In the land of Kei cars, the BMW iX3 is a giant. But we did just fine: Five adults, plenty of luggage and more than 1,000km through cities, coasts, and mountains. Our time with the BMW iX3 included awesome scenery, traffic jams, charging stops and a few memorable moments.
I had plenty of time to get acquainted with the BMW iX3 in Japan. About four hours of it came courtesy of an expressway accident (not mine).
A long traffic jam really does wonders for your appreciation of adaptive cruise control. As we crept forward and stopped again, the iX3 handled much of the accelerating and braking. I kept my hands on the wheel and my attention on the traffic, feeling increasingly grateful for that little bit of help.
Over our family holiday, the BMW iX3 50 xDrive M Sport carried five adults and a considerable amount of luggage through Tokyo, down to the coast and across the mountains. We covered more than 1,000km, charged twice and gave the car a fairly thorough introduction to family life.
Finding our feet in Tokyo
Our holiday began at an Airbnb in Kita, in northern Tokyo. It was a 3LDK, a common term for a home with three bedrooms and a living, dining, and kitchen area. There was enough room for everyone to settle in.
Parking the BMW took a little more consideration. The residential roads were tight, and we decided to leave the driveway alone. Fortunately, we found public parking nearby, with overnight rates of around ¥800–¥1,100 at the places we used. I was happy to spend that to skip the narrow driveway; I didn’t want any incidents so early in the trip.
For most of those first days, we got around by train, filling the hours with shopping, exploring and looking for food. Tokyo makes it very easy to build a day around those three things.
Suica (IC Card) in Apple Wallet made train payments feel familiar. Tapping an iPhone or Apple Watch at the supported gates works much as it does back in Singapore. Working out the right line and exit could take a little more concentration.
When I did drive, Tokyo reminded me of Kuala Lumpur. The flyovers, busy roads and constant stream of traffic felt familiar, and the BMW fitted comfortably on the main roads. Those little residential streets required some care. After our time in Kita, I had a healthy respect for Japanese drivers. But then again, not all of them own an iX3, and size, along with the comforts of a premium SUV, often go hand in hand.
Once we were ready to head south, we loaded up for Kamakura and the coast. Our next Airbnb was in nearby Zushi, reached after a smooth drive along expressways and through towns, with another narrow residential approach waiting at the end.
This time, I went in. I was sure I could do it.
Well, by “I”, I do mean “we”. I had some help from the BMW Parking Assistant Professional, and I was glad for the parking sensors and 360-degree camera as we worked our way through. At 4.78m long, the iX3 is a substantial car. Being able to see what was around it helped me judge the space, while the easy steering made it feel manageable. I soon felt comfortable placing it on those smaller roads.
All five of us travelled comfortably, too. The boot took four large suitcases and four backpacks, with another three bags tucked into the frunk under the bonnet. That mattered every time we packed up to move again, especially as the shopping accumulated. Luggage does have a habit of multiplying on a Japan trip.
A familiar feeling beneath Mount Fuji
From our coastal base, we drove up to Yamanashi for Studie AG’s STRAIGHT AHEAD, a BMW gathering held on an airfield runway at the Japan Aviation Academy. It was quite a setting for an afternoon with cars.
Seeing BBS and other familiar aftermarket names took me straight back to when I was modifying cars. I still enjoy seeing what people have done to their cars, and it was lovely to be around that enthusiasm again.
Owners brought their modified BMWs, Studie’s tuning partners were there, and cars lined up for drag-style runs. BMW was also involved in the programme. At one point, I watched an iX3 line up alongside an M5 (who says BEVs can’t race?).
Mount Fuji was clearly visible in the background. The sun was out, the temperature was comfortable, and people were around, enjoying their cars. It was a pretty special place to be.
Coming from Singapore, I don’t often get an afternoon quite like that. It reminded me how much I enjoy the social side of being a car enthusiast, and how familiar it can feel even when you’re a long way from home. I left feeling very pleased that we had made the drive.
Then came the journey back, and our four-hour delay on the expressway. What struck me was how patient the drivers around us remained. People gave way, merged gently and kept things orderly as the traffic slowly moved along. I found myself appreciating that, too.
The iX3’s assistance certainly helped make the long evening go by. On our expressway drives, I also found the lane-change assistance useful, with me supervising the manoeuvres. Spending this much time in a car gives you a good idea of which features you’re glad to have.
The coast and a rather shy mountain
Back around Kamakura, we spent a day at Enoshima Aquarium. We were all particularly taken with the jellyfish displays. They stretched across tank after tank, with strange shapes drifting through the water. It’s definitely a must-visit.
We finished with a dolphin show, with the sea behind it and the sun setting in the background. It was a lovely way to spend the evening, and one of those moments when you’re quite happy to let the day take its time.
Our next base was Kawaguchiko, where the Airbnb was about a 12-minute walk from the lake. The lakeside scenery was beautiful, with autumn colour appearing along parts of our route. Driving around the area was a pleasure in itself.
Mount Fuji had become a little shy by then. After giving us such a clear view at the BMW event, it spent much of this stay behind clouds. It finally appeared as we were leaving, which felt about right. We stopped for a photograph at the familiar Lawson convenience-store spot.
By this stage, I was enjoying how easy the iX3 made the longer drives. With five adults and all our belongings aboard, it always had plenty of power, delivered smoothly, which I really liked. Its two motors produce a combined 345kW (469 PS) and 645 Nm of torque. That was more performance than I needed for our holiday.
The weather also affected another outing. We had hoped to try a karting circuit near Gotemba, and rain put a damper on that idea. We ended up at Fuji Safari Park, driving the BMW past lions, tigers, giraffes and rhinos.
There is something quite surreal about seeing a rhino right beside the family car. That turned out to be a great change of plans.
A little time to recharge
My first charging stop found me at a Nissan dealership in the Kamakura area. Participating Nissan dealerships can charge compatible EVs from other brands, with access depending on the car and charging service. I plugged the iX3 into a 50kW charger and charged it to full.
I was there on my own, with a cool evening outside and YouTube for company. It was quite an unexpectedly pleasant way to spend a charging stop.
Our iX3 had a 109.1kWh battery and an official Japanese WLTC range of 835km. For this trip, I estimated around 650km from a full battery, given our mix of city, coastal, and mountain driving.
The second charging stop was in Kawaguchiko, where I added about 20% of juice to ensure we had enough for the return to Tokyo. Those two stops covered the charging we needed for the journey. For this car and this route, it fit comfortably into the holiday.
Handing back the keys
The iX3 attracted a fair bit of attention along the way. I saw relatively few other EVs on our travels, and people seemed curious about the BMW in Tokyo, in the smaller towns and even at the karting venue near Gotemba.
Some looked as though they were still deciding what to make of it. Some smiled, which I took as approval.
The design had grown on me, too. Our car was finished in Eucalyptus Green metallic, and I liked the futuristic, distinctive look of BMW’s Neue Klasse approach.
After two nights around Kawaguchiko, we returned to Tokyo for our final two days. We stayed in a hotel this time, giving ourselves space to unwind and repack before heading home.
I dropped the family off, then headed back to BMW Group Japan to hand over the keys.
By then, I’d grown very comfortable with the iX3. Packing it up and moving on to the next place had become an easy part of the holiday. I enjoyed driving it, everyone had space, and charging fit into our plans. After more than 1,000km together, those were the things I found myself thinking about.
I handed back the keys, thoroughly impressed. The iX3 had carried five of us through a very full holiday, and I’d enjoyed my time behind the wheel.
BMW Group Japan supplied the BMW iX3 for this trip.
Technical Specifications
BMW iX3 50 xDrive M Sport
Powertrain: Two electric motors with all-wheel drive
Power: 496 PS
Torque: 645 Nm
Battery: 109.1kWh lithium-ion
0- 100 km/h: 4.9 seconds
Top speed: 210 km/h
Energy Consumption: 18.9 kWh/100 km
Range: Up to 835km (Japanese WLTC cycle)
DC charging: 400 kW
AC charging: 22 kW
OPTIONS
Colour and interior: Eucalyptus Green Metallic; BMW M interior in Black
Fitted: Panoramic glass sunroof with climate-comfort glass; Parking Assistant Professional
