We tested the BMW iX3 40's Assisted Driving: it nailed a hairpin on its own, but struggles without lane markings

We took the new BMW iX3 40 out for a 30-minute test on our own YouTube channel, "Masina Timpului". It's the rear-wheel-drive version: 320 hp, 82.6 kWh usable battery, up to 635 km WLTP, 0-100 km/h in 5.9 seconds and up to 300 kW DC charging. The Debrecen-built car had 1,183 km on the clock.

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No luck at the Supercharger

We tried to charge it at a newly installed Tesla Supercharger site. The cable reaches, but the car stayed stuck on "waiting for authentication". The site shows as offline in the Tesla app and, for now, only charges Teslas.

Launch Control and comfort

With Launch Control the launch is smooth, less violent than the iX3 50. On a hilly detour, consumption was about 15 kWh/100 km. On 20-inch wheels the ride is very comfortable, even on concrete.

BMW Assisted Driving on curves

On a twisty road, the system slowed down before curves by itself and dropped to 50 km/h when entering a village. On one tighter bend it touched the center line, but warned me. The surprise was a hairpin taken on its own at around 30 km/h. For me it's the best driver-assistance system I've tested so far, ahead of Tesla's standard Autopilot. We'll bring a Tesla to the same road.

Where it still needs work

• Without lane markings, it won't take the curve.
• On a faster road it entered bends too quickly for my taste, so I took over.
• In a school zone it slowed to 30 km/h and braked for plastic bollards, but I had to stop for the pedestrian crossing myself.
• In traffic it stops and pulls away very smoothly, in step with the car ahead.
• Assisted reversing (6 km/h) holds its line well. Automated parking found the spot but got too close, so I braked.

Next up, if time allows: a consumption test and a charging test. We also tested the same iX3's battery care mode.