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Audi e-tron vs BMW iX3 (2021-2025)
Selected trim50 quattro · 2019-23Change trim209 mi · 71 kWh · £59,900
Selected trimPremier Edition · 2021Change trim279 mi · 80 kWh · £58,850
At a glance
The Audi e-tron was replaced by the Audi Q8 e-tron in 2023. Compare the Audi Q8 e-tron with the BMW iX3
In this comparison, Audi e-tron leads on family practicality, while the BMW iX3 leads on value for money and charging speed.
Which should you choose?
Choose the Audi e-tron if...
- you have a family - it has the best combination of boot space, safety, and rear legroom
Choose the BMW iX3 (2021-2025) if...
- you want the most for your money - best overall spec per pound
- you need the fastest charging of these options
How we reached the recommendation
Verdict
Our take
The BMW iX3 wins almost every category - it's the clear choice unless price is the deciding factor.
ValueBMW
Audi
4.2
BMW
4.7
FamilyAudi
Audi
8.3
BMW
7.6
ChargingBMW
Audi
3.1
BMW
3.8
What each car does better
See the specification differences behind the verdict, with supporting figures for each advantage.
Key specifications
Compare the key specifications for your selected trims.
| Measure | Audi e-tron50 quattro | BMW iX3Premier Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £59,900 | £58,850 (better) |
| Official range | 209 miles | 279 miles (better) |
| Boot space | 660 L (better) | 510 L |
| 10-80% rapid charge | 30 min (better) | 34 min |
| 0-62 mph | 6.8 sec | 6.8 sec |
Size Comparison
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Audi e-tron
BMW iX3
Length
Audi e-tron4,901mm
BMW iX34,734mm-167mm
Width
Audi e-tron1,935mm
BMW iX31,891mm-44mm
Height
Audi e-tron1,629mm-39mm
BMW iX31,668mm
Space, size & parking
Parking & manoeuvring
Compare exterior dimensions to assess how each car fits UK parking spaces.
| Measure | Audi e-tron50 quattro | BMW iX3Premier Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 4,901 mm | 4,734 mm |
| Width (mirrors folded) | 1,935 mm | 1,891 mm (better) |
| Width with mirrors out | 2,189 mm | Not available |
| Height | 1,629 mm | 1,668 mm |
| Turning circle | 12.2 m | 12.1 m (better) |
| Clearance in a standard bayA standard UK parking bay is 2,400 mm wide. | 465 mm spare | 509 mm spare (better) |
People & luggage
Compare seating, child-seat mounting points, boot space and towing capacity.
| Measure | Audi e-tron50 quattro | BMW iX3Premier Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| ISOFIX child-seat points | 2 | Not available |
| Boot space (seats up) | 660 L (better) | 510 L |
| Boot space (seats down) | 1725 L (better) | 1560 L |
| Frunk | Not available | 0 L |
| Towing capacity (braked) | 1,800 kg (better) | 750 kg |
How each stacks up
Percentile ranks against UK EVs of the same body style.
Audi e-tron
- At 4,901 mm, longer than 85% of SUVs we track.
- Boot space of 660 L is bigger than 90% of SUVs we track.
BMW iX3
Not enough peers to make confident percentile claims.
Full specifications
| Specification |  Audi e-tron 50 quattro |  BMW iX3 Premier Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4.90m | 4.73m-167mm |
| Width | 1.94m | 1.89m-44mm |
| Width (mirrors) | 2.19m | Not available |
| Height | 1.63m | 1.67m+39mm |
| Wheelbase | 2.93m | 2.86m-64mm |
| Ground Clearance | 172mm | 179mm+7mm |
| Capacity | ||
| Boot (seats up) | 660L (better) | 510L |
| Boot (seats down) | 1725L (better) | 1560L |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Practicality | ||
| Turning Circle | 12.2m | 12.1m (better) |
| Kerb Weight | 2,190kg (better) | 2,260kg |
| Towing Capacity | 1,800kg (better) | 750kg |
| Electric | ||
| Battery | 71kWh | 80kWh (better) |
| Range (WLTP) | 209 mi | 279 mi (better) |
| Max DC Charge | 120kW | 150kW (better) |
| Pricing | ||
| UK MSRP | £59,900 | £58,850 (better) |
| Details | ||
| Body Style | SUV | SUV |
| Available | 2019–2023 | 2021–2021 |
* BMW iX3: Euro NCAP applied its 2017 BMW X3 rating to the iX3 after extra checks in 2021. That rating expired on 1 January 2024.
* BMW iX3: WLTP range on 20-inch wheels; the 19-inch M Sport is rated a little higher.
Range & charging
Range, charging & battery
Check official and estimated driving range alongside charging speeds, efficiency and battery technology.
| Measure | Audi e-tron50 quattro | BMW iX3Premier Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Official range (WLTP) | 209 miles | 279 miles (better) |
| Estimated motorway rangeEVcarsguide estimate at sustained motorway speed. | 174 miles | 196 miles (better) |
| 10-80% rapid charge time | 30 min (better) | 34 min |
| Max rapid charge rate | 120 kW | 150 kW (better) |
| Home AC charging | 11 kW | 11 kW |
| Energy consumption | Not available | 195 Wh/km |
| Usable battery capacity | 64.7 kWh | 74 kWh (better) |
| Battery chemistry | NMC | NMC |
| Battery architecture | 400V | 400V |
| Heat pump | Standard | Standard |
Driving & everyday use
Performance & drivetrain
Compare acceleration, power and drivetrain specifications for the selected trims.
| Measure | Audi e-tron50 quattro | BMW iX3Premier Edition |
|---|---|---|
| 0-62 mph | 6.8 sec | 6.8 sec |
| Power | 230 kW (better) | 210 kW |
| Torque | 540 Nm (better) | 400 Nm |
| Drivetrain | AWD | RWD |
What the critics say
See how UK motoring publications rate each car in their road tests. One car has more review coverage than the other - we show that rather than guessing.
Audi e-tron
50 quattro
BMW iX3
Premier Edition
No critic reviews gathered yet for this car.
Watch the reviews
Watch selected video reviews here, or visit each model page for the full collection.
Reviews and videos discuss each model overall; the specifications above apply to your selected trims.
Prices & deals
New and used prices
Current pricing and recent used-market behaviour.
| Measure | Audi e-tron50 quattro | BMW iX3Premier Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Used market price from | £15,003 | £29,663 |
| Average used price | £17,450 | £29,663 |
| Active used listings trackedIndependent UK dealer listings seen in the last 90 days. | 55 listings (better) | 3 listings |
| Recent used-price trend | Up 93.9% over ~6 months | Broadly flat |
Used prices are indicative figures gathered from independent UK dealer listings and change frequently.
Calculate your real costs
For a useful running-cost comparison, factor in your mileage, charging access and current petrol or diesel car alongside the EV estimate.
Compare with petrol or diesel
Compare purchase price, energy, road tax and maintenance with a petrol or diesel alternative.
Calculate company-car tax
Work out monthly Benefit-in-Kind using current and future HMRC rates.
Cost per mile
Compare EV charging costs per mile with petrol and diesel using your charging options.
Check a lease quote
Assess the effective monthly cost alongside the list price and expected depreciation.
Safety & ownership confidence
Euro NCAP - Audi e-tron 50 quattro
Tested 2019
Adult Occupant91%
Child Occupant85%
Vulnerable Road Users71%
Safety Assist76%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Euro NCAP - BMW iX3 Premier Edition
Tested 2017
Adult Occupant93%
Child Occupant84%
Vulnerable Road Users70%
Safety Assist58%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Warranty
Check the published battery warranty cover for each selected trim.
| Measure | Audi e-tron50 quattro | BMW iX3Premier Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Battery warranty | 8 years | 8 years |
| Battery warranty distance | 160,000 km | 160,934 km (better) |
What owners say
Aggregated from UK owner forums and communities - the things you only learn after living with the car.
Shared watch-outs for both cars
Owners of every car here flag real-world range. Worth checking on a test drive whichever you choose.
Audi e-tron
50 quattro
Owners love
- Owners consistently praise the refinement, comfort and build quality: quiet, smooth and very well finished.
- Rapid charging holds around 150 kW for much of the charge, so long trips are practical despite the modest range.
- It is roomy for a family, with all-wheel drive that copes well in snow and bad weather.
Watch out for
- Efficiency is poor, around 2 to 2.6 miles per kWh, so real-world range is often well under 200 miles and drops 20 to 45% in winter.
- Some 2019-2022 55s were caught by a high-voltage battery recall, with owners reporting an 80% charge limit and rapid-charging restrictions while waiting for a fix.
- A minority report water leaks into the footwells or from the panoramic roof, and problems with the optional camera mirrors.
Owner tips
- On a 55, check whether battery recall work is done and whether any charging limit is still in place.
- Keep the Audi service history complete, as owners report warranty claims refused over missed services.
BMW iX3
Premier Edition
Owners love
- Owners consistently praise the smooth, quiet ride and the adaptive dampers, saying it feels like a well-sorted BMW rather than an EV experiment.
- The interior is rated highly for material quality, with physical buttons and the iDrive controller preferred over touchscreen-only rivals.
- Many owners report around 210 to 270 miles in mild weather, and efficiency of roughly 3.5 to 4 miles per kWh on gentle runs.
Watch out for
- Range on cold motorway runs falls well short of the WLTP figure, with some owners reporting 145 to 175 miles at 70 mph in winter.
- Rapid charging peaks at 150 kW, and owners on slower public chargers find stops long.
- It is built on the combustion X3's platform, so there is no front boot and the cabin design is conventional.
Owner tips
- Test-drive at motorway speed and, if you can, in cold weather to judge whether the real range suits your longest regular trips.
- Check the car's exact equipment against its build date rather than assuming the trim name tells you everything.
Buying options
Get a quote
Audi e-tron
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
BMW iX3
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Live used listings
Active inventory from independent UK dealers.
Audi e-tron
- £23,5992023Car360View
- £44,1992023Car360View
- £38,9992023Car360View
BMW iX3
- £29,6632021Car360View
Frequently asked questions
Is the Audi e-tron worth the extra £1,050 over the BMW iX3?
The Audi e-tron costs £1,050 more than the BMW iX3. For that premium it adds 150 litres more boot space. The BMW iX3 is not just cheaper - it also offers 70 miles more WLTP range and 30 kW faster peak rapid charging. On EVcarsguide's combined category scores, the BMW iX3 comes out ahead overall.
Which is cheaper to own over 5 years, the Audi e-tron or the BMW iX3?
The BMW iX3 is £1,050 cheaper to buy. Running costs are almost identical - about £216 a year either way, at 8,000 miles on an off-peak home tariff. Add 5 years of charging and the BMW iX3 comes out roughly £1,130 cheaper overall. These figures cover list price and home charging only - insurance, servicing, tyres and depreciation will move the real total.
What are the Audi e-tron and BMW iX3 like on a long motorway trip?
EVcarsguide estimates a real-world motorway range of about 174 miles for the Audi e-tron and 196 miles for the BMW iX3 - both below their WLTP figures, because sustained high speed is the hardest case for an EV. The BMW iX3 goes roughly 22 miles further between charging stops. Both rapid-charge to 80% in a similar time, around 30-34 minutes.
Which is easier to park and drive in town, the Audi e-tron or the BMW iX3?
The BMW iX3 is the easier car for tight UK car parks: it is 44 mm narrower than the Audi e-tron. In a standard 2,400 mm bay that leaves about 509 mm of total clearance for the BMW iX3 and about 465 mm of total clearance for the Audi e-tron.
Which battery will hold up better as a used buy, the Audi e-tron or the BMW iX3?
Over a 8-year ownership window EVcarsguide's degradation model projects roughly 84% battery health for the Audi e-tron and 84% for the BMW iX3. That is close enough that capacity loss should not decide between them. Both use NMC-type cells, so for daily use keep the charge limit near 80% to slow degradation. Both batteries carry a 8-year manufacturer warranty.
Go deeper on each car
Visit the full model pages for owner feedback, expert reviews, used prices and battery-health information.
Compare against other rivals
Compare similarly sized and priced electric cars before finalising your shortlist.
More Audi e-tron comparisons
More BMW iX3 comparisons
See both cars in our rankings
EVcarsguide scores every verified EV on price, range, family use and running costs. Here is where this pair appears.
Where the Audi e-tron and BMW iX3 rank among the best family EVsWhere the Audi e-tron and BMW iX3 rank among the best electric SUVsWhere the Audi e-tron and BMW iX3 rank among the best motorway EVsWhere the Audi e-tron and BMW iX3 rank among the best city EVsWhere the Audi e-tron and BMW iX3 rank among the cheapest EVs to runWhere the Audi e-tron and BMW iX3 rank among EVs with the biggest boots
If neither is quite right
Explore other verified electric cars that may better suit the priorities this pair does not meet.
Further reading
Explore buying and ownership guides to help you choose between these electric cars.
GuideUsed Audi e-tron buyer's guide (2019-2023)
Buying a used Audi e-tron or e-tron Sportback: the 50 and 55 batteries, the free range update for early cars, the battery and brake recalls, what owners report and what to pay in 2026.
GuideBuying a Used BMW iX3 (2021-2025): Premier Edition or M Sport, Recalls, Range & What to Check
A used BMW iX3 (2021-2025) buyer’s guide: Premier Edition and M Sport trims compared, the battery recalls, warranty left, real-world and winter range, the 750 kg towing limit, what to pay and a printable checklist.
Data accuracy
Specs are sourced from manufacturer websites and manually reviewed. These figures were last verified .