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BMW iX3 (2021-2025) vs Smart #5
Selected trimPremier Edition · 2021Change trim279 mi · 80 kWh · £58,850
At a glance
In this comparison, BMW iX3 stays competitive across the board, while the Smart #5 leads on value for money, family practicality and charging speed.
Which should you choose?
Choose the Smart #5 if...
- you want the most for your money - best overall spec per pound
- you have a family - it has the best combination of boot space, safety, and rear legroom
- 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 Smart #5 wins almost every category - it's the clear choice unless price is the deciding factor.
ValueSmart
BMW
4.7
Smart
6.4
FamilySmart
BMW
7.6
Smart
9
ChargingSmart
BMW
3.8
Smart
5
City DrivingSmart
BMW
2.3
Smart
3.2
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.
Size Comparison
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BMW iX3
Smart #5
Length
BMW iX34,734mm
Smart #54,695mm-39mm
Width
BMW iX31,891mm-29mm
Smart #51,920mm
Height
BMW iX31,668mm-37mm
Smart #51,705mm
Space, size & parking
Parking & manoeuvring
Compare exterior dimensions to assess how each car fits UK parking spaces.
| Measure | BMW iX3Premier Edition | Smart #5Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 4,734 mm | 4,695 mm |
| Width (mirrors folded) | 1,891 mm (better) | 1,920 mm |
| Width with mirrors out | Not available | 2,169 mm |
| Height | 1,668 mm | 1,705 mm |
| Turning circle | 12.1 m | Not available |
| Clearance in a standard bayA standard UK parking bay is 2,400 mm wide. | 509 mm spare (better) | 480 mm spare |
People & luggage
Compare seating, child-seat mounting points, boot space and towing capacity.
How each stacks up
Percentile ranks against UK EVs of the same body style.
BMW iX3
Not enough peers to make confident percentile claims.
Smart #5
- Boot space of 630 L is bigger than 90% of SUVs we track.
- One of 33 of 233 UK EVs in our catalogue with V2L (vehicle-to-load) support.
Full specifications
| Specification |  BMW iX3 Premier Edition |  Smart #5 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4.73m | 4.70m-39mm |
| Width | 1.89m | 1.92m+29mm |
| Width (mirrors) | Not available | 2.17m |
| Height | 1.67m | 1.71m+37mm |
| Wheelbase | 2.86m | 2.90m+36mm |
| Ground Clearance | 179mm | 190mm+11mm |
| Capacity | ||
| Boot (seats up) | 510L | 630L (better) |
| Boot (seats down) | 1560L (better) | 1530L |
| Frunk | Not available | 47L (better) |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Practicality | ||
| Turning Circle | 12.1m | Not available |
| Kerb Weight | 2,260kg | 2,200kg (better) |
| Towing Capacity | 750kg | 1,600kg (better) |
| Electric | ||
| Battery | 80kWh (better) | 76kWh |
| Range (WLTP) | 279 mi | 288 mi (better) |
| Max DC Charge | 150kW | 150kW |
| Pricing | ||
| UK MSRP | £58,850 | £39,800 (better) |
| 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 | Smart #5Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Official range (WLTP) | 279 miles | 288 miles (better) |
| Estimated motorway rangeEVcarsguide estimate at sustained motorway speed. | 196 miles | 202 miles (better) |
| 10-80% rapid charge time | 34 min | 30 min (better) |
| Max rapid charge rate | 150 kW | 150 kW |
| Home AC charging | 11 kW | 11 kW |
| Energy consumption | 195 Wh/km | 185 Wh/km (better) |
| Usable battery capacity | 74 kWh | 76 kWh (better) |
| Battery chemistry | NMC | LFP |
| Battery architecture | 400V | 800V (better) |
| Heat pump | Standard (better) | Not standard |
Driving & everyday use
Performance & drivetrain
Compare acceleration, power and drivetrain specifications for the selected trims.
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.
Smart #5
Pro
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 - Smart #5 Pro
Tested 2025
Adult Occupant88%
Child Occupant93%
Vulnerable Road Users84%
Safety Assist92%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Warranty
Check the published battery warranty cover for each selected trim.
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.
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.
Smart #5
Pro
Owners love
- Exceptional interior space with comfortable rear legroom, reclining seats, and 630 litres of boot space
- Outstanding acceleration (3.8 seconds 0-62mph) and impressive 800V fast charging (10-80% in 18 minutes at optimal conditions)
- Advanced infotainment with three screens, superb conversational voice control, and premium materials (Alcantara, vegan leather)
Watch out for
- High energy consumption significantly impacts real-world range compared to competitors despite 335-mile WLTP rating
- Design is polarizing and divisive; frequently compared unfavorably to the Nissan Cube with questionable styling details
- 335-mile WLTP range underwhelming for a 100kWh battery and not class-leading compared to rivals
Owner tips
- Test drive the rear-wheel drive base models which offer better steering feel, more dynamic handling, and additional frunk space compared to all-wheel drive variants
- Visit dealerships in person to confirm driver's seat comfort if over 6 feet tall and test voice assistant behavior to ensure it suits your driving style
Buying options
Get a quote
BMW iX3
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Smart #5
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Live used listings
Active inventory from independent UK dealers.
BMW iX3
- £29,6632021Car360View
Smart #5
No active listings.
Frequently asked questions
Is the BMW iX3 worth the extra £19,050 over the Smart #5?
The BMW iX3 costs £19,050 more than the Smart #5. On the headline specs that premium buys little measurable advantage - the two are closely matched on range, charging and space. The Smart #5 is not just cheaper - it also offers 120 litres more boot space and 40 kW more power. On EVcarsguide's combined category scores, the Smart #5 comes out ahead overall.
Which is cheaper to own over 5 years, the BMW iX3 or the Smart #5?
The Smart #5 is £19,050 cheaper to buy. Running costs are almost identical - about £200 a year either way, at 8,000 miles on an off-peak home tariff. Add 5 years of charging and the Smart #5 comes out roughly £19,130 cheaper overall. These figures cover list price and home charging only - insurance, servicing, tyres and depreciation will move the real total.
What are the BMW iX3 and Smart #5 like on a long motorway trip?
EVcarsguide estimates a real-world motorway range of about 196 miles for the BMW iX3 and 202 miles for the Smart #5 - effectively matched, and both well below their WLTP figures because sustained high speed is the hardest case for an EV. Both rapid-charge to 80% in a similar time, around 30-34 minutes.
Which is easier to park and drive in town, the BMW iX3 or the Smart #5?
The two are within 29 mm on width, so neither is meaningfully easier to thread into a tight space. In a standard 2,400 mm bay that leaves about 509 mm of total clearance for the BMW iX3 and about 480 mm of total clearance for the Smart #5.
Which battery will hold up better as a used buy, the BMW iX3 or the Smart #5?
Over a 8-year ownership window EVcarsguide's degradation model projects roughly 84% battery health for the BMW iX3 and 90% for the Smart #5. That gives the Smart #5 a modest edge in retained real-world range. The Smart #5's LFP-type pack tolerates daily 100% charging, while the BMW iX3's NMC-type pack lasts longest kept to about 80% for everyday use. 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 BMW iX3 comparisons
More Smart #5 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 BMW iX3 and Smart #5 rank among the best family EVsWhere the BMW iX3 and Smart #5 rank among the best electric SUVsWhere the BMW iX3 and Smart #5 rank among the best motorway EVsWhere the BMW iX3 and Smart #5 rank among the best city EVsWhere the BMW iX3 and Smart #5 rank among the cheapest EVs to runWhere the BMW iX3 and Smart #5 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.
Data accuracy
Specs are sourced from manufacturer websites and manually reviewed. These figures were last verified .