BMW iX review

The BMW iX is unquestionably the most radical and technologically advanced BMW electric car since the i3 was revealed more than a decade ago.

In fact, you can see the lessons learned from the groundbreaking i3 all over the iX. For starters, it’s constructed using a generous dose of aluminium, high-strength steel and plastic reinforced with carbon-fibre.

The iX, though, is a luxury electric SUV and should prove far more usable because of its much longer electric range, bigger interior and boot, and extensive list of equipment. There’s even a super-fast and sporty M60 version, for those wanting maximum performance.

BMW iX video review

Does all that stand the BMW iX in good stead against luxury electric SUVs – including the Mercedes EQE SUV and Volvo EX90 – or traditional luxury SUVs such as the Audi Q7, the Mercedes G-Class and the Range Rover? Read on to find out…

The BMW iX is the result of some complex engineering, but the model line-up is refreshingly simple, and kicks off with the 322bhp xDrive40. Even that version is quick: in our own tests it managed 0-60mph in 5.7 seconds.

While that’s pretty impressive, its battery performance is rather disappointing for a cutting-edge electric SUV. With an official range of up to 264 miles from its 74kWh (usable capacity) battery, the efficiency of our test car (admittedly on a chilly November day), equated to a real-world range of just 178 miles.

In other words, if you’re considering an iX as a luxury SUV to cover big miles in, the xDrive40 doesn't quite cut the mustard. You’ll want to step up to the xDrive50, with its larger 108kWh battery giving it an official range of 392 miles. That's further than the Mercedes EQE SUV (378 miles) and Volvo EX90 Twin Performance (375 miles).

The iX xDrive50 offers 516bhp and a whopping 564lb ft of torque channelled through a four-wheel drive system. Just a small flex of your right foot is enough to fire you towards the horizon very quickly.

The xDrive50 managed an impressive 0-60mph time of 4.4 seconds in our tests – and there's an even quicker version. The iX M60 version has 611bhp on tap and the ability to hurtle to 62mph in 3.8 seconds, which is a match for the Mercedes-AMG EQE 53. Even so, the M60 doesn’t feel significantly faster than the regular xDrive50.

Despite an impressive turn of pace, the iX is not an SUV that particularly enjoys being hustled down a tight and twisty B-road. You’ll feel its top-heavy weight when you turn into a corner at speed and the steering is lighter than in many BMW car models.

The Mercedes EQE SUV is a little tidier in the corners and has meatier steering, but if you want a more nimble electric SUV, the smaller BMW iX3 is a better bet. The iX does compare well with some fossil-fuelled luxury SUVs though. Its relatively low centre of gravity makes it far more composed in bends than a Mercedes G-Class or Range Rover. 

The iX performs brilliantly against rivals for comfort, especially if you go for the xDrive50 or M60. Those versions get air suspension, helping them deal with lumps and bumps in the road with similar ease to the EX90 and better than the EQE SUV.

The xDrive40 does without air suspension and its ride is a little more unsettled as a result. Overall, the iX's ride is firmer than in the Range Rover but the trade-off is that body control over undulating roads is far more controlled.

The iX is seriously quiet too – there's hardly any motor whine, while wind and road noise is very well muted. In fact, it's one of the quietest cars we’ve ever tested. 

The regenerative braking has a few different modes, including High, which is strong enough to bring the car to a stop, Medium, Low and an automatic mode that uses data from the sat-nav and onboard sensors to judge when to ramp up the effect. If you need to use the brake pedal to slow down, you'll find it easy to judge how much pressure to apply to slow smoothly.

The iX xDrive50 and M60 can rise (slightly) above obstacles using their air-suspension, although not to the same extent as more off-road biased rivals like the G-Class or Range Rover, which will also grip much better on rougher terrain. The iX’s 400mm wading depth trails the Range Rover’s 900mm by a considerable margin.

"I found the automatic regenerative braking mode a bit hit and miss. It’s great when it comes to junctions and roundabouts but has a tendency to suddenly brake really hard as you approach other traffic." – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

There’s no mistaking the BMW iX for anything other than a luxury car because upmarket materials have been used throughout, including sustainably sourced wood, microfibre fabrics and pleasingly robust-feeling recycled plastics.

It comes together to give you great visual appeal and much better build quality than you’ll find in the Mercedes EQE SUV. The Volvo EX90 is lovely inside but doesn’t feel as consistently luxurious when you prod around, especially if you add optional elements to the iX, such as classier crystal glass switches. 

In fact, for an even plusher interior, you'll have to look at traditional luxury SUVs, such as the Mercedes G-Class and the Range Rover. They make an even more concerted effort to cover the interior’s surfaces with soft leather and attractive finishers.

The iX is fitted with the latest iDrive infotainment system. It combines a huge curved display featuring a 14.9in touchscreen right next to a 12.3in digital driver's display. The system has pin-sharp graphics and lightning-quick responses, plus the added convenience of wireless Apple CarPlay so you can run your phone apps through the screen.

Perhaps the only annoyance is the number of apps included in the main menu. Even that's not too much of an issue, because BMW has kept the brilliant rotary controller between the front seats, which is far less distracting to use when you’re driving than touchscreen-only systems. 

It’s not all good news, though. There are no physical buttons for the climate control, so to adjust the interior temperature you need to either use the touchscreen or voice-control function. 

Getting comfortable in the iX is easy. The steering wheel and driver’s seat offer plenty of adjustment and the driving position is superb. It’s annoying that you have to go into the infotainment screen to adjust lumbar support, and anyone expecting to sit up as high as in a BMW X7 is going to be disappointed.

The window-line is low, giving you great visibility ahead and to the sides. Full LED headlights come as standard, but you’ll have to fork out for the M60 or pay extra if you want ultra-bright "laserlights", which can adapt their beams to avoid dazzling other road users.

Rear visibility is more restricted due to the chunky rear pillars, but you get a rear-view camera and parking sensors all round as standard. A 360-degree view camera is part of the Parking Assistant Plus Pack.

BMW offers a number of optional packs including everything from an electrochromic glass panoramic roof that can turn opaque at the touch of a button to an interior camera that can capture road-trip memories. The Design Loft option lines the interior with grey fabric that lifts the ambience and is definitely worth considering.

"The standard-fit Harman Kardon stereo system is really good but I think it's worth considering the optional Bowers & Wilkins system. It’s pricey but the audio quality is truly sensational." – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

The BMW iX has been designed from the ground up to be an electric vehicle (unlike the smaller BMW iX3 – which shares a lot of parts with the BMW X3) so the floor of the interior is flat.

That, combined with a recessed centre console (between the driver and passenger) and a dashboard that "floats" on a deeply scalloped base, means there's loads of leg room in the front. There’s no problem with head room either, because of the high roofline.

You also get an impressive amount of storage dotted around the iX's interior. That includes a large glovebox and partitioned door bins, and the centre console has a wireless phone-charging pad, two USB-C sockets, a 12V socket, two big cupholders, a small cubby for keys and a larger cubby for other essentials.

The flat floor means the iX has plenty of leg room in the rear for all three passengers, and they each have loads of head and shoulder room, too. The only minor downside is the lack of foot room under the front seats to let occupants really stretch out. The tall side windows and panoramic roof (if equipped) help give the iX a really airy feel in the back.

You can adjust the angle of the rear seatbacks but the iX isn't available as a seven-seater. If you need to carry more than four passengers and want an electric car, consider the Kia EV9, the Mercedes EQS SUV or the Volvo EX90. Alternatively, there are traditional seven-seat luxury SUVs including the BMW X7 and the long-wheelbase Range Rover.

The iX's boot space is rather disappointing at 500 litres below the parcel shelf, which is less than the Mercedes EQE SUV (520 litres) and way behind the EV9 (828 litres without the third row of seats in place).

The rakish tailgate reduces the effective length of the iX’s load bay and doesn’t open as high as we'd like. If you're tall, you'll need to duck to access the boot when the car is backed up against a kerb. The boot floor is at least a useful square shape and we managed to fit a respectable eight carry-on suitcases below the tonneau cover.

The rear seats in the iX can be dropped in a convenient 40/20/40 configuration by pressing buttons on the wall of the boot.

"I think it’s a shame you don’t get a storage area under the BMW iX’s bonnet, a you do in the Kia EV9 and Tesla Model Y. It would be handy for storing the charging cables." – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

As a cash purchase, the entry-level BMW iX xDrive40 will cost you more than a Kia EV9 but less than a Mercedes EQE SUV. In fact, even if you go for the xDrive50 M Sport, it will cost you less than that rival and lots less than a Mercedes EQS SUV or Volvo EX90. The range-topping M60, meanwhile, is priced more in line with sports SUVs such as the Audi RS Q8.

An electric SUV makes a huge amount of sense as a company car because of the enormous BIK tax savings they offer. For private buyers, the iX’s resale values don’t make for good reading, sitting way below those of its rivals. That can have an effect on the amount you’ll pay per month, pushing up the price if you decide to use PCP finance. 

The 74kWh battery in the xDrive40 has a maximum charging speed of up to 150kW, while the 108kWh battery of the xDrive50 and M60 manages up to 195kW. Even so, both can be charged from 10-80% in just over half an hour, which is a match for the EQE SUV and EX90. The EV9 can charge at up to 350kW, dropping the charging time to 24mins.

The iX is available in two trim levels: Sport and M Sport. Sport gives you plenty of luxuries, including 21in aerodynamic alloys, heated front seats, an EV heat pump, an 18-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, four-zone climate control, wireless phone-charging, a leather-look upholstery called SensaTec and a 14.9in infotainment touchscreen.

M Sport trim gets sportier-looking bumpers and 21in wheels, bronze exterior highlights and blue seatbelts. On top of that, it gives you access to the bigger battery, making it our choice. The M60, meanwhile, gets larger 22in aero wheels, M Sport brakes with blue calipers and ventilated front seats with a massage function.

After testing by Euro NCAP in 2021, the iX was awarded five stars for safety, with high scores for protecting occupants. You get plenty of standard safety kit, including automatic emergency braking (AEB), lane-keeping assistance and rear cross-traffic alert. 

In the 2024 What Car? Reliability Survey, BMW managed to claim eighth place out of the 31 included manufacturers, placing it above Kia, Land Rover and Mercedes. The iX as a model didn’t do quite as well, finishing towards the bottom of a 16-strong field of electric SUVs up to five years old.

The iX gets the same three-year, unlimited mileage warranty as a Mercedes EQE SUV. The main drive battery gets a separate warranty for eight years or 100,000 miles. Kia gives you a seven-year/100,000-mile warranty that covers everything.

"If you're buying a BMW iX, I’d recommend the reasonably priced Comfort Pack. It adds keyless entry, adjustable lumbar support, a massage function for the front seats and a heated steering wheel." – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

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