The BMW iX3 was named the 2026 What Car? Car of the Year, at the annual What Car? Car of the Year Awards, held in association with MotorEasy.
The Awards were held at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House on London’s Park Lane.
What Car? editor Steve Huntingford, said: “The premium electric SUV market is one of the most hotly contested, yet in so many respects the BMW iX3 offers a stepchange in capability.
“It combines a huge range with ultra-rapid charging; its new software improves everything from the infotainment system to safety; and despite being one of the most enjoyable SUVs of any kind to drive, it’s also very comfortable. In short, it’s a truly great car.”
The second-generation BMW iX3 has been developed from the ground up as an electric vehicle (EV).
It covers up to 500 miles on a charge with its 108.7kWh EV battery and charge at up to 400kW, meaning 215 miles of range can be added in just 10 minutes.
It is the fourth time BMW has won the overall What Car? Car of the Year title since the awards were first held in 1978.
Previous winners were the 5 Series (in 2017), 3 Series (2006) and 7 Series (1988).
This is the fifth time a fully electric car has been named Car of the Year by Britain’s leading consumer champion and car buying platform, What Car?, following on from the Kia e-Niro (in 2019), Kia EV6 (2022) Volkswagen ID Buzz (2023) and Renault 5 (2025).
Other big winners included the Kia PV5 (MPV of the Year), Land Rover Defender (Premium SUV of the Year), Porsche 911 (Sports car of the Year), Mercedes CLE Cabriolet (Convertible of the Year), Smart #5 (Family Electric SUV of the Year), Toyota Aygo X (Small Car of the Year) and Volkswagen T-Roc (Small SUV of the Year).
The Volvo EX60 picked up the Reader Award, which goes to the most exciting upcoming electric car and was decided by a public vote.
