BMW New iX3 Selected as Car of August
The Korea Automobile Journalists Association announced on August 6, 2026, that it had selected the BMW New iX3 as its Car of August 2026. The nominees were the BMW New iX3 and the Lincoln All-New Lincoln Navigator, with the BMW New iX3 ultimately taking the title.
The key figure is 58.7 out of 70 points. Notably, the vehicle received 9 out of 10 in driving performance and energy efficiency.
The key point of this selection is not simply the monthly award itself, but that the evaluation criteria for the electric SAV aligned with its official specification figures.
What Were the Evaluation Criteria?
The Korea Automobile Journalists Association’s Car of the Month evaluation consists of seven categories: design and emotional quality; driving performance and energy efficiency; safety and advanced driving technologies; infotainment and connected systems; space utilization and practicality; price competitiveness and product value; and overall product quality and purchase appeal.
Vehicles selected as Car of the Month also receive the benefit of advancing directly to the first round of the final judging for K-COTY, without going through the first- and second-half preliminary evaluations. The association has selected and announced a Car of the Month every month since 2019.
Product Highlights Confirmed in Official Launch Materials
BMW Korea announced on June 18, 2026, that it would officially launch the New BMW iX3 in the Korean market. According to BMW Korea, the New iX3 is the first mass-production model of the Neue Klasse.
The main specifications listed in the official materials are as follows.
| Item | Confirmed details |
|---|---|
| Range on a single charge | Up to 611 km under Korean certification standards; 805 km under WLTP |
| Charging | Supports 350–400 kW-class ultra-fast charging; approximately 21 minutes from 10% to 80% |
| Performance | 469 horsepower, 65.8 kg·m of maximum torque, 0–100 km/h in 4.9 seconds |
| Price | 50 xDrive SE: KRW 79.90 million; M Sport: KRW 86.90–87.10 million; M Sport Pro: KRW 91.90 million |
However, range and charging times may vary depending on the testing standard and conditions. Figures based on different regional and certification standards—such as 611 km under Korean certification, 805 km under WLTP, and an estimated range of up to 400 miles under U.S. standards—should be considered separately.
Points to Keep in Mind
This award is the result of a monthly evaluation naming the BMW New iX3 the Car of August 2026. It does not indicate that the vehicle ranked first in sales or dominated the market. Product-related descriptions should also be understood within the scope confirmed by BMW Korea’s official launch materials and the association’s evaluation results.
Sources checked: Korea Automobile Journalists Association official post (2026-08-05, checked 2026-08-27), Asia Economy (2026-08-06, checked 2026-08-27), News1 (2026-08-06, checked 2026-08-27), ZDNet Korea (2026-08-06, checked 2026-08-27), BMW Group PressClub Korea (2026-06-18, checked 2026-08-27), BMW Group PressClub USA (2025-09-05, checked 2026-08-27).