The Buzz Awards: BMW iX3 Named Car Of The Year For 2026
Here it is, folks! Our 2027 Car of the Year. Out of all the new vehicles we tested this year, we had to ask ourselves the same deceptively difficult question. Which one brings everything together better than the rest?
Our Car of the Year must deliver more than impressive numbers. It needs compelling design, enjoyable performance, smart technology, everyday usability, and the sort of character that makes every drive feel worthwhile. It should work beautifully for anyone who still believes a great car can make an ordinary day considerably better.
For 2027, one vehicle delivered that complete experience more convincingly than anything else we drove.
The 2027 BMW iX3 has officially been named Car of the Year in the second annual Buzz Awards, presented by HotCars, TopSpeed, and CarBuzz. It also won our Best Electric Vehicle award, making it the biggest winner of the year.
Why We Picked The 2027 BMW iX3
The iX3 represents the beginning of BMW’s Neue Klasse era, and it immediately feels like a defining moment for the company. Its exterior is clean, athletic, and unmistakably BMW, combining familiar proportions with a fresh interpretation of the brand’s kidney grille, lighting, and sculpted bodywork.
The cabin pushes BMW into an equally exciting new direction. Panoramic Vision projects essential information across the lower portion of the windshield, placing it directly within the driver’s natural field of view. A crisp central display, BMW Operating System X, beautifully finished materials, and generous passenger space make the iX3 feel modern without turning its interior into a confusing science experiment.
BMW also remembered that technology should enhance the driving experience. The iX3 50 xDrive produces 463 horsepower and 476 lb-ft of torque through its dual-motor all-wheel-drive system. It can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds, yet it delivers that performance with the smoothness and refinement expected from a premium family SUV.
It’s a massive understatement to say the new iX3 is an improvement over the outgoing model, as it basically leapfrogs every competitor in terms of specs – at least at its price point. There are a vanishingly small number of EVs that can charge faster or go further than the iX3, but they either cost far more, need massive batteries, or are built in China and locked from the US market.
At the center of the experience is BMW’s brilliantly named Heart of Joy. This powerful computer coordinates acceleration, braking, energy recuperation, steering, and vehicle dynamics in milliseconds. The result is an electric SUV that responds naturally, changes direction eagerly, and still feels unmistakably like a BMW from behind the wheel.
The iX3 is equally impressive when the road trip begins. Depending on wheel and tire selection, it can travel between 383 and 434 miles on a charge. Its 800-volt architecture supports DC fast charging at up to 400 kW, allowing as much as 185 miles of range to be added in 10 minutes. A 10-to-80-percent charge can take just 21 minutes.
It also arrives with a standard NACS charging port, access to compatible Tesla Superchargers, a CCS adapter, and bidirectional charging capability. The battery can therefore help power a home, electrical equipment, or even another compatible BMW.
Starting at $61,500 before destination, the iX3 brings its remarkable range, performance, technology, and premium craftsmanship together at a compelling price. It does not excel in only one area. It delivers a wonderfully complete package, and that is exactly what a Car of the Year should do.
What Almost Made The Cut
Selecting one overall winner was incredibly difficult because our finalists represented some of the finest vehicles from every major corner of the market.
Buzz Awards Car Of The Year Finalists
- 2026 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 / ZR1X
- 2026 Kia Telluride / Telluride Hybrid
- 2026 Kia K4 Hatchback
- 2027 BMW iX3
- 2026 Subaru Outback Wilderness
- 2026 Porsche Cayenne Turbo Electrified
- 2027 Ram 1500 TRX SRT
The 2026 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 and ZR1X brought staggering performance and extraordinary engineering to America’s sports-car icon. The 2026 Kia Telluride and Telluride Hybrid continued to demonstrate how much comfort, space, and thoughtful design can be packed into a family SUV.
The 2026 Kia K4 Hatchback combines style, practicality, and accessible pricing in a wonderfully useful package. The 2026 Subaru Outback Wilderness delivers genuine outdoor capability while remaining comfortable enough to enjoy every day.
The 2026 Porsche Cayenne Turbo Electrified blended immense performance with exceptional luxury and impressive electrified technology. The 2027 Ram 1500 TRX SRT brought outrageous power and off-road ability back to the pickup world with unmistakable attitude.
Every finalist excelled at its mission, but the BMW iX3 connected those qualities in a uniquely complete way. It is quick, comfortable, beautifully designed, packed with useful technology, and capable of covering serious distances without turning every journey into a charging strategy.
The 2027 BMW iX3 makes the future of the automobile feel genuinely exciting. More importantly, it delivers everything we expect from a great car right now. That is why it is our 2027 Buzz Awards Car of the Year.
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