BMW iX review

Three years on, it’s fair to say the controversy/abject horror that met the arrival of BMW’s star electric car has dissipated. It’s a sales success in most territories, and the iX has become a familiar sight on UK roads. Now we get a mid-life upgrade, complete with more power, more range, and some, er, aesthetic finessing. You can put lipstick on a pig…

BMW’s electric evolution continues to gather momentum, and the first of the so-called Neue Klasse cars arrives later this year. That’ll vault things dramatically forward once again. But the timing of this refresh means the iX misses out on that new dawn, at least for now. So in a few short months it could look a little old hat in the showroom, despite its focus on tech and chilled vibes inside.

I see. What’s new for the facelift then?

The most egregious element – the outsized kidney grille – gets new vertical and horizontal framing, and the LED headlights fresh diagonal elements. A larger proportion of the front and rear aprons is now finished in body colour, which helps soften the visual impact. Slightly. Mind you, there’s also the option of the Iconic Glow illumination for the grille surround which blings things right up again. It’s standard on the M70 version. We’re not fans.

In M Sport guise, things are more sculpted at the front and the diffuser is finished in high gloss black. The M Sport Pro package adds a darkened shadow line for the head- and tail-lights. That’s also standard on the M70, and it’s the best-looking/least offensive, depending on your personal perspective. The iX still manages a degree of WTF?-ness, even now.

Any changes to the interior?

The iX’s exterior design may have sent the internet into apoplexy but its interior is far less out there, and that Curved Glass display has been rolled out across the BMW model range since debuting in the iX.

Unusual materials include matte wood with lit graphics showing through, an optional denim-like recycled fabric, and a glass iDrive knob. Straight lines and diagonals dominate. OK, your sitting room might not actually be much like this. But your sitting room is surely not at all like the cabin of an X5.

What goes on underneath?

The flat floor, long wheelbase and width all boost the space. Which makes it bulky on the outside too. Like the i3 and i8, this is a wholly bespoke structure. The cabin sits in a three-dimensional box-frame of carbonfibre. There's a lot of aluminium too. None of this is shared with the X5. But the motors, battery design, and the high-voltage electronics are modular versions of what's used in the iX3 and i4.

The upgrades bring new cell chemistry that results in 30 per cent more usable energy content, according to BMW. The battery pre-conditioning has been reworked so that the iX can reach peak charging speeds more quickly. And there’s a new heat pump, too, to boost efficiency. New inverter tech is said to reduce losses during the energy transition from battery to motors.

And the result of all that is?

As Q used to say to 007, please pay attention. The entry-level iX xDrive45 has a new 94.8kWh battery and is up 80bhp to 402bhp and 516lb ft overall. BMW claims a range of 374 miles in that form and 2.97 mi/kWh. You can have it in Sport or M Sport trim, priced from £75,405. It’ll do 62mph in 5.1 seconds, so it’s a second faster than the old base car.

The iX xDrive60 starts at £93,205 and runs a new 109.1kWh battery with 536bhp, 564lb ft and the eye-catching claimed range of 426 miles. It’s available only in M Sport Trim, and will do 0-62mph in 4.6s. Both this and the xDrive45 are limited to a top speed of 124mph.

Top of the range is the iX xDrive M70, which can reach 155mph, has – gulp – 650bhp and a maximum of 811lb ft when Launch Control mode is activated. Its battery is slightly smaller, at 108.9kWh; its range is 366 miles. It gets M Sport trim and the M Sport Package as standard, a model-specific kidney grille, black exterior mirror caps and bespoke 22in M light alloy wheels. It costs from £114,305, which is a chunk less than the previous M60 used to be.

BMWs are supposed to be uncontroversially excellent to drive. How do the upgrades feel?

As good as ever without fully involving you in the process, as is the case in the best BMWs of yore. It’s a big car, though, and categorically not a Z4. The M70 has ballistic acceleration, but probably rather more than you need: even the xDrive60 will get your neck muscles working.

The calibration of all the controls is intuitive, so it's very satisfying at a less banzai pace. The steering is accurate, the acceleration smooth and prompt, and it manages its considerable weight with aplomb.

It also has a Sport mode, and BMW says the chassis and suspension of each of the revised iX variants has been carefully tuned to match their respective power outputs. Even so, our original conclusion that this car is primarily about comfort, silence and relaxation still stands. As before, the less powerful versions of the iX are the ones that make the most sense.

What’s it up against?

Not a lot, actually. Audi’s Q8 e-tron has quietly been retired, so the iX’s closest rivals are now things like the bigger Volvo EX90 and Kia EV9 – the former’s more expensive, the latter’s less. The Mercedes EQE SUV is closely matched for size and price, but it’s also rubbish and unimaginative. Tesla doesn’t do RHD Model Xs any more; China’s yet to come up with anything this big that’s anywhere close to decent.

The iX was conceived to be a showcase for BMW’s efforts in the fast-moving EV world – in terms of materials, aerodynamics and driver assist. The world has caught up in some respects, but the iX remains an impressive car nonetheless. The visual tweaks and new colours don't really make it any easier to look at but at least the iX is interesting.

As before, BMW isn't selling the iX as a driver's champion. If you want a traditional BMW sports saloon that happens to be electric, the i4 is still your car (although don’t expect that to handle as engagingly as a 330e… or an M3).

The iX remains a big, comfy home-on-wheels, and a vast amount of technology has been poured into making sure the driver is soothed while the passengers kick back. It's pretty efficient for a full-size e-SUV, more than ever thanks to the latest raft of upgrades. And in the shape of the latest iX xDrive60, the claimed range has now passed the psychologically significant 400-mile mark. It can recharge pretty rapidly too.