Review of the BMW iX

The BMW iX is a luxury electric SUV that's a unique alternative in the electric SUV class. Coming with an eye-catching front grille and cutting-edge technology, the iX appeals to those who want to stand out. 

Rivals to the iX include the Jaguar I-Pace, Mercedes-Benz ECQ, Audi Q8 e-tron, and Tesla Model X. 

Our BMW iX review covers:

• Unique exterior styling with a toothy front grille
• Luxurious interior featuring a curved screen 
• 500-litre boot
• Three engines: xDrive 40, xDrive 50, and M60
• Three trims: Sport, M Sport, M60

Pros:

• Luxurious interior with loads of tech 
• Comfortable cabin 
• Good on-the-road performance

Cons:

• Air suspension is not available on the entry-level model 
• Strange front-end design 
• Very expensive 

The exterior of the iX is certainly an interesting design. Up front, it has a massive toothy front grille, slim headlights, and large air intakes that make for a growling appearance. Past the windscreen, things get slightly more normal, with large wheels and a refined rear end. 

The iX is a pretty large car, so it comes as no surprise that there's a generous amount of interior space. In the front, there's plenty of head and legroom for two adults over six feet tall, and the same goes for three passengers in the rear. The floor is also flat, which means the middle passenger has plenty of legroom, even more than in the Audi Q8 e-tron.

Boot space comes in at 500 litres, which can be extended to 1,750 with the rear seats split and folded 40/20/40. The boot is relatively square, which makes it easy to load heavier items such as full suitcases. 

The cabin of the iX is one of the most modern on the market, and it honestly looks like it's from ten years in the future. It features a range of premium materials, such as a glass iDrive controller, leather seats, and a control panel made of FSC-certified wood. It looks good, feels good, and works well, making it better than the Mercedes EQC and Audi Q8 e-tron. 

Now, this is where things get really interesting. On the dashboard, there's a massive curved screen that houses a 14.9-inch infotainment touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument display. 

The infotainment system comes standard with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and sat-nav while displaying crystal clear graphics that are easy to read. A nice feature is that you can use the system (everything apart from climate control) through the glass rotary controller on the centre console and voice control. 

The iX has three trims: Sport, M Sport, and M60. 

Sport has 21-inch aerodynamic wheels, LED lights, electrically adjustable and heated front seats, automatic air conditioning with two-zone control, a 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, wireless phone charging, three driving modes, driving assistant, active guard/protection, and parking assistant. 

M Sport has 21-inch or 22-inch aerodynamic alloy wheels, sporty front and rear aprons, new side sills, and Sports brakes with brake callipers in blue. 

M60 has 22-inch aerodynamic wheels, ventilated front seats with a massage function, and access to the exclusive M60 engine. 

Three engines are available for the iX, the xDrive 40, xDrive 50, and M60. They're all paired with an automatic transmission and come with all-wheel drive. 

Kicking off the line-up is the 321bhp xDrive 40, which has a top speed of 124mph and accelerates from 0-62mph in 6.1 seconds. Paired with a 76.6kWh battery, the xDrive 40 has an official electric range of 251 - 264 miles which is good, but it's worth considering that its real-world range will drop to under 200 miles, making it fall short of the entry-level I-Pace. 

If you want more power and range, go for the xDrive 50, which is our pick of the bunch. Offering a whopping 516bhp and accelerating from 0-62mph in just 4.6 seconds, it's absolutely worth the extra money. Battery size also increases to 111.5kWh, meaning you get a more competitive official range of 365 - 382 miles, further than the Audi Q-8 e-tron. 

The last option is the M60, which is by far the most powerful, with an incredible 619bhp and shooting off from 0-62mph in just 3.8 seconds. Based on performance over practicality, the range does not increase from the xDrive 50, which is why it's not our preferred variant. 

The entry-level xDrive 40 takes seven and a half hours to charge using a standard charger, while the larger xDrive 50 takes 11 hours. They both have rapid charging capabilities and can charge from 10-80% in just over 30 minutes. 

The M60 has AC charging capabilities of up to 22kW, cutting charging time using a standard charger to five and a half hours. It also has rapid charging tech and can charge from 10-80% using a DC charger in 35 minutes. 

Get behind the wheel of the iX, and you'll find stunning performance and exceptional comfort. 

For a car of the iX's size, it's surprisingly good to drive around town. The range of cameras and sensors on board means you're always aware of your surroundings, and the suspension deals with potholes and bumps in the road well. The entry-level xDrive 40 comes without air suspension, so it isn't as forgiving on poor road surfaces as the other two. 

As you up the speed, the iX is so quiet it almost beggars belief and as soon as you know it, you'll be at 70mph thanks to engines. If you find yourself on a windy road, the iX deals with it pretty well, being quite agile and resisting body lean. 

Prices for the new BMW iX start from £70,080.00 OTR* or to lease from £811.47 per month.

Looking to get behind the wheel of the BMW iX? Nationwide Vehicle Contracts is one of the UK's largest car leasing brokers and offers a range of leasing deals to suit your every need.

Leasing may be cheaper than an outright purchase, thanks to a low initial deposit and fixed monthly rentals.

*' On the road' price correct at time of publication and includes one year's road fund license, DVLA first registration fee and number plate fee. Prices are subject to change; always check with your nearest retailer.