The End of Range Anxiety

Range anxiety—the fear of running out of charge—has long been a barrier to electric vehicle adoption. But after taking the BMW iX3 and Volvo EX60 on a 400-mile round trip, one journalist declares it "officially dead." Writing for TechRadar, the author describes both vehicles as "game-changers" that have "started from scratch" to convince EV skeptics with engaging drives, class-leading range, and a seamless ownership experience.

The key, the author argues, is that both cars ride on dedicated EV platforms, allowing engineers to optimize battery placement and efficiency from the ground up. The result: staggering range figures that make long-distance travel in an EV a genuine possibility.

The BMW iX3 50 xDrive: A Flagship with Impressive Range

The BMW iX3 50 xDrive is the for-now flagship of the new iX3 range, according to The Canberra Times, which provided a spec-focused review. Priced at $109,900 MSRP, the 50 xDrive offers a "massive" 108.7kWh net NMC battery, delivering a maximum driving range of 805km (about 500 miles) in Efficiency Max mode—a figure the reviewer calls "frankly ridiculous." In sportier settings, range drops to around 650km, but that remains plenty for most journeys.

The twin-motor AWD setup produces 345kW and 645Nm, making the car feel "punchy" and quick. BMW claims a 0-100km/h sprint of 4.9 seconds (TechRadar cites 0-62 mph in the same time) and a top speed of 210km/h. The reviewer for The Canberra Times notes that the acceleration feels immediate because there is no traditional transmission, with all the torque arriving at once.

TechRadar's road test adds real-world validation: the author drove the iX3 50 xDrive—which costs around £61,000 in the UK, approximately AU$130,000 (roughly $83,000) with options—from the UK south coast to Cornwall and back without needing to plug in. That's a 400-mile round trip accomplished on a single charge. The tech site also notes that in certain models, the iX3 can add 231 miles of range after just 10 minutes of charging, making top-ups quick and convenient.

Both reviews highlight the car's interior tech: a Panoramic Vision display (Canberra Times) or Panoramic iDrive (TechRadar) that stretches across the entire cabin width, replacing the traditional driver screen. BMW has dubbed this new generation the "Neue Klasse," and it features an integrated processor called 'The Heart of Joy' that controls propulsion, steering, braking, and traction.

The Volvo EX60: Breaking the 500-Mile Barrier

The Volvo EX60, the electric version of Volvo's best-selling XC60 SUV, also made the 400-mile trip. TechRadar reports that the model tested was the P10, which has all-wheel drive and a 95kWh battery, good for 410 miles on a single charge. The entry-level P6 starts the lineup, and prices range from around £57,000 to £70,000.

Later this year, a P12 AWD version with a 117kWh battery will be introduced, promising 503 miles on a single charge—also breaking the 500-mile barrier. The EX60 rides on Volvo's new SPA3 platform, which, like BMW's, is dedicated to EVs.

TechRadar also highlights two distinctive features: the EX60 is the first vehicle sold with Google's Gemini AI assistant built-in, and it features the world's first adaptive seat belt. The author notes that the interiors and technology approach differ between the two cars, but both offer bags of interior space, huge trunks, and extremely pleasant rides.

The Verdict: A New Era for EVs

The TechRadar author concludes that range anxiety is a thing of the past with these vehicles. The author's family Kia EV6, by comparison, manages 260 miles on a single charge—a figure that now sounds "positively prehistoric" next to the 400-plus miles on offer from the iX3 and EX60.

For those still hesitant, the message is clear: with dedicated EV platforms and large battery packs, the range question is no longer a dealbreaker. As the author puts it, these cars are "a breath of fresh air" that can "silence the skeptics."