We were thoroughly impressed with BMW’s all-electric iX, which is speedy, ultraquiet, and delivers a cushy ride. Even with its complicated controls, the iX earned one of the highest road-test scores ever.
Thanks to a prodigious 516 hp, the iX can launch down the road with seemingly endless power. Just how quick is the iX? We measured a blistering 4.3 seconds run from 0 to 60 mph—about a half second fleeter than the Tesla Model X.
An EPA-estimated 324-mile range means the iX can go for days of typical driving without recharging. We went 370 miles in our 70-mph highway range test. Its 11-kilowatt onboard charger can gain about 30 miles of range per hour for relatively quick at-home charging on 240 volts, while its 195-kW maximum acceptance rate at public DC fast chargers is competitive.
The iX’s standard air suspension gobbles up anything thrown at it, no matter how bumpy the road. It truly is among the nicest riding vehicles we’ve tested in a long time. And the plush ride is complimented by a near silent cabin—even by the unusually silent standard set by most EVs, the iX is among the most serene.
Although tall and heavy, the iX takes corners with enthusiasm. The iX is about the size of the X5 and furthers BMW’s tradition of rewarding drivers with agile and engaging handling.
The cabin has an open, airy, and roomy ambience. The driving position worked well for our testers, with lots of adjustments to fit all body types. The armrests are wide and well placed, and we found no intrusions for the driver's right leg from the center console.
The front seats are wide and comfortable, although we were quite shocked that such an expensive car—nearly $93,000 as tested—did not have adjustable lumbar support. That didn't seem to dampen our enthusiasm for these seats, however, which were praised for being plush and offering ample seatback side bolstering. Rear-seat passengers will find plenty of room and good underleg support, although the seats are somewhat low.
The cabin is luxuriously filled with lots of soft, padded surfaces, an elegant open-pore wood finish on the center console, and tight panel fits all around. Many of us were quite dazzled by the optional crystal/bejeweled finish of the seat controls on the door, gear selector, volume knob, and iDrive controller as well.
Many of the controls are confusing, though. BMW’s iDrive 8 system moves most functions to a touchscreen, and it requires more steps to accomplish even common tasks like certain climate adjustments.
Automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic warning, lane departure warning, and lane keeping assistance are standard. It’s disappointing that automatic emergency braking which operates at highway speeds is optional, instead of standard. The optional driving assistance suite, called Active Driving Assistance Pro, includes adaptive cruise control and lane centering assistance, and gives the car the ability to change lanes on its own.