New 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 M70 version for those wanting maximum performance.

BMW iX video review

Does all that stand the BMW iX in good stead against electric rivals – 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. It kicks off with the 402bhp xDrive45, and even that entry-level version is quick: in our own tests it managed 0-60mph in 5.1 seconds.

Better still, a recent facelift has increased the xDrive45’s battery size to 94.8kWh (usable capacity) and, subsequently, boosted the official range to a much more impressive 374 miles. That’s slightly less than the Mercedes EQE SUV 350+ but a vast improvement over the 264 miles of the previous iX.

The mid-spec xDrive60 gets an even larger, 109.1kWh (usable capacity) battery and a range of 426 miles – which is significantly further than any version of the EQE SUV or Volvo EX90. What’s more, with power increased to 536bhp, it feels faster than all rivals except the performance-focused Mercedes-AMG EQE SUV 53.

If you want to match the EQE 53 in a sprint from 0-62mph, you’ll need to go for the iX M70 xDrive. With 650bhp, it’s a seriously rapid luxury SUV – although it doesn’t actually feel that much quicker than the iX xDrive 60.

While it's undoubtedly fast, the iX is not an SUV that particularly enjoys being hustled down a tight and twisty B-road. The steering is lighter than in many BMW car models and you’ll feel how top-heavy it is if you turn in to a corner at speed. The EQE SUV is a little tidier in corners and has meatier steering.

The iX does compare well with some petrol and diesel 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 M70, which gets air suspension as standard. That helps it deal with lumps and bumps in the road with similar ease to the EX90 and better than an EQE SUV. You can add air suspension to other versions of the iX as an option, and we think it's worthwhile.

Without air suspension, the iX’s ride is comfortable but a little more unsettled. Indeed, it’s firmer than the Range Rover's ride and you feel imperfections more as you drive over them, but the trade-off is that the iX has better body control on undulating roads. 

It's 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.

As with many electric cars, you get regenerative braking with several modes, including High, which is strong enough for one-pedal driving. There's also Medium, Low and a slightly unpredictable automatic mode that uses data from the sat-nav and sensors to judge when to ramp up the effect. When you use the brake pedal it's easy to judge how much pressure to apply to slow smoothly.

Despite being an SUV, the iX isn’t really something you’ll want to use for off-roading. True, with air suspension fitted it can rise slightly above obstacles, but not to the same extent as a G-Class or Range Rover (both will also grip much better on rough terrain). The iX’s 400mm wading depth is a long way short of the Range Rover’s 900mm.

"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 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 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 BMW iDrive infotainment system with a huge curved display combining a 14.9in touchscreen 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 on 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 there's a dial controller between the front seats, which is less distracting to use when you’re driving than prodding the touchscreen. 

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. The full adaptive LED headlights can split their high and low beams depending on the situation, making sure you can always see plenty at night.

Rear visibility is more restricted due to the iX's 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 for capturing road-trip memories. The Design Suite and Loft options line the interior with grey and coloured fabrics that lift the ambience.

"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 parts with the BMW X3) so the floor is flat. That, combined with a dashboard that "floats" on a scalloped base, means there's loads of leg room in the front. Head room is no problem either, because of the high roofline.

You also get an impressive amount of storage dotted around the 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.

In the back, three rear passengers get plenty of leg, head and shoulder room, and you can adjust the angle of the rear seatbacks. The only minor downside is the lack of foot space 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.

Perhaps surprisingly given its size, the iX is not 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, traditional seven-seat luxury SUVs include 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 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 xDrive45 will cost you more than a Kia EV9, about the same as a Mercedes EQE SUV and lots less than a Volvo EX90. In fact, even if you go for the xDrive60 M Sport, it will cost you less than the EX90 (although that does come as a seven-seater).

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 aren’t quite as good as its rivals, which can have an effect on the amount you’ll pay per month, pushing up the price if you decide to use PCP finance.

The battery in the xDrive45 has a maximum charging speed of up to 175kW, while the xDrive60 and M70 manage 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 24 minutes.

The iX comes in three trim levels: Sport, M Sport and M70.

Sport, which is only available with the xDrive45, has plenty of kit, including 20in aerodynamic alloys, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, 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 touchscreen infotainment.

M Sport, which you can have with the xDrive45 or xDrive60, gets sportier-looking bumpers and 21in wheels. It's our recommended trim.

If you go for the M60, you get 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. It has lots of standard safety kit, including automatic emergency braking (AEB), lane-keeping assistance and rear cross-traffic alert.

In our 2024 What Car? Reliability Survey, BMW managed to claim eighth place out of the 31 brands ranked, placing it above Kia, Land Rover and Mercedes. The iX as a model didn’t do quite as well, finishing near 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 a heated front windscreen and electric sports seats with ventilation, a memory function and a massager." – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

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