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On the road
Like any electric vehicle, the weight of the battery influences the vehicle's behaviour on the road, and despite the presence of those 22-inch wheels, the iX xDrive50 is as smooth as a 90s-vintage American sedan, but without losing the agility you'd expect from a BMW SUV. Here, the adaptive suspension does a superb job, though it’s made to look even better by the softness of the seats that contribute to the level of interior comfort. Oh yes, we could add the massage system for the occupants in the first row (although I maintain those systems will never replace the skilled hands of a massage therapist!).
As for the silence that reigns in the cabin, it is only interrupted by the sound of the tires on the road or by the Iconic Sounds, imagined by music composer Hans Zimmer, that you can enjoy via the audio system.
The iX's handling begins with the starter button on the centre console, and the driver simply has to push the small translucent lever to start driving. A second push activates the "B" mode responsible for more aggressive energy recovery when braking.
Overall, compared to the i4 sedan, the iX is more about a smooth ride and less about dynamic handling. Not that the SUV is approximate in its approach, but it lacks that taut precision that we associate with M models or even those tattooed with the little "M".
On the other hand, and despite the vehicle's greater weight (compared to the i4 sedan), acceleration takes only a few seconds to reach supreme speed. At 120 km/h (and even well above that mark), the iX xDrive50 is as stable as can be, with the weight of the battery keeping the SUV glued to the pavement. However, you have to remember that this heavy weight affects braking, something a corner taken with too much enthusiasm soon reminded me of it. Fortunately, I was more scared than hurt!
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The last word
Overall, the iX xDrive50 does a good job in terms of delivering both comfort and driving pleasure, while the range delivered by the powertrain is very good, even if it's not at the top of the segment with a little more than 500 km possible (507 km with 22-inch wheels, 521 km with 20-inch wheels, 491 km with 21-inch wheels). The SUV is heavy, but acceleration is smooth or much more instantaneous, while the build quality overall is very good.
It will be interesting to see which version of the iX consumers lean to in the coming months, but one thing’s for sure: this xDrive50 variant is a nice alternative to any V8 version of the brand's SUVs - as long as you like the way an electric vehicle behaves and are not in need of what a gasoline vehicle delivers.
And to answer that question about whether this BMW iX could be a nice alternative to Tesla's utility products, the answer is yes. The California-based automaker still dominates thanks to superior production capacity and a slightly longer range (not to mention strong brand loyalty), but when it comes to craftsmanship, BMW’S EVs are now giving Tesla's cars a real run for their money.
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We like
Impressive comfort
Powerful powertrain
An original vehicle in every respect
We like less
Those touch-sensitive (!) buttons
The price
Narrowness of the trunk
The competition
Audi e-tron / e-tron S
Cadillac Lyriq
Jaguar I-PACE
Tesla Model Y / X
