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BMW iX3 (2021-2025) vs Citroën ë-C5 Aircross
Selected trimPremier Edition · 2021Change trim279 mi · 80 kWh · £58,850
Selected trimYOU! Comfort RangeChange trim322 mi · 79.9 kWh · £34,065
At a glance
In this comparison, BMW iX3 stays competitive across the board, while the Citroën ë-C5 Aircross leads on value for money, motorway range and charging speed.
Best value
Citroën ë-C5 AircrossRange & charging
Citroën ë-C5 AircrossPracticality
Citroën ë-C5 AircrossWhich should you choose?
Choose the Citroën ë-C5 Aircross if...
- you want the most for your money - best overall spec per pound
- you do long motorway journeys - it has the best estimated real-world range at speed
- you need the fastest charging of these options
- you need the best car for city driving and tight parking
How we reached the recommendation
Verdict
Our take
The Citroën ë-C5 Aircross wins almost every category - it's the clear choice unless price is the deciding factor.
ValueCitroën
BMW
4.7
Citroën
7.2
Motorway RangeCitroën
BMW
2.2
Citroën
3.6
Family
BMW
7.6
Citroën
7.2
Too close to call
ChargingCitroën
BMW
3.8
Citroën
5.5
City DrivingCitroën
BMW
2.3
Citroën
4.1
What each car does better
See the specification differences behind the verdict, with supporting figures for each advantage.
Citroën ë-C5 Aircross
YOU! Comfort Range
- £24,785 cheaper
- 43 miles more WLTP range
- 55 litres more boot space
- 25 Wh/km more efficient
- 1.2 m tighter turning circle
Key specifications
Compare the key specifications for your selected trims.
| Measure | BMW iX3Premier Edition | Citroën ë-C5 AircrossYOU! Comfort Range |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £58,850 | £34,065 (better) |
| Official range | 279 miles | 322 miles (better) |
| Boot space | 510 L | 565 L (better) |
| 10-80% rapid charge | 34 min | Not available |
| 0-62 mph | 6.8 sec (better) | 8.9 sec |
Size Comparison
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BMW iX3
Citroën ë-C5 Aircross
Length
BMW iX34,734mm
Citroën ë-C5 Aircross4,652mm-82mm
Width
BMW iX31,891mm-45mm
Citroën ë-C5 Aircross1,936mm
Height
BMW iX31,668mm-24mm
Citroën ë-C5 Aircross1,692mm
Space, size & parking
Parking & manoeuvring
Compare exterior dimensions to assess how each car fits UK parking spaces.
| Measure | BMW iX3Premier Edition | Citroën ë-C5 AircrossYOU! Comfort Range |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 4,734 mm | 4,652 mm |
| Width (mirrors folded) | 1,891 mm (better) | 1,936 mm |
| Height | 1,668 mm | 1,692 mm |
| Turning circle | 12.1 m | 10.9 m (better) |
| Clearance in a standard bayA standard UK parking bay is 2,400 mm wide. | 509 mm spare (better) | 464 mm spare |
People & luggage
Compare seating, child-seat mounting points, boot space and towing capacity.
| Measure | BMW iX3Premier Edition | Citroën ë-C5 AircrossYOU! Comfort Range |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| ISOFIX child-seat points | Not available | 2 |
| Boot space (seats up) | 510 L | 565 L (better) |
| Boot space (seats down) | 1560 L | Not available |
| Frunk | 0 L | Not available |
| Towing capacity (braked) | 750 kg | Not available |
Full specifications
| Specification |  BMW iX3 Premier Edition |  Citroën ë-C5 Aircross YOU! Comfort Range |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4.73m | 4.65m-82mm |
| Width | 1.89m | 1.94m+45mm |
| Height | 1.67m | 1.69m+24mm |
| Wheelbase | 2.86m | 2.79m-69mm |
| Ground Clearance | 179mm | Not available |
| Capacity | ||
| Boot (seats up) | 510L | 565L (better) |
| Boot (seats down) | 1560L | Not available |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Practicality | ||
| Turning Circle | 12.1m | 10.9m (better) |
| Kerb Weight | 2,260kg | 2,184kg (better) |
| Towing Capacity | 750kg | Not available |
| Electric | ||
| Battery | 80kWh (better) | 79.9kWh |
| Range (WLTP) | 279 mi | 322 mi (better) |
| Max DC Charge | 150kW | 160kW (better) |
| Pricing | ||
| UK MSRP | £58,850 | £34,065 (better) |
| Price after EV grant | £58,850 (not eligible) | £32,565 (-£1,500) |
| Details | ||
| Body Style | SUV | SUV |
| Available | 2021–2021 | 2025+ |
* 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 | BMW iX3Premier Edition | Citroën ë-C5 AircrossYOU! Comfort Range |
|---|---|---|
| Official range (WLTP) | 279 miles | 322 miles (better) |
| Estimated motorway rangeEVcarsguide estimate at sustained motorway speed. | 196 miles | 224 miles (better) |
| 10-80% rapid charge time | 34 min | Not available |
| Max rapid charge rate | 150 kW | 160 kW (better) |
| Home AC charging | 11 kW | 11 kW |
| Energy consumption | 195 Wh/km | 170 Wh/km (better) |
| Usable battery capacity | 74 kWh (better) | 73.7 kWh |
| Battery chemistry | NMC | NMC |
| Battery architecture | 400V | 400V |
| Heat pump | Standard (better) | Not standard |
Driving & everyday use
Performance & drivetrain
Compare acceleration, power and drivetrain specifications for the selected trims.
| Measure | BMW iX3Premier Edition | Citroën ë-C5 AircrossYOU! Comfort Range |
|---|---|---|
| 0-62 mph | 6.8 sec (better) | 8.9 sec |
| Power | 210 kW (better) | 157 kW |
| Torque | 400 Nm (better) | 345 Nm |
| Drivetrain | RWD | FWD |
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.
BMW iX3
Premier Edition
No critic reviews gathered yet for this car.
Citroën ë-C5 Aircross
YOU! Comfort Range
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
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 - BMW iX3 Premier Edition
Tested 2017
Adult Occupant93%
Child Occupant84%
Vulnerable Road Users70%
Safety Assist58%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Euro NCAP - Citroën ë-C5 Aircross YOU! Comfort Range
Tested 2025
Adult Occupant80%
Child Occupant85%
Vulnerable Road Users79%
Safety Assist62%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Warranty
Check the published battery warranty cover for each selected trim.
| Measure | BMW iX3Premier Edition | Citroën ë-C5 AircrossYOU! Comfort Range |
|---|---|---|
| Battery warranty | 8 years | 8 years |
| Battery warranty distance | 160,934 km (better) | 160,000 km |
Buying options
Get a quote
BMW iX3
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Citroën ë-C5 Aircross
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Live used listings
Active inventory from independent UK dealers.
BMW iX3
- £29,6632021Car360View
Citroën ë-C5 Aircross
No active listings.
Frequently asked questions
Is the BMW iX3 worth the extra £24,785 over the Citroën ë-C5 Aircross?
The BMW iX3 costs £24,785 more than the Citroën ë-C5 Aircross. For that premium it adds 53 kW more power and a 2.1s quicker 0-62mph time. The Citroën ë-C5 Aircross is not just cheaper - it also offers 43 miles more WLTP range, 55 litres more boot space and lower energy use, 170 versus 195 Wh/km. On EVcarsguide's combined category scores, the Citroën ë-C5 Aircross comes out ahead overall.
Which is cheaper to own over 5 years, the BMW iX3 or the Citroën ë-C5 Aircross?
The Citroën ë-C5 Aircross is £24,785 cheaper to buy. The Citroën ë-C5 Aircross is cheaper to charge, roughly £184 a year versus £216 for the BMW iX3, at 8,000 miles on an off-peak home tariff. Add 5 years of charging and the Citroën ë-C5 Aircross comes out roughly £24,945 cheaper overall. These figures cover list price and home charging only - insurance, servicing, tyres and depreciation will move the real total.
What are the BMW iX3 and Citroën ë-C5 Aircross like on a long motorway trip?
EVcarsguide estimates a real-world motorway range of about 196 miles for the BMW iX3 and 224 miles for the Citroën ë-C5 Aircross - both below their WLTP figures, because sustained high speed is the hardest case for an EV. The Citroën ë-C5 Aircross goes roughly 28 miles further between charging stops.
Which is easier to park and drive in town, the BMW iX3 or the Citroën ë-C5 Aircross?
The BMW iX3 is the easier car for tight UK car parks: it is 45 mm narrower than the Citroën ë-C5 Aircross. In a standard 2,400 mm bay that leaves about 509 mm of total clearance for the BMW iX3 and about 464 mm of total clearance for the Citroën ë-C5 Aircross. The Citroën ë-C5 Aircross also turns in a 1.2 m tighter circle, which helps with U-turns and multi-storey ramps.
Which battery will hold up better as a used buy, the BMW iX3 or the Citroën ë-C5 Aircross?
Over a 8-year ownership window EVcarsguide's degradation model projects roughly 84% battery health for the BMW iX3 and 84% for the Citroën ë-C5 Aircross. 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.
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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 BMW iX3 and Citroën ë-C5 Aircross rank among the best family EVsWhere the BMW iX3 and Citroën ë-C5 Aircross rank among the best electric SUVsWhere the BMW iX3 and Citroën ë-C5 Aircross rank among the best motorway EVsWhere the BMW iX3 and Citroën ë-C5 Aircross rank among the best city EVsWhere the BMW iX3 and Citroën ë-C5 Aircross rank among the cheapest EVs to runWhere the BMW iX3 and Citroën ë-C5 Aircross rank among EVs with the biggest boots
If neither is quite right
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Further reading
Explore buying and ownership guides to help you choose between these electric cars.
Data accuracy
Specs are sourced from manufacturer websites and manually reviewed. These figures were last verified .