My love affair with the BMW iX began in Munich, Germany, in 2021. It resulted in July 2024, a couple of block from my home in San Diego, after I hit the primary bump within the street. Oof.
Again in 2021, I used to be on the first-drive occasion of BMW’s then-new flagship electrical SUV. Writing for Street & Monitor on the time, I stated the iX was nice, and a significant step into the longer term for the model.
There was just one notable caveat. I famous that there was little tire noise and that the iX had a “positively lush” suspension, however that “completely paved German roads imply that statement might not translate to our shores.”
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2024 BMW iX Experience Consolation Assessment
How proper I used to be. Driving an American-spec iX xDrive50 in California, I discovered the SUV overly agency and crashy over bumps. It shattered my religion within the iX as the right electrical every day driver. The excellent news, nonetheless, is that BMW has an answer: A two-axle air suspension, obtainable as a $1,000 standalone choice on the xDrive50 and normal on the faster iX M60. It makes the SUV noticeably softer.
I would not purchase an iX with out it.
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I would additionally get the smallest wheels attainable, to make the journey additional comfortable. As a result of this isn’t actually an Final Driving Machine.
(Full Disclosure: BMW loaned me an iX for per week. It arrived with a full battery.)
Sure, the iX corners terribly properly for a two-and-a-half-ton SUV. However BMW’s fooling itself in the event that they suppose individuals are spending $89,000 on a household SUV to take it to the canyons. The iX additionally rode completely properly at 130 mph on Germany’s autobahns.
But, this, too, feels a bit foolish. Positive, German consumers might care, however American consumers will not be taking their iXs into the triple digits with any regularity. They should not. And with a purpose to have such flat cornering and high-speed stability, BMW has needed to stiffen up the springs on the conventionally suspended iXs. The tradeoff is not value it.
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This can be a luxurious product, and a damned superb one. Step into the iX and also you’re greeted by one of the crucial distinctive, high-quality and advanced-looking interiors you will discover wherever available on the market. My tester had unbelievable blue wool seats, a daring transfer in a phase that at all times tendencies towards the identical drab black leather-based.
The blue inside with golden bronze accents was beautiful within the mild, and peaceable at night time. The seats had been comfy, although the place itself took some adjustment. Sitting up excessive and pushed towards the large windshield, I felt extra like I used to be driving a glassy pod than a standard SUV.
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The expertise, too, appeared higher than anybody else’s. The graphics are clear and engaging, with minimalist icons and a unified, fashionable design theme for every part you see. Nothing feels cartoonish. Every thing is sharp.
But whereas BMW’s system appears higher than Mercedes’ MB.OS, the Benz’s system is less complicated to make use of, and extra succesful. BMW nonetheless stuffs the app menu with too many one-off features you will by no means use, and BMW’s software program suite simply cannot do issues that we have come to count on from fashionable automotive software program. In a Mercedes or Cadillac and even my Chevy, I can say “Hey Mercedes/Google, play the album ‘Jubilee’ by Japanese Breakfast” and the automotive will queue it up on its native music streaming service. Within the BMW, you are left utilizing CarPlay for that.
But in case you’re utilizing CarPlay anyway, you will discover no extra peaceable car than an iX at cruising pace. Mercedes and Teslas are at all times beeping at you or forcing you to cope with their intelligent software program. The iX principally fades into the background. There’s an awesome stereo, a satisfying cabin, a trick panoramic sunroof that may go opaque on the contact of a button and a wealthy head-up show, however these are issues that fill out the background. Nothing calls for your consideration, or tries to impress you with its cleverness. I may spend hours within the iX.
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I would not often should cost, too. BMW made an enormous level about utilizing home-grown electrical motors within the iX, and the payoff is obvious. The iX presents beautiful effectivity regardless of its 5,659-pound curb weight and a large cabin. I averaged 3.3 miles per kWh over 140 miles of principally freeway driving, with sustained cruising round 75 mph and occasional site visitors. The iX is formally rated by the EPA to go 324 miles on a cost in blended metropolis/freeway driving. However apply my power consumption to the 105.2-kWh usable portion of the battery and also you see why BMW is understood for underpromising and overdelivering. At an effectivity of three.3 miles per kWh, the iX can go 347 miles on the freeway.
Now, I did have some site visitors, which can assist EVs. They’re extra environment friendly at slower speeds and round city than at 75. However I used to be additionally utilizing the air-con and going 75 mph. It is not unrealistic to say the iX may go even additional on a cost, and I am actually assured that even a lead-footed idiot may eek 300 miles out of it within the useless of winter.
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While you do must high it off, the iX can settle for 195 kW charging speeds. That is nearing the utmost we see of any 400-volt-based system. A Mercedes EQS SUV can deal with 200 kW, a Rivian R1 about 220. The iX took about 41 minutes to cost from 10% to 80% in freezing situations throughout our earlier charging take a look at, a strong if not distinctive efficiency for a big-battery EV. With such strong vary and effectivity, although, I doubt house owners should do many prolonged fast-charging stops.
You will simply have to search out the quick chargers your self. The iX’s built-in charger locator is ineffective. It makes no distinction between private-access Degree 2 chargers and public DC Quick Chargers. In my case, the primary DC Quick Charger was buried below 15 gradual chargers, lots of which I could not legally entry. The closest Electrify America station—not a brand new one—wasn’t even on the checklist in any respect. You possibly can apparently filter to solely present stations above with speeds above 150 kW, but when the automotive is aware of the charging pace I would count on it to point out me by default.
That is one in a collection of baffling selections. The cupholders are terrible, as Tim Stevens famous in his long-term overview of the iX he leased. I banged my hand in opposition to the highest console whereas grabbing a soda and spilled it in all places. Plus, the iX turns itself off mechanically however requires a button-press to activate, a weird half-step between internal-combustion logic and Tesla’s method.
So I ended up being confused by the iX. In some specs, it’s a daring, good design. In white with the “Sport” pack that provides these bizarre black triangles to the entrance fascia, it appears terrible. It’s a plush and pleasant luxurious car, as long as you do not get the one which’s uncomfortable. It is considerate and well-executed, besides when it is infuriating.
It is equal components good and baffling. An indication that BMW has the proper method to EV design and manufacturing, however continues to be ironing out the kinks. With a couple of updates—and normal air suspension—the iX may win again my love. However for now, I am going to attempt to bear in mind our European honeymoon, earlier than life bought so messy.
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