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- Highs Powerful electric powertrain, excellent highway range, downright fancy interior.
- Lows Polarizing exterior styling, rear seat bottoms positioned a little low, most powerful model not yet available.
- Verdict No matter what you think of its design, the iX is an important product in the evolution of the BMW brand.
Overview
Based on the Vision iNext concept that BMW showed back in fall 2018, the production 2022 iX is the brand's first all-electric SUV—and it's mighty compelling. The iX offers an electric driving range of over 300 miles per charge, which is impressive enough to earn it an Editors' Choice award. Two electric motors provide full-time all-wheel drive, and carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic body panels help save weight. The iX's cabin is quite spacious with plenty of modern technology features on display, including a slick curved digital instrument panel screen. Upon its arrival at U.S. dealerships, it will find itself competing with rivals such as the Audi e-tron, the Tesla Model X, and the upcoming Rivian R1S.
What's New for 2022?
The iX is an all-new and all-electric model in BMW's lineup when it appears in early 2022.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
The more powerful and more expensive M60 model won't join the lineup until the 2023 model year, but we expect it to command a significant premium over the xDrive50 trim. For now, we'll recommend the xDrive50, which comes standard with most every luxury and convenience feature that its price tag should.
EV Motor, Power, and Performance
At launch, the iX will be offered only in xDrive50 guise, which is powered by a pair of electric motors that combine to make 516 hp; all-wheel drive is standard. In our testing, the iX scooted to 60 mph in just 4.0 seconds. A high-performance variant called M60 will join the lineup next year and boasts a maximum horsepower rating of 610 hp. The iX is offered with an optional adjustable air suspension and a rear-wheel-steering system. During our test drive of an xDrive50 model, we noted plentiful power, surprising energy efficiency, agile handling, and a smooth ride.
Range, Charging, and Battery Life
The iX sports a large 105.2-kWh battery pack that the EPA estimates will offer up to 324 miles of driving range per charge. When we tested the iX on our 75-mph highway fuel economy test we were surprised by its range. Normally, highway driving quickly reduces the overall driving range of an EV and the result is a fraction of its overall range estimate, but the iX recorded an impressive 290 miles of range in our test. DC fast charging capability is standard and the iX can recharge from 10 percent to 80 percent in just 35 minutes when hooked up to a 200-kW connection. BMW has partnered with EVgo to provide a network of public charging stations for iX drivers, but the SUV is able to charge on other popular networks, as well as through a Level 2 home charging station.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPGe
The EPA estimates that the most efficient iX model is the one equipped with the standard 20-inch wheels, which earned ratings of 86 MPGe city and 87 MPGe highway. Going with one of the iX's larger sets of wheels reduces those numbers, but only slightly. On our 75-mph highway fuel economy test route the iX managed only a 81 MPGe result, but provided an excellent 290 miles of range. For more information about the iX's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
The Bimmer SUV is about the same size as the company's mid-size X5 and X6 crossovers, and its passenger and cargo space is similar to those models as well. The iX's interior design is both simple and modern with a host of high-tech elements including a large curved touchscreen instrument panel and a hexagonal-shaped steering wheel. BMW offers a large panoramic sunroof featuring electrochromic shading as an option—a trick feature found on only a few vehicles. Power front seats are also heated and feature integrated speakers for the iX's stereo system. Both faux-leather and genuine leather upholsteries are offered, but BMW also offers a textile seat fabric option—dubbed Loft—which uses microfiber cloth.
Infotainment and Connectivity
BMW is using the iX SUV and the i4 sedan as the launchpad for its next-generation infotainment interface, which it calls iDrive 8. The software allows for customization of menus and graphics, as well as a voice-activated assistant. A large 14.9-inch infotainment display combines with a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster to create the iX's tech-forward dashboard design. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across the board, and BMW also offers a Wi-Fi hotspot with a 5G cellular connection. An 18-speaker Harman/Kardon stereo system is standard; a 30-speaker Bowers & Wilkins setup is an option.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
BMW offers a comprehensive set of standard driver-assistance features in the iX, including parking sensors, autonomous emergency braking, automatic high-beam headlamps, and lane-keeping assist systems. For more information about the iX's crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:
- Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
- Standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist
- Available adaptive cruise control with semi-autonomous driving mode
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
The iX comes standard with the same warranty coverage as BMW's other electrified model, the i4 sedan, which means basic coverage for four years or 50,000 miles and more generous protection for the electric-vehicle components. All new BMWs also come with a three-year complimentary maintenance plan.
- Limited warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
- EV components warranty covers eight years or 100,000 miles
- Complimentary maintenance is covered for three years or 36,000 miles
Specifications
Specifications
2022 BMW iX xDrive50
Vehicle Type: front- and rear-motor, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door wagon
PRICE
Base/As Tested: $84,195/$104,020
Options: Premium package (surround view camera, front seats with massage function and additional adjustments, parking assistant), $4000; Bowers & Wilkens stereo, $3400; Sport package (black exterior trim, 21-inch wheels), $2800; Aventurin Red paint, $1950; Active Driving Assistant Pro, $1700; Dynamic Handling package (rear-wheel steering, air springs), $1600; Luxury package (soft-close doors, glass controls), $1150; adaptive headlights, $1000; 22-inch wheels, $950; radiant heating, $950; microfiber/wool seats, $500; passenger lumbar delete, -$175
POWERTRAIN
Front Motor: current-excited synchronous AC, 268 hp, 260 lb-ft
Rear Motor: current-excited synchronous AC, 335 hp, 295 lb-ft
Combined Power: 516 hp
Combined Torque: 564 lb-ft
Battery Pack: liquid-cooled lithium-ion, 105.2 kWh
Onboard Charger: 11.0 kW
Transmissions, F/R: direct-drives
CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: multilink/multilink
Brakes, F/R: 13.7-in vented disc/13.6-in vented disc
Tires: Bridgestone Alenza 001 B-Silent
275/40R-22 107Y ★
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 118.1 in
Length: 195.0 in
Width: 77.4 in
Height: 66.8 in
Passenger Volume: 112 ft3
Cargo Volume: 36 ft3
Curb Weight: 5707 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 4.0 sec
100 mph: 9.5 sec
1/4-Mile: 12.4 sec @ 114 mph
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 4.3 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 1.6 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 2.3 sec
Top Speed (gov ltd): 124 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 158 ft
Braking, 100–0 mph: 321 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.88 g
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 74 MPGe
75-mph Highway Driving: 81 MPGe
75-mph Highway Range: 290 mi
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 86/86/85 MPGe
Range: 315 mi