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In a Chasing Cars road test covering 740 km (459.8 miles), the gasoline BMW X3 M50 xDrive reached Byron Bay with an estimated 332 km (206 miles) of range remaining. The electric BMW iX3 50 xDrive traveled 747 km (464 miles) on one charge, but stopped 23 km (14.2 miles) short of the destination. The result compares these two vehicles on this route and under the test conditions; it does not establish a universal range advantage for gasoline cars.
A Chasing Cars road test found that a gasoline BMW X3 M50 xDrive went farther without refueling than an electric BMW iX3 50 xDrive went without charging on a drive from Sydney to Byron Bay. The 740-km (459.8-mile) route was completed by the X3, which had an estimated 332 km (206 miles) of range remaining; the iX3 traveled 747 km (464 miles) on one charge and stopped 23 km (14.2 miles short of the destination.
The two vehicles followed normal routes, used their Eco settings and the most efficient climate-control settings, and traveled at posted speed limits, according to the InsideEVs account of the video test. The drivers could also stop when needed, making the comparison an attempt to reflect an ordinary road trip rather than a controlled laboratory measurement. The report does not provide a full accounting of weather, traffic, driving differences or other variables that could affect energy use.
At the start, the iX3 displayed an estimated 692 km (430 miles) of range, less than the planned journey. After about 30 km, the X3 M50 displayed an estimated 784 km (487 miles). Those dashboard figures were estimates, not the final distances traveled. The iX3 ultimately covered 747 km, while the X3 completed the trip and showed 332 km of estimated range left, according to the report.
The article identifies the test vehicles as the iX3 50 xDrive and X3 M50 xDrive. It reports that the gasoline model has a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six engine and mild-hybrid assistance, rated at 393 horsepower and 428 lb-ft of torque. The iX3 M50 is a different, more powerful model cited for context; it was not the electric vehicle used in this test.
What the Trip Shows About Range
For drivers weighing an electric SUV against a gasoline counterpart, this test puts the difference in practical terms: the X3 M50 completed this particular journey without stopping for fuel, while the iX3 did not reach the same destination on one charge. That matters for long-distance travel, especially on routes where drivers may have limited access to convenient charging or prefer not to plan a charging stop.
The result also shows why a vehicle’s displayed range and official ratings should not be treated as guarantees for every trip. The iX3 traveled farther than its EPA-rated 434 miles, according to the supplied report, but still came up short of this route. That outcome is a single road-test result, not proof that gasoline BMWs always go farther than electric BMWs. Actual range can vary with route, conditions and driving, and the models have different powertrains and specifications.
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How the Two BMWs Were Compared
The comparison responds to a familiar question for shoppers: how far can an electric vehicle travel in real use compared with a gasoline vehicle before it needs an energy stop? In the video described by InsideEVs, the cars drove from Sydney to Byron Bay, a reported distance of 740 km, under broadly similar efficiency-focused settings. The test included both an electric vehicle and a gasoline model, rather than comparing official range figures alone.
The vehicles were not identical versions with only their power sources changed. The gasoline car was the X3 M50 xDrive, described in the report as the thirstiest X3 variant then available, while the electric car was the iX3 50 xDrive. The report gives no measured fuel consumption, charging conditions, or detailed stop-by-stop data, so the clearest comparison available is the reported trip outcome: one completed the route with estimated fuel range remaining, and the other covered 747 km on a charge.
“The iX3 was able to do 747 km (464 miles) on one charge.”
— InsideEVs, summarizing the Chasing Cars road test
Limits of This Road-Test Result
The supplied account does not state when the test took place or provide enough detail to independently assess conditions such as temperature, traffic, elevation changes, tire setup or the precise driving pace. It also does not explain how the remaining-range estimates were calculated or how much fuel and battery energy each vehicle used over the full trip.
The result cannot establish which BMW would go farther on other routes or under different conditions. The test compared two specific models, and the X3’s displayed remaining range is not the same as a measured additional distance. The report gives no further test data that would allow a direct comparison of energy costs or total travel time.
What Buyers Can Compare Next
No follow-up test or additional milestone is specified in the supplied report. For shoppers, the next step is to compare the exact versions they are considering using route-specific range expectations, available refueling or charging stops, and the vehicles’ official specifications. Drivers planning a trip like Sydney to Byron Bay should check current charging availability and allow for conditions that can reduce usable range.
Any further comparison would be more informative if it reported measured fuel and electricity consumption, weather and traffic conditions, charging or refueling stops, and the accuracy of each vehicle’s range estimate. Until then, this road test is best read as a documented result for one pair of BMWs on one journey, not a general verdict on electric versus gasoline range.
Key Questions
Which BMW went farther in the road test?
The gasoline BMW X3 M50 xDrive completed the 740-km route and showed an estimated 332 km of range remaining. The electric iX3 50 xDrive traveled 747 km on one charge but stopped 23 km short of Byron Bay.
How far did the electric BMW iX3 travel?
According to the InsideEVs report on the Chasing Cars test, the iX3 traveled 747 km (464 miles) on one charge.
Did the BMW X3 M50 finish the Sydney-to-Byron Bay trip?
Yes. The report says the X3 M50 reached Byron Bay with an estimated 332 km (206 miles) of range left in its tank.
Does this test prove gasoline BMWs always have more range?
No. It reports the outcome for two specific BMW models on one route and under the test’s stated conditions. It does not establish how other models or trips would compare.
Source: insideevs.com
