I just tested Alexa+ inside the new BMW iX3 at CES 2026 — here's what it can do

BMW is making a splash at CES 2026 by being the first automaker to offer Alexa+ integration inside a vehicle. Coming to the new BMW iX3 later this year, the assistant lets you do all sorts of things with your voice inside this electric SUV.

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And if you get distracted you can ask “What were we talking about?” and this Alexa+ car will remember. I got a chance to demo Alexa+ inside BMW iX3, and it made a pretty good first impression despite some minor hiccups.

What can Alexa+ do behind the wheel?

BMW iX3 with Alexa+ — (Image credit: Future)

First, it’s important to point out that you’re not going to be saying Alexa all the time inside the BMW iX3. And that’s because Alexa+ is integrated with the existing BWW Intelligent Personal Assistant.

So all you have to do is say ‘Hey BMW’ and your car will take care of the rest.

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A floating animated talking head inside the head-up display will speak back to you, and you’ll be able to see the words in real time.

During my demo, Alexa+ proved itself to be pretty smart. Because it uses natural language, you don’t have to worry about what commands you need to recognize.

A BMW rep asked “Can you find me some nice Italian restaurants nearby,” and then the assistant got to work, displaying a couple of options complete with ratings.

We could then interrupt and ask follow-up questions, like if the restaurant was open at 8 p.m. and whether the assistant could make reservations. In that instance, the BMW assistant will then ask you follow-up questions via Alexa, such as how many people are dining. Pretty neat.

More Alexa+ features: Smart home control, music and more

Because Alexa+ is connected to the same account you use at home, you can ask it to control smart home devices while you’re out and about.

For example, you can say “Can you make sure my lights or off and doors are locked” for peace of mind. That way, you don’t have to go back home if you forgot to lock up.

If you want to listen to music but you’re not quite sure about the name of the song, Alexa+ can help. During our demo the BMW rep said “I’m in a Las Vegas mood. Can you play the famous Elvis song?” And Alexa knew what song to play.

You can also ask the car to play particular playlists or pick up where you left off in your favorite podcast.

Other features include getting the latest news and weather, as well as the ability to ask follow-up questions.

My favorite part of the demo was when we asked “Hey BMW, can you tell me about what we just discussed?” So if you get distracted, the assistant can remind you what you were talking about and get you back on track

The iX3 is also smart enough to know what seat you’re in. So if you ask to change the temperature, it will only do it for where you are.

Outlook

While Alexa+ is coming to the BMW iX3 first in the second half of 2026, its will gradually roll out to all BMW models with BMW Operating System 9 and X.

Overall, I think it’s a welcome upgrade, and in some ways, I think Alexa+ is even more useful behind the wheel than when you’re in the home as you can keep your eyes on the road while still getting stuff done.

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Mark Spoonauer is the global editor in chief of Tom's Guide and has covered technology for over 20 years. In addition to overseeing the direction of Tom's Guide, Mark specializes in covering all things mobile, having reviewed dozens of smartphones and other gadgets. He has spoken at key industry events and appears regularly on TV to discuss the latest trends, including Cheddar, Fox Business and other outlets. Mark was previously editor in chief of Laptop Mag, and his work has appeared in Wired, Popular Science and Inc. Follow him on Twitter at @mspoonauer.

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