two specific vehicles. It does not provide enough information about conditions or test procedures to treat the result as a general comparison across all BMW models.
Source: insideevs.com
