The Munich manufacturer’s i family grows with an SUV you certainly won’t miss, says John Challen.

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Before we get into the important stuff, let’s address the elephant (metaphorical to some; real to others) in the room. The design of the iX is, to put it mildly, divisive. Whether that’s a good or bad thing is up for debate, but with a drag coefficient of 0.25 and some clever technology behind that prominent grille, it was clearly intentional.

Right, with that out of the way, let’s cut to the chase: the BMW iX is one of the most memorable cars we’ve driven in a long time. Beyond the exterior appearance, it’s a statement car from BMW – one that could well dictate the direction of future SUVs.

iX is built on a new EV platform that is modular and scaleable and one that will underpin a whole host of future products from BMW. With that in mind, a lot of effort has gone into ensuring it is future-proofed in terms of accommodating safety technologies and powertrain technologies.

In terms of the former, iX has “the most extensive set of standard driver assistance systems ever seen on a BMW”, according the blurb. For example, that means a front collision warning system that detects oncoming traffic – as well as cyclists and pedestrians when turning. The car also features an exit warning function that alerts drivers to other road users before the car doors are opened. The list of cameras and sensors extend to parking and reversing assist technologies, which come as standard on the iX.

As mentioned before, iX moves the electric vehicle game on, especially in the interior. There’s a flat-bottomed steering wheel, sumptuously padded doors (which now house the seat controls) and a huge amount of space. The head restraints on the seats are akin to pillows and there are haptic touchpoint all around, which – in some cases feels a bit too far beyond common sense.

From the driver’s seat the view is dominated by an expanse of curved infotainment screen that stretches way beyond the centre of the car. As a result, there is ample room to display a variety of elements, with the latest iteration of iDrive (navigated using a glass dial) making switching between the functions a relatively straightforward operation.

The car launches with two options: iX xDrive40 and 50, with each having an M Sport derivative model alongside. More recently – at CES 2022 (featured on page 14) – the iX xDrive60 took centre stage and was confirmed to go on sale later this year. As you’d expect, the list of items that are standard spec is impressive. Across both current models there are include 21-inch alloys, BMW Live Cockpit Professional, climate comfort windscreen and four-zone air-conditioning. Want more? How about heated front seats, wireless phone charging, park assist and the ‘Shadow Line’ exterior trim.

Performance-wise, even without the 620hp iX M60, the current variants have more than enough power to keep drivers satisfied. BMW is now onto its fifth generation of eDrive technology, so iX gets a high-voltage battery with energy density that is 40% greater than that of the MY2020 i3.

The car’s twin motors, combined with a 71kWh or (in the xDrive50) 105kWh battery, mean that the ‘40’ has 326hp and 630Nm, while the ‘50’ puts out 523hp and 765Nm. Maximum theoretical driving ranges on the WLTP cycle for the two cars are 257 miles and 380 miles respectively.

The result, as you would expect from BMW, is a car that is refined, responsive and very capable. For a car that tips the scales at 2.5-tonnes, there’s relatively little body roll in the iX and it is surprisingly agile, considering its footprint.

It possibly doesn’t live up to the Ultimate Driving Machine tag in terms of dynamics, but then however much manufacturers like to promote SUVs or SAVs, the ‘S’ can often be interpreted as a lower case one. However, a 4.6-second sprint from zero to 62mph (in the 50; the 40 clocks 6.1 seconds) shows it’s not exactly slow. Reaching those speeds in near-silence still takes some getting used to, but hats off to the development team because the noise absorption in the iX is first class.

VERDICT
We expect BMW to shift a lot of iXs, partly because of its history in pushing EV boundaries, but also because it’s a complete package. Look beyond the exterior – if you really need to – because you won’t be disappointed with what you find.

IN BRIEF
WHAT IS IT? Luxury SUV
HOW MUCH? from £69,905
ECONOMY? 2.9-3miles/kWh
RANGE? 380 miles (WLTP)
CHARGING TO 80%?
1hr 33 mins (50kW) 34 mins (135kW)

Key fleet model: iX xDrive40 M Sport
Strengths: Interior quality and attributes; range
Weakness: Price; might be evolution too far for some
7-word summary: A bold design, but an impressive execution
Also consider: Audi E-Tron / Mercedes-Benz EQC / Tesla Model X