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BMW has been producing electric cars longer than most, but the iX represents a new generation and a significant step forward on several fronts. It also ushers in a new look which has garnered plenty of column inches. We will get the looks out of the way first. Styling is subjective, but the iX has clearly been designed to make a statement. It is polarising, but it is also distinctive so if you like it there really isn’t anything else on the road that looks like an iX.
Under the skin, BMW has started with a clean sheet, designing a bespoke EV platform that can swallow the big battery packs needed to power a full size SUV. In this instance you get 94.8 kWh battery pack which is an impressive 40% more energy dense than the 2020 i3 battery. This equates to a good official range of 374 miles and some models can comfortably clear 400 miles.
Charging is taken care of via a 11 kW onboard AC charger and Ultra Rapid compatible 175 kW DC CCS socket. This is sufficient to dispatch a 10% – 80% charge in 34 minutes whilst adding 261 miles in the process. This means that the range is good and you can get back on the road quickly if you can find an Ultra Rapid charger.
The iX also introduces the 5th generation eDrive which eliminates rear earth minerals whilst also being more space and energy efficient. Production is taken care of by the Dingolfing plant which produces the 5, 7 and 8 Series, which utilises 100% green power. The same is true for battery manufacturing and aluminium production partners, whilst the cobalt and lithium are purchased directly by BMW from Australia and Morocco before being delivered to battery providers.
Despite intelligent use of aluminium and carbon fibre reinforced plastic, the iX still pummels the scales at 2,525 kgs unloaded or 3 tonnes fully loaded. This does have the benefit of enabling a maximum towing weight of 2,500 kgs, so if you have a full size caravan the BMW will be up to the job, but you will have to factor in a reduction in range.
If you still aren’t sure about the exterior, the good news is that you can’t see it from the driver’s seat. Instead you get a front row seat to an executive interior which includes a massive curved display which combines a 12.3 inch information display and a 14.9 inch control display together behind a glass surface angled towards driver. It looks great and thanks to the BMW iDrive controller it is easier to use than purely touchscreen systems. In another first, it also ushers in the 8th generation operating system which promises a smoother and faster experience.
The iX does deliver Ultra Rapid charge capability, a first class interior, and a 2,500 tonne towing capability. BMW has also thought through the GHG emissions associated with production of both the car and the battery packs whilst also sourcing cobalt and lithium carefully. Combine this with a good range, strong performance and a premium interior and the iX makes a very strong case for itself.
Estimated real world range: 260 – 374 miles
Official range: 374 miles
Official electricity consumption: 178 Wh/km
Battery pack: 94.8 kWh (gross) lithium ion; 8 year / 100,000 mile warranty (>70% SoC)
Recharge time: 7 kW charge approx 14 hours; 11 kW charge approx 9 hours 45 mins; Rapid CCS 50 kW approx 1 hour 30 mins (10 – 80%); Ultra Rapid CCS 175 kW 34 minutes (10 – 80%)
Please note that CO2 emissions quoted for electric cars are not directly comparable to diesel and petrol cars. This is because CO2 emissions quoted are calculated by Green Car Guide and include the emissions created at the power station turning fuel (e.g. gas etc) into electricity and in transmitting and distributing the electricity to an end user. They do not include the actual production of the fuel (e.g. gas extraction and refinery emissions). Petrol and diesel emissions are supplied by car manufacturers and are based solely on the fuel burnt in the engine (tailpipe emissions) and do not include the production of the fuel or distribution to a fuel station. In practice this means that electric car emissions are over-estimated relative to petrol and diesel. For instance if an electric car, a petrol car, and a diesel car are all reported to emit 100 g/km CO2, the electric car actually has lower emissions.
See Green Car Guide Reviews of all 4x4s, SUVs & Crossovers
