Over the last three years or so, BMW has spent a lot of time building hype for the iX. It’s the brand’s new technological flagship, after all, assuming the crown from the venerable 7 Series after more than 40 years of reigning supreme. There’s also the sustainable composition, including leather and substantial use of carbon-fiber reinforced plastic, and the sustainable production process, which is powered by local hydroelectric stations. Its groundbreaking design is another aspect, but chances are you’re already well-versed in that regard. The point is that there have been a lot of press releases and a lot of pontificating—but not much in the way of practical, real-world experiences beyond the usual reviews.
In a recent video, Doug DeMuro reviews the iX and gives BMW’s first electric SAV an unbiased examination, and you might be surprised to learn just how well-rounded a vehicle it is. We’ll let you get all of the details from the half-hour video review, but some of the highlights include DeMuro—who’s driven every conceivable competitor—praising the iX for a great driving experience which balances speed with ride comfort and great cornering, lauding its technology, interior, materials, and practicality, and deeming it a strong challenger to other electric vehicles on the market.
The BMW iX Reviewed by DeMuro was an xDrive50 model and not the M60 which is due to arrive for the 2023 model year, but it still beat both the Tesla Model X and Audi E-Tron SUV in the DougScore. It also beat the incredibly popular BMW X5, and came in just behind the X5 M Competition and the Alpina XB7. In the end, the only real shortcomings DeMuro finds with the iX are its contentious and polarizing styling and price point, but he goes on to explain that the looks don’t personally bother him much, and that the number of electric SUVs on the market is still pretty small.
It’s still too early to know if the iX will be as successful as BMW hopes, but given what we know about it, the brand’s first electric SAV seems worthy of your consideration given everything that it can do, and the way in which it does it. DeMuro is right to raise the exterior design in his review, but if the sales of other BMW models with big grilles like the 4 Series, i4, M3, and M4 are any indication, the iX has a bright future ahead of it.—Alex Tock
[Photo courtesy BMW AG. Video courtesy Doug DeMuro on YouTube.]