xDrive50 electrical powertrainThe iX comes normal with all-wheel drive, pairing a 190-kilowatt electrical motor on the entrance axle with a extra highly effective 230-kW rear unit. Combined output peaks at 516 horsepower and 564 pound-feet of torque, sufficient oomph to silently launch the iX from 0 to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds. The surge of g forces beneath arduous acceleration is spectacular, however the advantages of prompt, exact electrical torque can be felt when merging on the freeway or simply casually pulling away from a visitors gentle. It’s a well-rounded, confidence-inspiring powertrain.The xDrive50 feels greater than potent sufficient for driving on public roads, however in case you want extra energy (or simply have cash burning a gap in your pocket), BMW added the 610-hp iX M60 to the lineup for the 2023 mannequin 12 months. That’ll pull off the 0-to-60 dash in simply 3.6 seconds — not fast sufficient to wipe the smirk off of a Tesla Model X Plaid, but it surely’ll run neck-and-neck with a Model Y Performance or a Mustang Mach-E GT. The driver has two instruments to customise the iX’s efficiency to their liking: My Modes and regenerative braking. The three My Modes — Personal, Sport and Efficient — primarily management accelerator responsiveness (and by extension, how a lot vitality is used), however in addition they have an effect on the steering and different car programs. For instance, when geared up with the elective Dynamic Handling package deal, Sport mode can decrease the suspension by 0.4 inches for, effectively, extra dynamic dealing with. The chosen My Mode additionally impacts the elective Iconic Sounds generated by the iX’s audio system. Designed by German movie rating composer Hans Zimmer, this synthetic powertrain noise fills the cabin because the EV accelerates, making use of Shepard tones — an phantasm of overlapping sound that appears to infinitely rise in pitch — to create a sci-fi feeling of accelerating velocity. Sport mode sounds a bit deeper and louder than the opposite two settings. Alternatively, Iconic Sounds could be disabled altogether for individuals who choose silent cruising.There are 4 regenerative braking ranges with the default being what BMW calls Adaptive Recuperation. This mode makes use of navigation knowledge, battery stage and the gap to the automobile forward to find out how a lot regeneration to use when lifting off the accelerator. This ought to internet you probably the most environment friendly vitality recapture however, in apply, it simply makes deceleration really feel inconsistent, troublesome to foretell and, at occasions, jerky. I choose to decide on one of many extra constant static regen modes: low, medium or excessive. Also, tapping the transmission from D to B mode with excessive regen permits one-pedal driving, the place the iX can gradual to a cease with out touching the brake pedal — my favourite EV braking technique general.
Enlarge Image

Sport is the one customizable My Mode — neither Efficient nor, mockingly, Personal could be personalised. Antuan Goodwin/CNETRange and chargingThe iX is powered by a 111.5-kilowatt-hour battery, of which a internet 105.2 kWh is usable. Interestingly, the EPA breaks out separate vary estimates primarily based on the scale of the wheels geared up. The smallest 20-inch wheels earn the most effective 324-mile score. Range drops to 305 miles with the 21-inch wheels, however oddly climbs once more to 315 miles for the bigger 22s. My greatest guess as to why is the 275/40R22 tire’s stiffer sidewall reduces rolling resistance simply sufficient to make up for the extra rim mass. Starting with an 80% cost, I cruised for 209 miles earlier than stopping to recharging with 17% remaining. That’s about 10 miles higher than I ought to have primarily based on the EPA’s numbers — nonetheless throughout the margin of error, however much more spectacular given my testing together with an excellent chunk of Sport mode driving up twisty mountain roads. Not too unhealthy.
Enlarge Image

This is about as open because the iX’s hood will get except you are a BMW service technician. Antuan Goodwin/CNETWhen it comes time to recharge, the iX pulls as much as 195 kW at an appropriately highly effective DC fast-charging station. That’s not as quick as a 250-kW Hyundai Ioniq 5 or the 270-kW Porsche Taycan, but it surely’s fast sufficient so as to add 90 miles of vary with only a 10-minute session, or to go from a 10% to 80% state of cost in 40 minutes. BMW partnered with EVgo, offering patrons and lessees $100 of charging credit score at its stations. The most price efficient place to cost is at dwelling throughout off-peak night hours. On a Level 2 plug, the iX can pull 11 kW, that means it is going to cost from flat to full in round 11 hours. Ride and handlingExtensive use of light-weight supplies — just like the aluminum and carbon-fiber composite chassis (that are seen whenever you open the doorways or rear hatch) and aluminum suspension elements — assist maintain weight down. Still, the iX is a really heavy machine, tipping the scales at 5,769 kilos as optioned right here. Fortunately, a lot of the load is beneath the ground within the battery pack. This low middle of mass helps the iX keep good and flat round corners, which suggests BMW’s engineers might tune the double-wishbone entrance and five-link rear suspension to be a bit softer for consolation. The SUV soaks up bumps effectively even on the elective 22s, and that is probably due to BMW’s lift-related dampers — hydraulic shock absorbers that progressively differ their damping pressure because the wheels journey up and down.This instance is provided with the elective Dynamic Handling package deal, which provides an auto-leveling air suspension good for stopping sag when towing a braked trailer as much as 5,500 kilos — although who is aware of what havoc that may wreak in your vary. As talked about earlier than, the air suspension routinely lowers to enhance stability at excessive speeds and in sport mode and could be manually raised for 0.8 inches of further floor clearance at very low speeds. Additionally, this package deal provides rear-wheel steering that each helps with low-speed agility and freeway stability.
Enlarge Image

The seats might use extra lateral assist, however the heated and ventilated buckets are fairly snug for lengthy hauls and commutes. Antuan Goodwin/CNETPolarizing designI’m prepared to concede that the attention of one other beholder could discover magnificence someplace within the iX’s tall wagon proportions, however I do not discover the design very cohesive. For instance, the extreme L-shaped trim on the entrance bumper would not appear to line up with another component of the fascia and feels tacked on in a approach that annoys me much more than BMW’s new company grille. Most days, I merely do not take pleasure in wanting on the iX, however typically I catch an odd angle and it isn’t so unhealthy. (Some of my colleagues have extra optimistic opinions about BMW’s styling.) I do like that the buck-toothed grille hides a really cool expertise: It’s manufactured from a self-healing polymer. Pick up a rock chip or a scratch on its shiny end and the floor will progressively work its approach again to shiny and flush once more. Heat accelerates the method, so on a sizzling summer season day (or with some coaxing from a hair dryer), you may watch it heal earlier than your eyes. The BMW roundel simply above the grille pops open to disclose a hidden washer fluid reservoir, which might be neat if it weren’t mandatory as a result of the iX’s hood requires a service technician to open — a double bummer as a result of it means there isn’t any frunk. Still, this a extra elegant resolution than Mercedes-Benz’s bizarre washer fluid fender slot on the EQS and EQE.The iX’s cabin, quite the opposite, is completely beautiful. It makes nice use of supplies that look incredible and are tactilely attention-grabbing to the touch, from the crystal minimize glass iDrive management knob and seat adjustment controls to the distinctive wooden veneer capacitive buttons on the middle console — all elective. The bucket seats are fairly comfortable with an upright place that gives nice visibility in all instructions across the ethereal greenhouse. Also elective is that this mannequin’s electrochromic glass roof that enhances the sensation of spaciousness and goes opaque on the contact of a button to maintain the solar off of your head.
Enlarge Image

The iX’s cabin seems so good I’m prepared to forgive the awkward exterior. Antuan Goodwin/CNETBut all shouldn’t be effectively on this aesthetic paradise and some ergonomic nitpicks stand out. There’s the digital door launch, which is positioned too far ahead and excessive on the door to get good opening leverage. I needed to elbow and shoulder the door open awkwardly to get out, whereas my smaller copilot wanted to shove with each palms to muscle it open. BMW additionally simplified the iX’s steering wheel controls considerably, utilizing shiny capacitive contact pads surrounding a thumb wheel as an alternative of discrete bodily buttons for the cruise management, infotainment and whatnot. Additionally, there would not look like a toggle to disable cruise management; the system is all the time armed and prepared for one faucet to set or resume your cruising velocity. So far so good, however twice when chucking the iX round a nook, my palm contacted the pad whereas turning the steering wheel 90 levels, inflicting the cruise management to unexpectedly resume mid-turn, lurching ahead whereas I scrambled for the brakes. I used to be in a position to catch it each occasions, but it surely left a sketchy mark on an in any other case exemplary driving expertise.Aside from this ergonomic gripe, the remainder of the iX’s elective and normal driver assist options work fairly effectively. Optional adaptive cruise works in stop-and-go visitors and integrates properly with the lane-keeping steering help and the hands-off Traffic Jam Steering Assist that works at speeds under 40 mph. Parking Assistant Professional can also be out there and might routinely information the SUV into parallel and perpendicular parking areas on the contact of a button. There’s normal forward-collision avoidance that may be upgraded so as to add elective facet collision avoidance, too.
Enlarge Image

Keep scrolling; there are dozens extra nigh-identical wanting icons on simply this menu display. Antuan Goodwin/CNETiDrive 8The iDrive 8 multimedia software program is a step ahead from the earlier era, but in addition two steps backward. The system remains to be constructed round a pair of giant shows that now appear to drift above the dashboard on struts. The left display is the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster whereas the precise is a bigger, 14.9-inch fundamental touchscreen. iDrive 8 is a responsive system and, like the remainder of the iX’s cabin, the high-resolution screens look incredible and are customizable with themes that includes nature-inspired imagery.Unfortunately, the menu is a multitude of tiny icons. I counted practically 30 of them on the principle display in no explicit order and with extraordinarily flat group. Rather than, for instance, combining FM and Sirius XM radio into one audio sources menu, they each have separate buttons on the house display that have to be discovered amongst dozens of others at freeway speeds. My colleagues jogged my memory that I might manage the menu myself by dragging the icons round and eight shortcuts could be saved to a favorites menu for fast entry, so most customers will be capable of customise their approach round the issue with a little bit of tinkering, but it surely’s a steep studying curve and I feel the curated group of iDrive 7 was a greater out-of-the-box expertise.Back within the execs column, there’s normal Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility with wi-fi connectivity for each. The iX even helps the most recent fast pairing tech for both, so you do not even have to fiddle with the menus to get paired up and working. There are additionally six USB type-C charging ports scattered across the cabin (two within the entrance and 4 for second-row passengers) and neat little slots completely sized to carry cell phones on the middle console and within the doorways.
Enlarge Image

One of the iX’s coolest options is its self-healing grille. What? I did not say it was the most effective wanting characteristic. Antuan Goodwin/CNETPrice, competitors and ultimate ideasThe 2023 BMW iX xDrive50 begins at $85,095 together with the required $995 vacation spot cost. This instance rolled into my driveway carrying a $101,075 sticker thanks principally to $3,500 value of premium leather-based upholstery on $1,600 upgraded seats, plus $1,900 for the 22-inch wheels. I’ve additionally obtained the $7,700 Ultimate package deal that rolls practically each bell and whistle left to get — together with the Dynamic Handling upgrades, Iconic Sounds, the glass and wooden inside trim, the iX’s full driver assist suite and extra — into one line merchandise.At that worth vary, the BMW iX skews extra premium than most of its electrical SUV rivals. The BMW is considerably dearer than an Audi E-Tron SUV and Sportback, but it surely’s additionally extra highly effective with practically 100 miles of further vary. The iX additionally slots someplace between Tesla Models X and Y. Judged solely on the driving expertise, vary and dealing with, the all-new iX is a spectacular new entry in BMW’s electrical automobile portfolio. However, BMW then went and made so many bizarre little design selections — from the steering wheel controls to the bizarre door openers, the sophisticated menus and, sure, my aesthetic dangle ups — that it would not fairly stick the touchdown as one among my favorites on this class.Your mileage could differ.