BMW iX1 review

If you're a fan of simplicity, there's something pleasing about BMW's electric SUV naming strategy – just add an "i" to the petrol equivalent's name. So the BMW iX1 we're reviewing here is (you guessed it) an X1 with a battery instead of a fuel tank.

The subtle electric makeover means the best way to tell that you're looking at an iX1 rather than a BMW X1 is to look for the closed-off grille and blue trim highlights.

Or you could look under the bonnet. The iX1 gets the same underpinnings as its sibling but ditches the engine in favour of an electric motor driving the front wheels – or two motors driving all the wheels if you go for the four-wheel-drive model.

Most of BMW’s electric cars have been star performers in their classes so far, but does the iX1 continue that theme? Well, it's certainly powerful and can manage a reasonable distance between charges – but then so can many of its rivals.

To name a few, there's the comfy and spacious Audi Q4 e-tron, the stylish Mini Countryman Electric, the sleeker looking Kia EV6 and the big-selling Tesla Model Y. Read on to see how we rate the BMW iX1 against the best electric SUVs...

The entry-level BMW iX1 is called the eDrive20, and with one motor and 201bhp, it's not that quick by electric car standards: 0-62mph takes 8.6 seconds officially.

That’s identical to the entry-level Mini Countryman Electric (which shares parts with the iX1), a bit slower than a Volvo EX40 Single Motor (7.3 seconds) and much slower than the Audi Q4 e-tron 45 (6.7 seconds).

The other version (and the one we've driven so far) is the iX1 xDrive30. The second electric motor pushes up power to 308bhp and cuts the 0-62mph time to a swift 5.6 seconds. That's slightly slower than the fastest version of the Q4 e-tron, identical to a Countryman SE ALL4 and quicker than a Genesis GV60 in our preferred Premium trim.

If you want a super-quick electric SUV you could take a look at the Volvo EX40 Twin Motor (4.8 seconds). Four-wheel-drive versions of the Kia EV6 are quick too, and a Tesla Model Y Performance is in another league (but costs much more).

Whichever iX1 you go for, it has a 64.7kWh (usable capacity) battery. The official WLTP range from a full charge of the eDrive20 is up to 293 miles, with the xDrive30 managing up to 271 miles. Those are slightly better figures than for the equivalent Countryman Electric, but most rivals have longer ranges.

The EX40 Extended Range, for example, can officially cover up to 341 miles. The Skoda Enyaq 85 goes even further, at 348 miles, while the equivalent Q4 e-tron, GV60 and EV6 aren’t far off that.

And to drive? Well, we’ve tried the iX1 xDrive30 in M Sport trim with optional 20in wheels, and the entry-level xLine with optional 19in wheels. Both use adaptive suspension that – like on the bigger BMW iX3 – automatically stiffens or slackens depending on the road surface and how you’re driving, but there's quite a big difference between the two versions.

M Sport trim on 20in wheels is so firm that it jostles occupants in their seats far too much. There's side-to-side head toss on uneven B-roads, and sudden thumps over potholes and speed bumps in town, and over motorway expansion joints.

The less flashy xLine trim with smaller wheels gives the car a more composed and supple ride, but it's still not up there with the Q4 e-tron and GV60 though – two of the most comfortable electric cars available in this price bracket.

In both versions of the iX1, body lean is kept in check through corners and there's a respectable amount of grip, although the numb steering prevents you from having much fun along a twisty road. At least wind noise is low when you settle down to a cruise, but there is a moderate amount of tyre roar.

If you're still considering getting the petrol rather than electric model, you can read all about how that drives in our BMW X1 review.

There’s a good range of adjustment in the BMW iX1's driving seat and steering wheel, and the seat has plenty of side support. You can pay extra to have electric adjustment on the front seats with memory settings for the driver’s seat.

Forward visibility is pretty good, helped by a driving position that's higher than in most hatchbacks – although not that high by SUV standards. A rear-view camera, and front and rear parking sensors come as standard on all models, while a 360-degree camera system can be added as part of the Technology Plus pack.

LED headlights are standard across the iX1 range for excellent visibility at night. M Sport trim adds fully adaptive ones, or they can be added as part of the Technology or Technology Plus pack on other versions.

The 10.25in digital driver's display behind the steering wheel in every iX1 is joined to a 10.7in touchscreen infotainment system. The infotainment (called BMW Operating System 9) is packed with features, including wireless connectivity for Apple Carplay and Android Auto. The screen has sharp graphics and responds more quickly to touch inputs than the system in the Kia EV6.

The bad news is that it can be fiddly to use when you're trying to find a function – which inevitably means looking away for the road. It's a shame there's no iDrive dial controller (as there is on some BMW car models) but you do get a voice command system, which is one of the better ones we've tried but not perfect. 

The quality of the iX1's interior is far from spectacular by electric SUV standards. It's roughly on a par with the EV6 and feels well screwed together but has lots more hard and unappealing plastic than in a Genesis GV60 or Volvo EX40.

In mid-level xLine trim, there's a wider range of plush materials, making it feel more upmarket than entry-level Sport, with additional soft leather-like material and contrast stitching on the doors, dashboard and front centre armrest, plus silver trim finishers to liven up the ambience.

In the front, the BMW iX1 has lots of head room and the seats slide back a long way, so even tall folk will be able to get comfy. There are two cupholders deep enough to hold large coffees, the door pockets are a good size and there’s a big storage tray under the central armrest.

Space in the back is impressive too. In fact, the iX1 is more accommodating than the Genesis GV60 and Volvo EX40 in terms of head and leg room, so tall adults will fit fine back there. That said, the Nissan Ariya and Tesla Model Y are even more generous for rear space.

There are handy levers in the boot that let you drop the rear seatbacks, which fold down in three sections, rather than two sections as in most cars. The rear seats don't slide back and forth as they do in a Hyundai Ioniq 5 but that's a rare feature among electric SUVs.

The iX1's 490-litre boot offers a bit more luggage space than the Mini Countryman Electric, GV60 and EX40 – although the Model Y can carry even more luggage. We managed to squeeze in seven carry-on suitcases below the load cover – the same number we fitted in a Nissan Ariya boot and one more than in a GV60.

The iX1 has enough underfloor storage in the boot for its charging cables but doesn't have a front boot, as the GV60 and Model Y do. A powered tailgate comes as standard.

The cheapest BMW iX1 is slightly more expensive than entry-level versions of the Tesla Model Y and Volvo EX40. The cheapest Mini Countryman Electric costs significantly less but also comes without some kit you'll probably want to have. The Genesis GV60 is more expensive than all those models.

The iX1 can accept a maximum charging speed of 130kW, allowing for a 10-80% charge in as little as 29 minutes if you can find a fast enough charger. That’s about the same time as a Countryman Electric, Skoda Enyaq and EX40. Faster charging electric cars include the GV60 (239kW) and Model Y (250kW). The Model Y also has the big advantage of access to the excellent Tesla Supercharger network.

The iX1's entry-level Sport trim comes with 17in alloys wheels, two-zone climate control, cruise control and a digital driver's display, powered tailgate, all-round parking sensors and rear-view camera.

The xLine trim comes with 18in alloys, heated front seats and a better interior lined with a plusher range of materials.

The other iX1 trim is M Sport, which tweaks the styling and comes with different 18in wheels, adaptive suspension, sports front seats and a sports steering wheel.

There’s a wide range of individual options to add to suit your budget but the Technology Pack brings a lot of useful kit, including adaptive LED headlights, keyless entry, gesture control for the power tailgate, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, wireless phone-charging and folding door mirrors.

BMW came 12th out of 32 brands in the 2023 What Car? Reliability Survey – above Audi and Mercedes but below Kia and Tesla.

All iX1s come with a three-year unlimited-mileage BMW warranty, which is better than the three-year/60,000-mile warranties offered by Audi and Volvo, but somewhat short of the five-year/unlimited mileage cover on the GV60. The iX1's battery is covered separately for eight years or 100,000 miles.

The iX1 was awarded five stars for safety by Euro NCAP in 2023. The GV60 and the Model Y also received five-star ratings under the latest testing regime, with the Tesla praised for achieving the highest overall score of any car currently on sale.

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