TL;DR
Get business pricing on garage and car supplies
- Business-only prices and quantity discounts
- Tax-exempt purchasing
- Multiple users, one account, clear invoices
In a Chasing Cars road test from Sydney to Byron Bay, the BMW X3 M50 reached the destination with an estimated 332 km of fuel range remaining. The electric BMW iX3 50 xDrive traveled 747 km on one charge but stopped 23 km short of the 740-km route. The result reflects this specific test, not a controlled comparison of every BMW gas and electric model.
A BMW X3 M50 completed a 740-kilometer (459.8-mile) drive from Sydney to Byron Bay with an estimated 332 km (206 miles) of fuel range remaining, while a BMW iX3 50 xDrive traveled 747 km (464 miles) on one charge before falling 23 km short of the destination. The comparison, shown in a video by Chasing Cars and reported by InsideEVs, illustrates how the two SUVs performed on this particular road trip—not a universal range result for gas and electric BMWs.
The two drivers followed normal routes, used Eco settings and efficient climate-control settings, and observed speed limits, according to the InsideEVs account. They could also stop when needed. The source describes the outing as a real-world-style trip, rather than a laboratory range test. It does not provide a detailed account of traffic, weather or elevation conditions along the route.
At the start, the iX3’s dashboard estimate showed 692 km (430 miles) of range, less than the trip distance. After about 30 km, the X3 M50’s estimate was 784 km (487 miles). The iX3’s early efficiency suggested it might complete the route, but it ultimately covered 747 km on one charge and stopped 23 km short of Byron Bay. The X3 M50 arrived with an estimated 332 km of range remaining, as reported by InsideEVs.
The comparison involved the iX3 50 xDrive and X3 M50 xDrive, not equivalent trims with identical powertrains or equipment. The X3 M50 has a 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder engine and mild-hybrid system. InsideEVs lists its output as 393 horsepower and 428 lb-ft of torque; it lists the iX3 M50’s output as 463 horsepower and 476 lb-ft. The supplied report does not give a fuel-consumption figure for the X3 or a full energy-use record for the iX3.
What the Road Test Shows
For drivers weighing an electric BMW against a gas-powered one, the outcome separates two practical measures: distance per stop and distance on a charge. In this test, the X3 M50 completed the full route without refueling and had an estimated 332 km left. The iX3’s measured trip distance was longer than its cited EPA-rated range, but it still required charging before reaching the destination.
That makes the result useful as an example, not a definitive ranking. A single drive cannot establish how either vehicle will perform on another route or in different conditions. It does show why buyers may compare dashboard estimates and official ratings with trip length, while also considering the availability and timing of charging or fuel stops.
Products Worth Considering
DEWALT 20V MAX XR Hammer Drill and Impact Driver Combo Kit with Two 4Ah Batteries and Charger
VIOFO A229 Plus Dual-Channel 2K Dash Cam with Front and Rear HDR
Autel MaxiCOM MK808S Bidirectional Diagnostic Scanner
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
How the Two BMWs Were Compared
The route ran from Sydney to Byron Bay, a stated distance of 740 km (459.8 miles). Both vehicles were driven with economy-focused settings and within speed limits, and the drivers were allowed to stop as needed. Those details make the comparison more relevant to ordinary travel than a maximum-range laboratory run, though they do not make it a controlled test.
InsideEVs says the iX3 covered 747 km in the drive, compared with an EPA-rated range of 434 miles. The report does not specify the exact conditions behind that rating or provide an equivalent official range figure for the X3 M50. The cars’ initial dashboard estimates were also estimates, not final measurements of how far each vehicle could travel.
“The iX3 was able to do 747 km (464 miles) on one charge.”
— InsideEVs, reporting on the Chasing Cars test
Limits of the Range Comparison
The supplied report does not identify the test date or provide the video’s full measurement data. It is not clear what weather, traffic, road elevation, vehicle loads or tire specifications applied, or how the remaining range estimates were verified. The reported 332 km for the X3 is a displayed estimate, not a measured distance driven after reaching Byron Bay.
The test also compares different versions of the X3 and iX3, and the source does not provide a matching set of official range ratings for both vehicles under the same standard. The result should not be treated as proof that gas BMWs always travel farther, or that the iX3 will fall short on every trip of this length.
What Buyers Should Compare
The report offers no scheduled follow-up test or additional result. Readers considering either vehicle can compare the specific model-year ratings and equipment for the cars available to them, then plan a route around expected fuel or charging stops. For a trip of this length, the main practical question raised by this test is whether the driver prefers the X3 M50’s reported remaining fuel range or the iX3’s ability to cover a long distance on a single charge before needing to recharge.
Key Questions
Which BMW went farther in the test?
The BMW X3 M50 xDrive completed the 740-km route and had an estimated 332 km of range remaining. The iX3 traveled 747 km on one charge but stopped 23 km short of Byron Bay.
How far did the BMW iX3 travel on one charge?
InsideEVs reported that the iX3 50 xDrive covered 747 km (464 miles) before stopping. It did not reach the destination, which was 740 km from the starting point according to the route distance, because the reported drive distance and route figures describe the test’s total and the shortfall as given in the source: 23 km.
Did the iX3 exceed its official range rating?
The report says the iX3 traveled 747 km (464 miles), compared with an EPA-rated range of 434 miles. That is the result reported for this drive; it does not establish the vehicle’s range in all conditions.
Was this a controlled test?
The cars were driven on normal routes in Eco settings, with efficient climate settings and speed-limit driving, and the drivers could stop as needed. The report does not give enough detail about weather, traffic or other conditions to treat it as a fully controlled comparison.
Source: insideevs.com
